Horses

Horses are asked to perform in many ways.  Neck, back and muscular pain may result from even day to day activities.  If any of the following apply to your horse, he might benefit from treatment by an experienced equine physio  :
Unexplained poor or reduced performance
Napping, rearing, bucking or similar resistances
Unexplained behavioural changes, unwillingness to co-operate
Difficulty with canter leads, poor engagement, collection or extension
Problems when jumping: refusals, knocking poles, short strides, jumping flat
Appearing sensitive to grooming or cold backed on mounting
Signs of stiffness or difficulty with lateral flexion (bending)
Difficulty with shoeing or uneven shoe wear
Unlevelness, especially behind
Toe-dragging

equine physio

These problems may be caused by (amongst other things):

Poor fitting tack
Becoming cast in the stable
Poor foot balance
Dental pain
Conformation problems
Imbalanced rider
Repetitive training
Slips and falls whilst turned out, in competition or general work
Old injuries – even those which we think they have recovered from

Treatments for horses take place at the horse’s usual location.  It is preferable for your horse to be clean and dry in readiness for treatment.  Before treatment, Helen will undertake a full static assessment and dynamic gait analysis, and may need to see the horse ridden or lunged.

The treatment is only the beginning of the healing process and a careful aftercare programme will be devised which should be followed to gain maximum benefit from treatment.

Owners will be given a written report of the findings, therapy undertaken and aftercare recommendations, including “homework” exercises, to enable them to best support the treatment which has been given and continue the rehabilitative process.  It may be necessary to follow up the initial treatment with  one or two more sessions but generally Helen’s aim is to produce a long-term improvement in the horse which should result in only a 6-monthly or annual maintenance check-up being required.

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Physiotherapy for animals“ Physiotherapy for animals …
for suppleness, mobility and performance ”

Helen Tompkins is a dual qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist and McTimoney Animal Practitioner based in North Devon.  She uses physiotherapeutic techniques (massage,  mobilisations, manipulation, electrotherapy, stress point therapy, exercise therapy and stretching regimes) and McTimoney Animal Manipulation techniques to address musculoskeletal problems in animals.  Although Helen mainly treats horses and dogs, she has also successfully treated other animals including cats, sheep, goats and cattle.

Helen covers Devon, North Cornwall and West Somerset.

It is a legal requirement that anyone treating an animal must have veterinary permission to do so.  Helen will contact your vet prior to treatment to confirm any relevant details and to ensure permission is forthcoming.  Where an animal presents with symptoms which may require veterinary attention (such as lameness), Helen may decline to proceed with treatment until veterinary advice has been sought.

Physiotherapy for animals