Physiotherapy of equine kind
Physiotherapy of equine kind
Physiotherapists and sport therapists are an essential part of patient and athlete
care, post-operation or injury. Having shown their value in human care, they
are now taking their skills into the horse world, as Tamara Farrant discovers
HOW do you explain to animals to push themselves that little bit more every day and keep up the controlled exercise?
To tackle this challenge, sports therapist Chris Caden-Parker has joined forces with former European three-day event champion Lucy Thompson. They see patients of all shapes and sizes at Four Elms, Kent, from ancient ponies to Olympic equine athletes.
On my first visit, Chris was treating Jez and Harry, leisure horses that received their first treatment 10 weeks earlier. Owner Rachel Carruthers brought them to Chris after several months eliminating other reasons why they were not moving freely.
The first examination indicated that Jez had muscle spasms in both shoulders and through his back. He was massaged and treated with electro-accupuncture to release deep muscle spasm. Now, at his check up, his remaining muscle spasm was a slight tenderness over his rump.
"Jez has made amazing progress," says Chris. "His strength of character has helped him respond so positively. He has a pushy, busy nature which encourages him to be brave enough to test and make use of his new mobility."
However, Harry – short for Harriet – a reserved and cautious mare was still tight behind both shoulders and across the rump. She has had navicular for over three years and in these cases horses take a lot of convincing that the pain may not be present.
* Same as humans
"This is no different in the human athlete. If something has hurt for long enough it is easier not to risk trying," says Chris. "The psychology is so important in recovery. I can treat the physical problems, and Lucy can inspire a horse to push himself that little bit more and discover a new freedom of movement."
On this occasion Lucy gave Rachel a set of exercise to encourage Harry to use herself more, including trotting poles, raised poles and canter poles. "It is a vital part of the treatment that the owner and rider continue the training work so that the horse does not revert," says Lucy.
For the more chronic residential cases that require several days of therapy, Lucy takes on the rehabilitation and re-education. From her experience of training young horses and riding at top level for 20 years she can sense the smallest amount of tightness or irregularity in a horse.
"Immediately after treatment the horse is watched in hand, on the horse walker or on long reigns. This enables me to assess its balance by seeing whether the horse drifts one way or tracks crookedly through the quarters.
"Sometimes a horse can be straight at this stage, but introduce a riders weight and the compensation will resume. It is important to decide whether this is habit, discomfort or generated by the rider.
"Wherever the weak link is – horse, rider or a combination of the two – by educating the rider we can work together to improve the horse."
No two horses are ever the same. Treatments might include massage, therapeutic laser, magnotherapy or acupuncture.
The rehabilitation will be adjusted to suit the need, the progress and the temperament of the individual horse.
Much of Lucys work involves gymnastic exercise to help the horse build up the muscle correctly. "A horse must gradually be taught to believe it can do the tasks asked of it. Once confidence is established it is astounding how they love to do the work," she says.
If the spasms return, this indicates a structural problem, so the horse is returned to the vet for further examination. All this work is in partnership with the clients usual veterinary surgeon, both before and after the treatment.
"The work on horses is particularly rewarding as it is a comparatively new area," says Chris, who still treats people regularly in part of her work.
Lucy Thompson on Welton Molecule at Badminton – they finished eighth.
Inset: Chris Caden-Parker checking Jezs rump.