Equine Physiotherapy

About Equine Physiotherapy

Our Service

Initial Process

After you have made contact with us either via email or telephone, we will take down key information from you about yourself, your horse(s) and your Veterinarian.

We will establish your availability and provide you with an appointment which fits around you as much as possible.

We then make direct contact with your Veterinarian to seek Veterinary Consent for us to treat your horse prior to our appointment with you. This is a legal requirement before we are able to treat your horse as part of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. This applies to ANY veterinary paraprofessional who wants to treat your horse.

Diagnosis (Initial Assessment)

Our Initial Assessment takes 1.5hrs and fully investigates your horse as a whole. This is imperative if we are to identify the key areas and focus for treatment. A lot of presentations can be just secondary to the original cause. Our Physiotherapists always target the cause of the problem otherwise you will find that the issues will just reoccur again and again until the root cause is dealt with.

The assessment will involve the Physiotherapist observing your horse both statically and dynamically and then and a full palpatory assessment will be carried out to identify the current state of all the soft tissues, the muscles and the underlying skeletal system.

At the end of this process a clear understanding of your horse's problems will be identified and a treatment plan will be made in line with ideal goals for a successful return to function.

Usually there is time for an initial treatment to be carried out at this time as well plus advice to continue with until the next session.

Follow-up Appointment

Follow-up appointments are all sessions after the initial assessment which include treatments and advice towards reaching defined and set goals. A follow-up appointment lasts 1hr and is 100% treatment after a quick review of progress since the last appointment.

The length of time between sessions will be determined by the Physiotherapist and discussed with you along the way. The type of problem your horse may have and how your horse responds to treatment defines how many sessions your horse will need.

What can you expect?

You can expect 100% dedication to yourself and your horse from our team at every stage. Open communication and a commitment to you to ensure we guide you and help you through the entire process from your initial contact to our office all the way through to functional recovery and return to full and unrestricted work.

Diagnosed Conditions/Complaints

Spinal

Over-Riding Dorsal Spinous Processes (ODSP)

Over-Riding Dorsal Spinous Processes is a gradual process which has occurred in the horse's spine. Essentially it is the narrowing of the intervertebral space between each of the spinous processes along the horses back, it tends to present in the horses thoracic spine. When the gap between each process narrows sometimes they touch and rub together causing the sclerotic changes and pain. Eventually this process can continue until the spinal processes fuse together and at this point they tend not to be painful. There can be an associated inflammatory process which can cause heat/pain and swelling in the area and the surrounding muscle groups react with spasm and tightness in an attempt to protect and stabilise a painful area (just like any other part of the body in such circumstances).

Management of such a condition is primarily with your Veterinarian; Physiotherapy has a role in the conservative management of such cases or post-operatively if surgery has taken place to release the pressure between the spinal processes. The decision which way this condition is managed is a decision reached with a collaboration between yourselves the owner/rider, your Vet and ourselves to assist you to make an informed decision.

Our approach focuses and treats the local area to improve the health of the local tissues around the spinous processes and we improve the recruitment of the abdominal muscles which actually 'support' the spine. The presence of ODSP's not only affects the immediate area but because of its location within the horse's body it has far reaching consequences into fore and hind limbs and their pelvic girdle. We treat the entire picture and the whole horse to enable them to recruit normal movement patterns and to maximise their function. We work alongside all your key professionals in this process from Vet/Farrier/Saddler and Trainer.

Facet Joint Spondylosis

Facet joints or otherwise known as zygapophyseal joints sit more lateral but adjacent to the main spinal joints along the entire spine. There are two facet joints for each intervertebral space (one on the right and one on the left side) and are made up from a natural extension of bone on each spinal body which reaches out laterally and joins the exact same bit of bone from the spinal body next door! As these two extensions meet in the middle they form the 'facet joint' between themselves, in doing so they have created a large canal from which main nerve roots pass through from the main spinal cord out into the neck, torso, forelimbs/hindlimbs.

Sometimes what happens is that these facet joints become worn and degenerated for a multitude of possible reasons. When this process happens it can cause a simultaneous narrowing of the canal (described above) as the actual bony ends at the facet joint become gnarled and misshapen. This in turn can mean with certain movements the nerves travelling through the canal can get caught or trapped causing pain, muscle spasm as a reaction, an inflammatory process occurs as well. Management of this condition is with your Vet and with Physiotherapy to help assist with the associated physiological and functional effects.

