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My chats with clients whilst I am treating their horse are often super eye opening. And there have been a few discussions this week in particular that have resonated with me. Unfortunately, it is fairly common practice to treat horses that have been taken advantage of and been pushed to do too much too soon.Continue reading “Built to Break?”

Definition A systematic approach to identifying common injuries specific to the animal being treated, and then designing an appropriate series of exercises that work towards minimising their potential for occurrence. Essentially, it is like being one step ahead to prevent injury; prevention is better than cure! Aims of Prehabilitation Improve joint range of motion IncreasedContinue reading “What is Prehabilitation?”

A spinal assessment involves applying pressure at varying levels and angles to the spinal column in order to determine joint health and mobility. It plays a crucial role in the static assessment of any animal as it aids in the identification of underlying pathology. Prior to a spinal assessment, active ROM of the animal shouldContinue reading “Conducting a Spinal Assessment as a Veterinary Physiotherapist”

Trigger Points Trigger point: an area of lactic acid build up and motor nerve irritation located in the belly of the muscle. The presence of a trigger point will restrict muscle action. It is also known as an “energy crisis” within the muscle. The term trigger point originates from the fact that when pressure isContinue reading “Trigger Point Release Therapy (TPRT)”

“Bone is a unique and fascinating material,” he began. “People often think of bone as being relatively inert, but I’d like to dispel that concept. Modeling and remodeling can be occurring in the same bone at the same time–bone is always in all stages of remodeling. Bone does not heal, incorporating the scar tissue asContinue reading “Fractures”

The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves that arise from the central nervous system. The cranial nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system. Cranial nerves originate from the brain (in comparison to the spine, like the spinal nerves) inside the cranium. They leave the cranial cavity via various foramina. There are 12 pairsContinue reading “Equine Cranial Nerves”

In a sport where one pole down, one percentage mark, or one time fault can slip you down the rankings… every rider is looking for something to give their horse that competitive edge. With the therapeutic and holistic care of our horses becoming increasingly accepted and widespread, the question of “can I be doing somethingContinue reading “A Review: The V.I.P”

Anatomy The hyoid apparatus consists of a selection of small bones that articulate together. Its name means “shaped like the letter upsilon (Y)”, and it is situated at the base of the skull; between the cheeks of the horse. The hyoid apparatus connects to the skull via the temporohyoid joint. At this joint, the hyoidContinue reading “The Equine Hyoid Apparatus”

Anatomy Five joints ● Six bones ● Three rows TARSAL BONE FUNCTION: undergo axial compression and tension alongside torsional loading during locomotion. DISTAL TARSAL BONES: function to absorb shock and neutralise twisting forces. Central tarsal bone absorbs most of the stresses. Articulation The movement of the tarsus is linked to the movement of the stifle;Continue reading “The Equine Tarsus (Hock)”

2018 has been a year of questioning. This year we have questioned whether to bit or not to bit, how tight is too tight a noseband, how many horse related accidents on the roads are needed before drivers slow down, do horses show pain through facial emotions…? I think this is an exceptional breakthrough… asContinue reading “Poignant Horse Articles from 2018”