Cotswold Equine Physio

07/11/2025

🔬 Interesting new research from Hartpury on dynamic mobilisation exercises - showing that while these stretches support mobility, true improvement in spinal function depends on addressing underlying asymmetry and muscle tone.

**🔬NEW RESEARCH PUBLISHED🔬**

EFFECTS OF A 6 WEEK DYNAMIC MOBILISATION EXERCISE PROGRAM ON THORACOLUMBOSACRAL KINEMATICS IN SPORTS HORSES

V. Walker*, R. MacKechnie-Guire, C. Leedham, G. Tabor, I. Deckers, J. Paddison, C. Maddock

New research led by Dr Vicki Walker, supported by colleagues from Hartpury University published in the Equine Veterinary Education.

👓Available as Open Access https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eve.70013 (read without subscription).

Background: Dynamic mobilisation exercises (DMEs) are prescribed to support locomotor function, but knowledge of their longitudinal effect on thoracolumbosacral (TLS) spinal kinematics is limited.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a 6 week DME program on TLS kinematics during
standing reflexes, walking and trotting.

Methods: Thirty nine work matched horses were split into two groups: DMEs and controls. Horses' straight line trot was assessed at week 0 and week 6 by a veterinarian (≤1/5AAEP grading scale) and physiotherapist who assessed muscle hypertonicity and assigned palpation scores. Surface mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) and reflective markers (19 mm) were positioned at head, thoracic (T)6, T10, T13, T18, lumbar (L)3, L5 between left and right tuber sacrale (TS) and left and right tuber coxae. Sternal and croup reflexes were quantified using optical motion capture (240 Hz) and straight line walking and trotting kinematics using IMUs (100 Hz). Mixed models assessed relationships between vertical displacement during reflexes and differential flexion–extension (FE)/lateral bending (LB)/axial rotation range of motion (ROM) at walk, trot and predictors: week, group, movement and covariates: asymmetry values and palpation grades (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: No significant changes in vertical displacement in the reflexes or FE ROM during walk and trot were observed in the DME group (p >0.05). Vertical displacement in the croup reflex at T13, FE ROM at T13–T18 during walk, FE ROM at T18–L3 and LB at T6–T13 during trotting decreased at week 6 in both groups (p < 0.02). Head and pelvic asymmetry values and palpation grade had significant relationships with kinematics during reflexes and walking and trotting (p < 0.05).

Main Limitations: Horses only had straight line gait assessment.

Conclusions: DME had limited impact on TLS kinematics over 6 weeks; however, the findings highlight the influence of gait asymmetry and palpation grades, underscoring the importance of addressing these factors alongside exercise prescription for optimal functional outcomes.

04/11/2025

🐴 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 — 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡.

This has been on my mind a lot ..
We keep talking about burnout in the horse world — but what if it isn’t burnout?
What if it’s just caring too deeply, for too long, without a break?

Because we don’t clock off at 5pm.
We don’t switch off our phones or our brains.
We lie awake wondering if the one that didn’t finish their feed is okay,
or if the weather’s going to turn the fields into soup again.

We say “I’m fine” while doing twelve things at once, running on coffee, hay dust and stubbornness.
We hold space for everyone else’s horses, emotions, and emergencies — but who holds space for us?

And when we finally show we’re tired, someone always says,
“Well, you chose this life.”
As if loving something means it shouldn’t exhaust you.

But it’s okay to be tired.
It’s okay to need a day off.
It’s okay to love this life and still feel like it’s breaking you sometimes.

Because the truth is, we don’t do it for money, or glory, or thanks.
We do it for the quiet moments —
the old horse resting his nose on your shoulder,
the rescue that finally trusts again,
the little wins no one else sees.

That’s what keeps us here.

So if you’re reading this and you’re running on fumes — you’re not weak.
You’re human. You just care more than most. 💛

Ps. If anyone finds a “self-cleaning stable” or a “field that never turns to mud” setting in real life, please DM me immediately. I’ll sell a kidney for it. 😂

20/10/2025

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ❄️

With the colder weather setting in and the ground switching between soft and wet or hard and frosty, it’s no surprise many horses start to feel a little tighter through their backs and hindquarters.

Regular physiotherapy at this time of year can help to:
• Ease muscle tension caused by variable footing
• Support recovery after schooling or turnout
• Maintain suppleness and performance throughout winter

I’ve got just a handful of November and December appointments left before Christmas and January slots are now open for those wanting to start the New Year feeling their best.

🎄 I’ll be away for three weeks over Christmas, so I’ve opened up extra Saturday and Sunday dates in December to make sure everyone can be seen before I finish for the year.

19/10/2025

❄️ 🐎 How Horses Muscles React to Cold Weather 🐎 ❄️

When the temperature drops, your horse’s body works hard to stay warm, and their muscles feel it too! Fit horses have more muscle mass and better circulation, so they generate and retain heat more efficiently. They warm up faster and are less prone to stiffness.

Unfit or less conditioned horses have less muscle and poorer blood flow, meaning they feel the cold sooner, take longer to warm up, and are more likely to feel tight or sore in chilly weather.

🐎 Top Tips
Allow extra time to warm up and cool down in cold weather to prevent tension and injury. Keep your horse moving, rug appropriately, and consider massage or stretching to maintain suppleness.

📚 We’re running a full CPD this November exploring how cold weather affects muscular function, thermoregulation, and performance, perfect for therapists, trainers, and owners who want to deepen their understanding. Yes….still only £5.35 each month with 2 hour Certification (Accredited) 🎓
Just visit our online Monthly CPD

https://woldsequinemassage.co.uk/monthly-cpd

19/10/2025

✨ Continuing to learn and grow

A brilliant day at the IRVAP Conference on Friday - learning, connecting and feeling inspired to keep evolving within our industry. 🐴🐶

Some fantastic talks from Dr Sue Dyson and Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire.

17/10/2025

✨ 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮𝘆!

I’m not normally one to share much about myself on here - but this one felt too fitting not to.

Before I became a Veterinary Physiotherapist, I used to sculpt horses in bronze - I even worked on large-scale art projects with other artists like the Brexit Lions, Ocean Siren in Townsville, Australia (not always horses!) and the Underwater Museum of Art! One of my early equine pieces even won an award!

It was during my time as a groom that I really fell in love with anatomy and movement. I’d spend hours watching horses, noticing how balance and strength flowed through every stride - and that fascination with biomechanics has stayed with me ever since.

These days, I might not be sculpting in bronze anymore, but that same eye for symmetry, flow and detail still guides how I approach every horse I treat.

It still feels a bit strange sharing something so different to what I do now, but I guess it all connects in the end.

16/10/2025

✨ 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✨

No two horses are ever the same - and neither are their sessions. Each treatment is completely tailored to the horse in front of me, depending on their needs that day.

Sometimes that means gentle manual therapy and relaxation work, sometimes it’s a more focused performance or rehabilitation plan, and may also include advanced technologies such as or gait analysis when it’s the right fit.

Every session is about finding what helps that horse move, feel and perform at their best 🐴💚

15/10/2025

OMG you guys 🥰☺️❤️ I’m honestly so touched by all the lovely recommendations! Thank you so much for the support - it means the world 🐴💫

14/10/2025

Anyone looking for an appointment in November or December please get in touch as spaces are filling up very fast.
I go away for 3 weeks in December and will
be cramming as many appointments in (even some Sundays 😱) so please get in touch early to avoid disappointment ☺️

A picture of my handsome chap enjoying some hydro