Cervical Spondylosis

This is a very similar process as described above however it affects the cervical spine in particular. The pathology is as described above under Facet Joint Spondylosis.

Physiotherapy can influence this condition far more easily due to the superficial location of the horse's cervical spine. When the condition affects either the Thoracic or Lumbar spines this is both far more difficult to see and locate and therefore treat due to the large mass of the horse's muscle and torso. Physiotherapy focuses upon the active physiological process taking place and treats the local area plus targets and influences the secondary consequences upon the rest of the body. Working alongside your Vet an overall plan can be made to improve your horse's functional outcome.

Thoracolumbar and Lumbosacral Dysfunction

At each junction along the horses spine the shape and function of each spinal body needs to change to perform its role in life! For example the cervical spine has to have a huge range of movement between each of its vertebrae plus have large areas of bone to attach large and long muscles along the length of the neck in order for the horse to eat from the ground and look around its body. The thoracic spine however has to hold the ribs and be much more rigid to encase and house the internal organs with the ribs to help! Then onto the lumbar spine this also needs to have more strength and stability for withstanding the large muscle groups and all the power being transferred from the horse's hind limbs forward to the thorax and forelimbs. The sacrum is pure stability and has no internal movement of its own, enabling large muscle attachments and protecting sensitive nerve structures as they pass from the end of the spinal cord out into the pelvis and hind limbs.

The coccygeal vertebrae are much smaller and have no need for gross stability or large bone for muscle attachments, they give function to the tail and such muscles needed to move the tail. At each junction between each portion of the spine where the shape of each vertebrae changes is a key area of potential difficulty. Clinically the two most common areas of dysfunction are the Thoracolumbar (TL) and the Lumbosacral (LS). The TL is generally affected because of its location directly behind the ribs and where we are sitting as a rider so the first axis of gross movement behind the saddle. The LS joint has much more movement then the TL joint and is the main pivot of movement between flexion and extension as the hindlimbs move forwards and backwards there is huge degrees of movement at this area of the spine. We can influence both of these two areas using manual intervention/treatment and the use of electrotherapy such as H-wave and LLLT (Low Level Light Therapy – aka. Class 3b Laser) plus advice and exercises for the rider.

Sacroiliac Dysfunction/Asymmetry

The two halves of the pelvis join the triangular shaped sacrum on both lateral edges forming a left and a right Sacroiliac joint. This is where the forces transmitted through the horse's hindlimbs are transferred up and through the hip joint into the pelvis and then across into the spine via the Sacroiliac joint so the horse can move with forward momentum or jump. This joint is a key area of transmission and therefore force and stress. Also because there is a joint on both sides of the pelvis it is extremely prone to asymmetrical forces being placed through the pelvis because a horse does not always push through their hindlimbs in unison and equal force and pressure. As a result the joints can become very sore and can influence the horse's ability to transfer force through its pelvis and therefore it can affect hind limb action and strength. The sacroiliac joint can subsequently become chronically painful and unstable if left untreated. In collaboration with your Vet, Physiotherapy can influence this area and how the pelvis is working in symmetry. Using a large tool box of techniques our Physiotherapists will determine the best approach to tackle inflammation or pain and help to manage this condition effectively.

Pelvic and Coccygeal Dysfunction

The pelvis is a very secure and solid structure which generally does not alter in its 'true' position unless there has been a major external force/stress such as a rotary fall for example. The pelvis has two halves and are joined both below at the pubic symphysis and above onto the sacrum. It is quite rare to get a pelvic problem in isolation, there tends to be involvement of the sacroiliac joints as well, and therefore the sacral spine. The pelvis has huge bony surfaces so the large hind limb muscles can attach e.g. Gluteals and the Hamstrings. We as Physiotherapists understand that the depth of the horse's pelvis is incredibly deep and therefore as a mere human being it is almost impossible to directly influence its position and extremely difficult to maintain an ideal 'new' position. The main way we can directly achieve movement in the pelvis is through targeting and activating the huge muscle groups which are designed to move the pelvis during the horse's movement. The horse's pelvis also has very large ligaments which are designed to stabilise the pelvis, these are 'soft tissues' essentially that can distort/lengthen and weaken if they are over stretched and torn through traumatic movements, rendering the pelvis inherently weak. The large muscle groups which are designed to move the pelvis are the best way to ensure the pelvis is treated and 're-taught' how to stabilise and strengthen the area for the longer term benefit and to ensure longevity of performance in the horse. This is our approach and aim when we manage pelvic dysfunction.

