Question 1

Do I need a referral from my vet?

Accepted Answer

The Veterinary Surgeons' Act states that complimentary therapies may only be performed under direction of a qualified veterinary surgeon for sick or injured animals. If your horse is currently under veterinary care then a referral will be required before they can receive physiotherapy treatment.
 
Maintenance and performance treatments for healthy animals do not require a referral from your vet, however your vet will be informed as a courtesy and so that any concerns can be raised should they feel physiotherapy may not be appropriate. Any undiagnosed injury or illness detected during initial consultation will be refrred back to your veterinary surgeon.

Question 2

What can I expect during my horse’s appointment?

Accepted Answer

Appointments usually take 1-1.5 hours. After taking a full history I will carry out a thorough postural and dynamic assessment of your animal, followed by treatment of the whole body using a range of manual and electrotherapy techniques, focussing on any problem areas.  ​
I will usually prescribe some simple exercises and management tips to help your animal to progress between treatments.  A comprehensive treatment report is provided for each session so you can monitor your animal's progress. For rehabilitation cases a progressive remedial exercise programme will be provided tailored to you and your horse.

Question 3

How should I prepare my horse for treatment?

Accepted Answer

Your horse should be in from the field, clean and dry ready for treatment, ideally in a quiet area away from too many distractions.   
In the event of wet or inclement weather we will need an undercover area to work in ideally on a level, non-slip surface; a stable is ideal if available.  
​

Question 4

How soon can I ride following treatment?

Accepted Answer

We usually recommend a restful day following routine physiotherapy (with the exception of specially tailored pre-competition treatments) as your animal may feel a little sore or quiet.​
Ideally, we like to allow 5-7 days between seeing an animal for the first time and any competitions, to allow them time to adjust to changes in their musculoskeletal system.

Question 5

I don't have any special exercise equipment, how will I manage the exercises?

Accepted Answer

It's amazing what can be achieved with a bit of imagination! Fence posts and potties make good substitutes for cavaletti poles, and you can often find excellent 'equipment' out on a hack - trees for weaving and of course hills are always great for conditioning.​
Whatever your set up, rehabilitative exercise programmes are designed to fit in with you with consideration of available time and resources.

Question 6

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We travel to all yards within a 30 mile radius of St Austell.

Question 7

How much does treatment cost?

Accepted Answer

Treatment costs are between £70-£80 depending on your location, this is inclusive of full assessment, treatment using all available modalities (including Indiba) and written report with exercise prescription.

Question 8

Can I claim for physiotherapy on my horse's insurance policy?

Accepted Answer

Most insurance policies will cover you for complementary therapies when referred by a veterinary surgeon, we recommend you check with your policy provider before booking if you plan to claim. Both the NAVP and RAMP are insurer recognised professional bodies.