Hilton Berry Animal Physiotherapy

02/03/2026

🦄MYTH BUSTING MONDAY🦄

🚫 Myth: "My horse/dog is stiff because he/she is getting older"

✔️ Truth: Ageing doesn't automatically mean discomfort.

Many of the older animals I treat move better after addressing;
😖 Muscle tension
😖 Reduced joint mobility
😖 Compensatory movement patterns

With the right support, horses/dogs can stay comfortable and active well into their senior years.

I'd love to see some photos of your golden oldies below 👇🏼

27/02/2026

🏆🥇 When performance dips, pain is often overlooked as being the cause.

These are some of the things I commonly find in competition horses:

😖 Reduced hindlimb engagement
😖 Back tension affecting transitions
😖 Uneven muscle development

Addressing these early can make a noticeable difference to your horse's way of going, without increasing training pressure.

📱Message me to discuss pre-season or performance support (07851357764)

25/02/2026

3 subtle signs your horse might be uncomfortable 👇🏼

😖 Difficulty bending one way
😖 Behavioural changes (biting, napping, reluctance, bolting etc...)
😖 Loss of topline or uneven muscle development

Horses are incredibly stoic and very good at compensating, so pain isn't always obvious.

If something feels "a bit off", trust your gut.

A physio assessment can help find the cause 📱

23/02/2026

Do leisure horses really need physio?

In short: yes, but maybe for different reasons 💚

Hacking, schooling, uneven ground, mounting habits and saddle fit all place demands on the body, even without competing.

Physio can help leisure horses:
✅ Stay comfortable and willing (enjoy their work)
✅ Move more freely
✅ Stay in regular work for longer

Just because your horse doesn't compete, doesn't mean they don't deserve a little TLC 🤗

20/02/2026

🏇🏼 Competition season is approaching... Is your horse's body ready?

Pre-season physio isn't just for horses with problems.

It helps:
✅ Optimise movement
✅ Improve comfort during work
✅ Reduce the risk of expensive (both in time and money!) injuries mid-season

Think of it like an MOT before the workload increases.

🗓️ Pre-season appointments are filling quickly, so get in touch to secure a slot (07851357764)📱

18/02/2026

A typical physio session 🐴🐶

✅ Movement/static body assessment
✅ Hands-on treatment (massage, mobilisation, stretching, electrotherapies where appropriate)
✅ Tailored advice for exercise and management

Every animal is different, whether they're a competitive athlete or a pet.

My goal is always the same: keep them comfortable, strong, moving well, and enjoying their job 🤗

16/02/2026

🌱 Spring work is starting again, but here's something I see every year...

Fresh ≠ fit

After winter turnout or reduced work, muscles decondition far quicker than most owners realise. Even horses that feel great can be compensating quietly.

Early physio checks help;

✅ identify tight or weak areas

✅ reduce injury risk

✅ support a smoother return to work

Whether you're hacking or gearing up for competitions, now is the ideal time to check in with your horse's body.

Message or WhatsApp me to book or ask questions (07851357764)📱

13/02/2026

☔ Winter mud doesn't just ruin boots, rugs and the interior of your car! 👀

It also changes how your horses move 🐎

Deep or uneven ground can cause:

😖 Increased strain on tendons, ligaments and joints

😖 Muscle tension/soreness

😖 Subtle compensations that linger into the season

Many horses I see at this time of year aren't "injured", they're just weak and sore from months of adapting.

A physio assessment can spot these changes before they become bigger issues.

Prevention is ALWAYS easier than rehab 🙌🏼

Drop me a message or WhatsApp to book or find out more (07851357764) 📱

02/01/2026

🙌🏼

Today the Netherlands have banned Scottish Fold and Sphynx cats. As of January 1st 2026 it will be illegal to breed, sell or buy one of these cats and those who are currently owned must be microchipped and cannot be shown at cat shows or events.

This decision has been taken because of the health problems these cats suffer and it is another example of how the countries of Northern Europe are currently leading the world in making legislative changes that make clear how unacceptable the breeding of animals with extreme conformations is.

Scottish Folds carry a genetic mutation which weakens the cartilage in their bodies. This gives them their ‘cute’ folded ears but it also causes debilitating arthritis that often results in them being euthanased very young because their pain cannot be controlled.

Sphynx cats have been shown to have the shortest life expectancy of all pedigree breeds of cat and also have an extremely high incidence of heart disease.

I am delighted to see this law and I hope more countries, including the UK, will look to it as an example to follow and build on.

https://uevp.fve.org/news/the-netherlands-bans-the-keeping-of-folded-ear-and-hairless-cats

https://icatcare.org/articles/scottish-fold-osteochondrodysplasia

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X241234556

09/12/2025

💡🌧️🐕RAINY DAY EXERCISE IDEAS🐕🌧️💡

With day after day of pouring rain and wind, you may find that it's not always possible to get your dog out for their usual long walk(s).

So here are some exercise ideas for inside the house:

🐩set up an obstacle course using whatever you have in the house (encourage weaving, stepping over objects, crawling under, moving backwards etc.)

🐩practice "tricks" (sitting, standing, lying, rolling over, giving paws, dancing, bowing etc.)

🐩controlled, slow walking up and down the stairs

🐩scavenger hunt (hide food under cushions, inside boxes, under bowls etc.)

🐩feeding puzzles/toys

🐩play Hide and seek

These exercises are designed for fit, healthy dogs but if your dog has an injury or other mobility issue, drop me a message for some advice on exercises specifically for your dog 😊

04/12/2025

🤕STRESS/TENSION SPOTS🤕

Just a quick video to show how stress/tension spots can be visible in your animals, in this case a horse.

As you can see in the video, I'm pointing to this little area where the hair looks a different colour to the rest of the neck.
The colour is actually exactly the same but the hair is lying in a slightly different way to the rest of the hair, and this is due to tension in the muscles or the fascia underneath the skin.

This tension pulls on the hair follicles making the hair strands lie in a slightly different direction.

They're not always visible but when I saw this one yesterday I just thought it was really interesting and a great visual to be able to show you.

So, if you notice any patches of hair lying in a different direction, looking a slightly different colour, standing up on end, or perhaps parts of the mane that have suddenly flipped over to the opposite side, this could definitely indicate tension so best to get it checked out.

Drop me a message or call if you would like your horse assessed📱

01/12/2025

This disgusting weather has got me reminiscing about treating snoozing ponies in the sunshine in a t-shirt 😭🤣🥰

Winter is NOT my season!! So, don't be alarmed if you see something resembling a marshmallow waddling onto your yard muttering about the cold...it's just me 🙋🏼‍♀️ questioning my life choices 🤣

If this is something you'd like to see 👀 (or if your horse could do with some physio!), get in touch to book a session ASAP, as I'm down to my last few days with availability for December 🗓️

I am also taking bookings for January if you want to get ahead of the curve for the New Year, so drop me a message or call (07851357764) 📱