The coccygeal vertebrae make up the bony segments at the base of the horse's tail. They have between 15-20 vertebrae and they can be damaged whilst travelling or if the horse has a fall backwards directly onto their tail. They can also have stiffness and tightness between certain segments and a common area of dysfunction and stiffness is right at the base of the tail as the longitudinal muscles attach at the base of the tail and these travel forwards all the way along the horse's spine. It is a great way in which we can target the spine from a totally different angle and influence it from the tail. The way your horse's tail is held or what they do with it in certain situations can provide us with a lot of information. Think of it as a direct and key element of the spine and one in which we can influence and resolve through our manual treatments.

Peripheral

Soft Tissue Injuries-Tendon/Muscular

During a horse's performance career or overall lifetime a soft tissue injury is highly probable at some point. Just the same as ourselves, horse's get soft tissue injuries during exercise or even out in the field! The way in which we manage them mirrors the way we would manage a soft tissue injury in human medicine. There is minimal physiological difference between horse's muscle and tendon when compared to ours and no reason to manage them any differently. The overall principles are exactly the same. Our aim is to facilitate and expedite a high quality tissue repair and quick healing times. The quality of the repair is paramount and the aim is for the horse to return to its previous level of function. Physiotherapy uses Class 3b Laser-aka. LLLT (low level light therapy) the superior method to aid tissue healing, plus Therapeutic Ultrasound to influence the deposition of collagen lay down during tendon healing. Physiotherapists have key knowledge to aid that tissue plus the secondary peripherally affected tissues to return to full strength and function using stretches or exercises dependent upon its stage of recovery (Injury Rehabilitation). The process continues using treatments/advice/practical rehabilitation to deliver to you and your horse what you require to achieve your outcomes and aims post injury.

Joint Restriction/Pathology

If your horse has a focal joint restriction, our aim is to work alongside your Vet to identify the reason why this may be occurring. It may be that your horse needs Veterinary intervention to assist in the management of a joint condition. As Physiotherapists we maximise function by facilitating overall strength and stability for the joint(s) in question. Muscles provide the joint with dynamic stability and if there is any joint pathology present it becomes even more paramount that the joint is stabilised during activity to ensure further deleterious effects within the joint are minimised. The weaker and more unstable a joint is the more likely it is to contract an inherent problem within the joint itself due to increased 'micro-movement' between the bony ends. This also applies when there is a pathological process already present, increased micro-movement in the presence of an existing pathology will speed the rate of further deterioration, unless the joint is rapidly stabilised effectively and then maintained. Our job as a Physiotherapist to ensure that the joint and surrounding tissues are in good health and can stabilise the joint effectively, plus manage and eradicate the inevitable secondary and peripheral compensatory issues which are always present alongside joint stiffness/pathology. By ensuring your horse is moving as efficiently and as effectively as possible you are minimising the risk of further joint pathology and compensatory soft tissue problems from occurring.

Wound Management

If you have a horse with a wound then we can assist with facilitating a decrease in healing times, meaning your horse is at less risk of secondary infection and complications and your horse can return to function as quickly as possible. Utilising the benefits of Class 3b Laser Therapy-LLLT (Low level Light Therapy) to speed up the healing rate is a key element of our intervention post injury. Laser works by activating the mitochondria within each cell which in turn gives the cells more 'energy' and hence why they become more 'active'. This causes an acceleration in the cell's turnover and ability to heal tissue, thereby decreasing recovery time. Physiotherapy also looks at the whole horse and tackles the inevitable secondary compensations which will have undoubtedly occurred as a result of the initial injury which caused the wound in the first place or those which are secondary to being less active during the period of wound healing.

