Equine physical therapy is very highly recommended for all elite equestrians to increase flexibility, heal from injuries, and help maintain their overall health.
Our Horses are as elite as any athlete could be, doing just as much work and all the regular training. Considering the work your horse puts in, physical therapy is so beneficial for them in the long run, lessening their chances of an injury, and perhaps making the aging process much more comfortable for them, too.
What is Equine Physical Therapy?
Equine physical therapy is assessing and treating any musculoskeletal conditions that your horse may have. To put it simply, a physical therapist goes through a series of programs, to help your horse's muscles and bones heal from injury, increase flexibility, or bring them to their optimum strength and functionality. Trained physical therapists can address many conditions, such as back pain, limited joint mobility, inflammation, bone and tissue healing, and much more!
Equine physical therapy at its most basic looks much like giving your four-legged friend a massage and a series of stretches. However, in the hands of a professional, horse physical therapy is more about hitting the right pain points, depending on what your horse needs for them to be at optimum performance.
Some physical therapists use Red-Light Therapy, but the use of this would solely depend on the needs of your horse. They also give you recommendations regarding your horse's exercise routine, to be done when they are under your care, in collaboration with the physical therapy sessions.
The Obvious and/or Subtle Signs Your Equine Needs Physical Therapy.
Due to the nature of their work, your horse may experience back pain or neck pain. Observe any signs of negative changes in their movement, imbalances in their muscle usage, or perhaps you see a swayback beginning to appear, or even lameness in your equine. These are obvious signs that you need to bring to your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and ask for advice if your horse needs to go to a physical therapist. More subtle signs could be a sudden change in your horse’s gait, a slight wincing, avoiding being touched, or even a reluctance to jump or move.
You know your horse the best, could it be just their temperament for that day, or could it be something much more? Is there something that can be done or improved on so that your horse can have a better quality of life? For this, it’s best to go with your gut.
Avoiding Horse Injuries Through Physical Therapy.
How your horse works, whether they are for leisure riding or in training for a competition, matters a lot. With all the work they do, it follows that your horse may experience back and neck pain, and other injuries related to their muscles, due to daily training. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, they say, and equine physical therapy can be seen as a way of preventing equine injuries by increasing your horse's flexibility and strength by lessening the tightening of their muscles. When your physical therapist detects abnormalities with your horse’s movements or muscles, a physical therapist can help you manage the pain and symptoms from getting worse and can keep your horse at its peak performance as well.
What to Expect in a Standard Equine Physical Therapy Session.
An equine physical therapy session will depend on the specific concerns of your horse, but the standard approach begins with an assessment. Much like when you go to a doctor yourself, you will be asked by the physical therapist about the concerns you have with your horse. There will be questions, such as your horse’s background, level, workload, diet, and current exercise regime if they are undergoing training, the quality of their tack, and, of course, there will be questions about you, and if any, your horse’s other riders. After which, your equine will undergo a full static and dynamic assessment, checking the gait, movement, canter, and many more.
If by any chance, during the assessment, the physical therapist sees an injury or lameness in your horse, take note that they are not qualified to properly diagnose it. They should work with your veterinarian so that the physical therapy plan of your horse will complement and greatly help your horse’s recovery from its injury. Physiotherapy should never replace the care of a veterinarian.
For back pain, a physical therapist would usually use spinal mobilization techniques to lessen the pain and restore motion. Muscle-strengthening exercises may also be used, such as Kinesiology taping, or exercises to strengthen your horse's abdominal muscles or lessen colic.
Aging horses will also benefit from physical therapy, relieving them from pain brought about by arthritis. Physical therapy can also be done for post-surgery care and recovery if it is cleared by your horse’s veterinarian.
Rider and The Physical Therapist, Working Together.
Continuing their therapy at home, or with you, is important for the physical therapy to fully work. The continuity will come in the form of a home exercise program to support the physical therapy treatment plan. A home exercise program usually includes groundwork, stretching, and pole and ridden exercises. Some physical therapists might also recommend giving your equine simple massages.
Can I Ride My Horse After Physical Therapy?
If the session has left soreness in certain parts of your horse, then it might be better to give your horse some time to rest and recuperate before getting back on the saddle.
How soon can your horse compete? Again, it would depend on what was done, but the minimum gap between the session and the competition should be a minimum of three days.
The main purpose of Equine Physical Therapy is to keep your horse comfortable, healthy, and protected. Your horse works hard and deserves to be taken care of.
Conclusion
Horse owners often note an improvement in the emotional health and behavior of horses the following massage, in addition to the physical benefits massage often yields.
For example, massage therapy can induce relaxation in stressed, agitated, and anxious horses, including those with a history of abuse. Reducing muscular pain, stiffness, and discomfort also means the horse may be less fearful and more willing to perform.
Regular Maintenance Equine Therapy makes it easier to prevent an injury from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after the injury has happened. Horses that are in routine work tend to use the same muscles repeatedly in order for them to perform their intended job. Because of this, their muscles start to develop tension patterns.
This is also another reason why it is important to add regular maintenance therapy sessions to their calendar and another reason why I recommend follow-up sessions.
Hannah
Massage is not a substitute for veterinary care. We work closely with you, your vet, & farrier to fully benefit the whole horse. We are happy to answer any questions you may have or book an appointment, email Hannah at hannahegan.eq@gmail.com
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