top of page

All joints in the horse’s skeleton have a natural range of movement. When this range of movement becomes restricted this can cause muscle spasm. Over time this can cause ligament tension and loss of muscle tone. The signs of back and muscle pain in your horse can be subtle and can often be dismissed. Subsequently some of the signs that your horse may be experiencing muscle pain are as follows:

These signs may result from (amongst other issues):

 

  • Pulling back when tied up

  • Twisting

  • Turning sharply

  • Becoming cast in the stable

  • Slips and falls whilst turned out, in competition or general work

  • Old Injuries– even those which we think they have recovered from.

  • Stress and over-exertion through performance

  • Jumping awkwardly

  • Ill fitting tack

  • Unbalanced feet or bad shoeing and dentistry

  • Compensating for rider imbalance

  • Illness 

  • Conformation problems

  • Joint problems such as stiffness or arthritic/degenerative joint disease.

Signs of possible back pain might include:

 

  • Unexplained behavioural changes

  • Becoming sensitive around certain areas of the body

  • Reluctant to be tacked, rugged up/reacting when the girth is tightened

  • Dipping the back, crow hopping or bucking when rider mounts

  • Difficulty working in an outline, stiffness particularly on one rein or difficulty with lateral flexion (bending)

  • Hollowing and a reluctance to go forward/lays into the bit

  • Dragging the toes  

  • Prefers to jog, lope, or gallop does not want to trot

  • Struggling to pick up a canter lead or cantering disunited, poor engagement, collection or extension.

  • Problems when jumping: refusals, knocking poles, short strides, jumping flat/ Tendency to charge and rush to complete task

  • Has trouble maintaining a circle , has a tendency to drift in or drift out

  • Uneven strides

  • Holding the tail to the affected side

  • Uneven wearing of shoes

For many of my clients, Physical Therapy is used as part of their horse’s general health routine. They include my services along with those of the dentist, vet, farrier and saddler. It is an excellent way to help ensure that horses enjoy good health, freedom of movement and optimum performance.

Benefits of Equine Physical Therapy include:

·                 Improved flexibility, suppleness and movement.

·                 Relief from soreness and muscle spasms

·                 Greater mobility in the horses joints

·                 Improved muscle tone

·                 Reduction of strain on tendons, ligaments and joints

·                  Increase in range of motion

·                  Increase in reflex and reaction time

·                  Reduction of recovery time if an injury occurs

·                  Gives your horse the edge in competitions

·                  Early detection and treatment helps prevent future problems.

Allows your horse to fulfill their potential by improving performance, health and well-being.

Regular Equine Physical Therapy sessions are invaluable in detecting small changes in the soft tissue and addressing the problem before injury and muscle compensation occur.

                                                                         Your Vet is always the First course of Action !

If your horse appears ill or lame, your first call should always be to your vet. There are some conditions where manual therapy including massage may do harm. Fever, infections, viruses, fractured bones are a few conditions in which massage should not be used. Equine Physical Therapy is not a replacement for veterinarian care. 

bottom of page