Movement Dysfunction

• Subtle Lameness/Movement Dysfunction
• Restriction in Lateral Movement
• Resistance/Issues with Jumping
• Heavy in front when ridden
• Difficulty in canter lead legs or counter canter
• Excessive Tail or head movement
• Issues when tacked up/mounted
• Falling into or out of a circle
• Wearing shoes down asymmetrically or incorrectly
• Gross changes in behaviour-Rear/Buck
• Excessive Saddle slip/movement
• Resists working 'on the bit'-hollows

Treatments Available

Manual Treatment:

• Joint Mobilisations and Manipulations
• Soft Tissue mobilisations
• Myofascial Release
• Acupressure
• Stretches
• Neural mobilisation

Electrotherapy:

• H-Wave
• Class 3b Laser - LLLT (Low Level Light Therapy)
• Therapeutic Ultrasound

Rehabilitation Advice:

• Education and advice through post-operative period
• Progressive and reactive to changes through recovery

Tailored Exercise Plans and Progression:

• Specific and prescriptive exercises for your horse
• Progressive and adaptive exercises at each stage
• Designed to teach and facilitate you and your horse to progress and develop
• Goal driven towards set targets and outcomes

Physiotherapy Benefits

The key benefits of using our Physiotherapy service are:

• Chartered Physiotherapists
• World Class Physiotherapy Service
• Consultancy and Second Opinion Service (SOS)
• Tailored and Outcome Focused Approach
• Specialist Physical Assessment and Treatment (90min session-initial assessment/treatment)
• Full Liaison within Multi-Disciplinary Support Team
• A Full and Supporting Service from A-Z
• Evidence Based Techniques and Approaches (60min session-follow up treatment)
• A Centre for 'Everything Physiotherapy'
• A Personal Service which Targets both Horse and Rider Issues
• Close Working Unison with World renowned Farriers/Veterinarians/Equine Specialists
• The Best that Physiotherapy has to offer

What are the Practical Benefits of using one of our Physiotherapists?

• Improved Strength and Flexibility in Movement for both Horse and Rider
• Improved Overall Movement Quality
• Improved Muscle Balance and Symmetry
• Reduced Healing Times
• A Faster Return to Work Post Injury
• Effective, Progressive, Practical Rehabilitation and Advice
• Accessible, Flexible and Available Service

Chartered Physiotherapists

The most qualified Physiotherapists in the UK, extensive training and governed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) we offer the highest qualified Physiotherapists the UK has to offer.

World Class Physiotherapy Service

We work alongside and with International teams from both the UK and New Zealand bringing our services up to speed at this elite level means you can be assured the very best knowledge and expertise that is helping these teams to reach their potential worldwide.

Consultancy and Second Opinion Service (SOS)

We pride ourselves on offering a Consultancy service whereby our expertise are sought to take you through an entire process from problem identification through to resolution with Physiotherapy treatment or refer you to the best professionals to achieve a successful outcome. We are often asked to provide an 'SOS' in cases with complex movement problems previously causing other professionals to 'scratch their heads'! We draw on our extensive experience in analysing movement to ensure we locate the focal problem areas and the causative factors. Unless the original issues are resolved the physical presentation will continue or reoccur if the original cause is not targeted and dealt with. The correct recipe often requires our Physiotherapy treatment and sometimes additional intervention from other Veterinary Professionals.

Tailored and Outcome Focused Approach

Our approach is specifically tailored to your requirements and your horse's needs and all our treatments and advice are based and focused upon mutually agreed, realistic goals specifically for you targeted on your desired outcomes at the end of treatment.

Specialist Physical Assessment and Treatment (90min session-initial assessment/treatment)

Our Initial Assessment and Treatment sessions last 90mins and during this time your entire horse is assessed both dynamically and statically, your horse is looked at in varying gaits in different positions and a problem list is identified. Following this you are informed of all the findings from our assessment and an initial treatment is completed following your consent. Alternatively if we feel more appropriate, we may advise you seek further Veterinary input at this stage if we feel that this is necessary before we undertake any treatment.

Full Liaison within Multi-Disciplinary Support Team

As Professionals who have worked extensively within human medicine we are very used to working as part of a professional team where there are fluid boundaries of information all for the best outcome for you as the client. We work on the same ethos and continue to work closely and alongside your support team in whatever way possible to ensure we all work together for the successful resolution of your concerns.

A Full and Supporting Service from A-Z

We take your requirements seriously and work hard to provide a top quality service at all times. We take you from initial assessment all the way through to a finished outcome and help you throughout the process providing you with the very best of our knowledge and providing you with the very best advice at every juncture.

Evidence Based Techniques and Approaches (60min session-follow up treatment)

We provide both yourself and your horse with the most up to date and current treatment approaches available. We are governed by strict health guidelines and follow a human medical research structure, therefore we have regular access to the most current and up to date evidence based approaches there are available. We are completely unique as a profession, being Chartered Physiotherapists mean we are all Human Physiotherapists who have completed our Masters of Science qualifications (MSc) this means we can offer you the very best both human medical Physiotherapy and Veterinary Physiotherapy has to offer.

A Centre for 'Everything Physiotherapy'

We pride ourselves on being able to offer advice and information on all things 'Physiotherapy' whether this is directly related to your needs or just advice on peripheral and general movement and physio information. If we need to offer you guidance on suitable rehabilitation or support products then we advise you on what would suit your requirements and your needs.

A Personal Service which Targets both Horse and Rider Issues

We are the one and only profession that has the unique and fantastic set of skills which can assess and treat both yourself and your horse and how the two interact and effect one another. In isolation there may be minor movement dysfunction and concerns with yourself and mild to moderate similar concerns in your horse but if you then add the two together when in a ridden situation then this cumulatively adds up to a potentially major concern and issue. If only one side of your ridden partnership is treated then you are left with one half of the partnership which over time will start to effect the other one if left untreated. The speed of return will be determined by how much time you spend riding with that partnership as the more often you ride with that individual, the quicker the functional issues will return.

Close Working Unison with World renowned Farriers/Veterinarians/Equine Specialists

We work very closely with International Farriers, Vets and other international team professionals which means we can offer you the very best information and advice. We intermittently join forces with these world renowned experts to learn from one another and share a common desire to move Veterinary Medicine forwards. We also run regular seminars/evening talks to give you the opportunity to come along and learn and furnish you with the best information there is!

The Best that Physiotherapy has to offer

We take our Physiotherapy service very seriously and we aim to consistently provide a top quality service in every element, right the way from your initial phone call through to our office to book your appointment, through to us leaving you after your treatment and seeing you through to your next competition or diary date. We aim to give 100% service quality and if we don't we want to hear about it!

What are the Practical Benefits of using one of our Physiotherapists?

Improved Strength and Flexibility in Movement for both Horse and Rider Physiotherapy provides your horse or yourself with the necessary tools to become more flexible through all movements and this in turn enables an increase in strength and ability.

Improved Overall Movement Quality

The quality of movement not only is important in competitive disciplines but is also vitally important to reduce the incidence of injury. The greater the quality and efficiency of movement then the likelihood of injury is massively reduced. If you or your horse are moving in the best possible way then it's not difficult to imagine that if you move well then you're far less likely to put both spinal structures and soft tissues under strain.

Improved Muscle Balance and Symmetry

Our Physiotherapists focus on both the skeletal and soft tissue structures within the equine and human body and target treatment and advice to achieve accurate and functional muscle balance and in turn symmetry. The symmetry of movement is 'everything' in terms of movement health. Many factors have to be finely tuned to ensure movement is as symmetrical as possible for that animal or person.

Reduced Healing Times and a Faster Return to Work Post Injury

The speed of recovery following an injury is key both in terms of return to competition and work but also to minimise the impact of secondary complications upon the body. The longer an injury of any sort is present the impact of time off, change in management, altered gait pattern or physiological cascade of events has a detrimental effect. The speed of recovery plus resolving associated and peripheral issues is paramount to ensure a high quality and speedy return to function. Our service tackles all of these issues just as we would in human medicine with a human athlete.

Effective, Progressive, Practical Rehabilitation and Advice

Once an injury has occurred and we have managed the acute situation we then guide and advise you through the rehabilitation process. It's vital that we arm you with these skills so that you can learn how to improve your horse's movement and strength yourself. Ultimately you need to know what 'good' movement is and what is 'not so good' and how best to achieve this through graded and progressive exercises. Once you know how, we assist you at each step to progress further along the process to achieve your goals. Whether you need a little or a lot of help with rehabilitation we can help you.

Accessible, Flexible and Available Service

We provide a fully accessible service with maximum flexibility to work around yourselves. We cover a very large geographical area (entire Mid-West Region and further by arrangement) with options for yard visits or clinic venues to provide options on all levels. Our physiotherapists provide verbal feedback to you whenever necessary and formal reports by arrangement. Liaison with your support team of Vet/Farrier/Saddler/Nutritionist/Trainer/Dentist/Coach etc. is assured and undertaken whenever and wherever is needed to gain the very best outcome for you and your horse.

We ensure full accessibility via Email (info@bradfordsvetphysio.co.uk), Facebook ((Bradfords Veterinary Physiotherapy)), Twitter (@Vet_Physio), Website Links (www.bradfordsvetphysio.co.uk) or the good old fashioned telephone: 01432 890490.

Our Physiotherapists provide full mobile phone access via the office and we offer early and late appointments Monday to Friday plus Saturday appointments by arrangement.

We also offer specialist and Exclusive Competition Support for key event dates where a Physiotherapist on your support team, on site on the day, would give you the edge!

Expertise

Each Physiotherapist in our team is a fully qualified human Physiotherapist (Chartered) who has gone on to undertake and complete their post-graduate master's degree into Veterinary Physiotherapy. Throughout the lengthy qualification route each of our Physiotherapists have consolidated their human skills and then transferred human medical principles into the Veterinary world. Physiotherapy as a profession has long been an established part of human medicine/health care and evolved originally from treating people post injury and the rehabilitation process. Physiotherapy over recent decades has been at the forefront of human medical research and knowledge and expertise within the profession has exploded. Human Physiotherapists have complete autonomy in their field and can fully diagnose the root cause and problem and will refer on for further tests and expertise.

Over recent decades human Physiotherapists have used acupuncture as a main stay to their treatment 'tool box' using both western and eastern approaches and more recently can now undertake joint injections and prescribe medication in the human field. Because of this extremely progressive and forward thinking nature of our profession our human knowledge has, and continues to bring advancements to Veterinary medicine. Only a Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist will give you this level of knowledge and expertise.

There are a lot of different therapists and physiotherapists in the equestrian world which can mean it can be a very confusing marketplace for the horse owner. Our key title is one of CHARTERED VETERINARY PHYSIOTHERAPIST this is the only title which ensures you are getting a fully qualified human Physiotherapist on top of master's level Veterinary knowledge. We have an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience within the team so whatever you need help with we are 100% confident we can help you resolve your physical problems and concerns.

Physiotherapy Consultancy

We are regularly asked to offer a consultancy service for individual horses which the owner may feel are not heading in the direction they would like. We offer a fresh pair of eyes and review your horse from scratch, taking in to account previous veterinary/medical history we will start from the very beginning and take a full overview of the horse. We use our knowledge and unique approach to unravel what is going on and more importantly what is causing what to happen. Only at this point can effective treatment take place. Unless the root cause is tackled and treated then symptoms persist and return time and time again. We would say this is the most common reason for referrals to our consultancy service and why it is so widely sought after. All too often symptoms are treated, not the causative factors. The root cause has to be the focus of intervention and treatment and is the way in which we approach all our cases which are presented to us using our 'Consultancy Service'.

Exclusive Competition Support

We also offer our Physiotherapy presence as support services at your key events and shows! Whoever sees a human athlete without a support team of Physiotherapist/Trainer waiting in the wings to assist as necessary at the key times when you need help. This service is particularly effective at shows where classes or stages are spread out or when vet exams are required at different points throughout the event. Physiotherapists are experts in managing acute soft tissue strains, muscle tightness/soreness and skeletal stiffness which may be preventing you and your horse from progressing or moving straight!! Plus, as in human medicine, Physiotherapeutic approaches are substance free and drug free so there's absolutely no risk of anything we use affecting your horse's compliance, it's just gain all the way!

If you want a Physiotherapist to join your support team for key events just let us know well in advance so we can book you in, before anyone else gets booked in, and you'll be making sure you give you and your horse the winning edge! –Be one step ahead of the rest!

Long Term Goal Management

We are here to be used as much or as little as you require. Ultimately we have the skills and knowledge to guide you through all physical goals you would like to achieve with your horse, providing advice and help along the way. Following time off or injury the road to recovery can be long and arduous however our Physiotherapists are here to help you to make that process as smooth and as problem free as possible. At initial assessment an outline of your ultimate goals can be set and then we will provide you with guidance/knowledge and Physiotherapeutic approaches to achieve them. At each stage we can review your progress and set more goals to ensure we are progressing in the correct direction all the way through to discharge and for longer if you require.

Education and Training

We heavily support Chartered Human Physiotherapists during their Masters degrees to become fully fledged Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapists alongside their Institutions, providing a varied and full caseload to learn from. You may occasionally meet a student Vet Physio (fully qualified human physio) out and about with our Physiotherapists learning alongside our therapists about how to become a focused and forward thinking Vet Physio!

Events and Seminars

We offer regular 'Events' and 'Talks' whereby people can come along and learn more about their horses and we pair up with other experts in their field to bring you the most up to date information. These events have proved very popular in the past and we will continue to offer you the best information there is. We listen to you as a client and focus on what you want to hear more about so our topics vary dependent upon the requirements of our client base. Feedback from these events has shown you LOVE them and you love the social side of our events just as much as the content you're learning about!

'Being Chartered'

We support wholeheartedly the Chartered Physiotherapy route to become a Veterinary Physiotherapist after your human training. We believe this makes you an outstanding Physiotherapist with exceptional skills having gained vast experience and knowledge in the human field first. Everything we do and know as a Physiotherapy profession is derived from our human medical research. Everything we treat we treat in the same way, whether that is human or animal our physiology and anatomy is incredibly similar. Human medical research is rapidly growing and constantly seeking, we maintain this level of knowledge and directly transfer our human Physiotherapy skill and research across to our animal counterparts so they can benefit too. These reasons outline our feelings as a practice and so we do heavily support those training routes providing practical placements for all MSc and Pg Dip courses for Chartered Physiotherapists upgrading their skills to Veterinary practice, and giving them the best training and skills we can.

BEWARE that not all Veterinary Physiotherapists are the same! Unfortunately, the term Physiotherapist is not a protected term in the Veterinary world but it is in human medicine. Therefore, when you are seeking Physiotherapy treatment for yourself you can be assured of a high level of training and professional standards from your Physio. Currently the only term which is protected for human physiotherapists in the veterinary field and for you to distinguish between other physiotherapists is the word 'Chartered'. All Physiotherapists who have 'Chartered' before their title ensures you have a very extensively trained human Physiotherapist on top of their Veterinary training. Please check out our credentials to corroborate us, we're very proud of them. Just please be aware that there are some individuals out there who call themselves Veterinary Physiotherapists but may not have had any training at all!! Unfortunately, they wouldn't be breaking the law either!

Product Assessment and Source

We stock some fantastic key products which we know will benefit your horse's recovery and treatment. We are always looking and are open to new products which may help support our therapeutic interventions.

A fundamental role to our service is providing you with tailored advice for you and your horse. Often it becomes clear that your horse would benefit from a key piece of equipment or a product which when carried out frequently between Physio sessions would vastly accelerate their recovery.

As part of our assessment and treatment we can advise you on what the best products would be for your set of circumstances and help set them up for ease of use plus ensure the product or piece of equipment is applied in a specific and tailored protocol or applied in a specific way to ensure it achieves the desired outcome.

As a practice we are also Registered Distributors for Forever Living Products, an amazing and full range of products which help to boost overall health, well-being and performance. The Forever Living range of products are based upon using the whole leaf of the Aloe Vera plant which naturally is antibacterial with absolutely incredible natural healing properties.

Research has shown this to be true and advocates it's use for a vast array of conditions and ailments. There are a lot of fantastic products in use within the Veterinary Field which provide arguably unrivalled health support for lots of equine ailments, just ask us for more details. We have a direct online ordering system in place, why not take a look: http://www.bradfordsphysio.myforever.biz/store.