Hannah Foley - ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapist

09/12/2025

04/12/2025

⭐ A huge well done to Ryan Le Monnier Ryan Le Monnier

⭐ Ryan received a special merit award for his dressage achievements at the Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled awards.

Sponsored by .foley_acpat.physio

03/12/2025

⭐ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dorset and Hampshire visit - December full.

⭐ Next trip February 2026 only a few slots left.

⭐ Equine physiotherapy only for UK visits and no availability for new clients.

⭐ If you are an existing client and need physiotherapy in between my visits I can refer you to my ACPAT colleagues thanks 🦄💫

30/11/2025

As questions around horse welfare grow, can equestrian sport's Olympic dream survive?

29/11/2025

The importance of turnout to increase bone density & for injury prevention. Living in a stable increases the risk of osteoporosis.

Your horse’s skeleton is built for impact — not confinement.

Three decades of equine bone research makes one thing painfully clear: Horses kept in box stalls lose bone density.

Not metaphorically. Literally.

Confinement triggers the same biological process humans call osteoporosis — and it starts fast.

Key findings from the research:

- Horses moved from pasture into stalls and worked only at slow speeds began losing bone mineral content within weeks.
- A single short sprint per week (50–80 m) dramatically strengthened bone.
- Corticosteroids mask pain and increase risk of further injury
- Good nutrition cannot override a lack of mechanical loading.
- A skeleton that doesn’t experience impact simply cannot stay strong.

All of this is drawn from:
Nielsen, B.D. (2023). A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger. Animals, 13(5), 789.

So what does this mean for our modern domesticated horses?

It means bone weakness is not inevitable.

It’s a management problem.

It means many “mysterious” pathologies — stress fractures, suspensory injuries, joint degeneration, chronic compensation, recurrent lameness — are downstream consequences of bone that never had the chance to adapt to the forces nature designed it for.

Box stalls create osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis creates a whole lot of other pathology.

Your horse doesn’t need to be an athlete. But their bones require impact. Free movement. The ability to respond to their own nervous system’s cues to trot, canter, play, stretch, and even sprint.

Turnout is not enrichment.

Movement is biology.

Bone health is built — or lost — every single day.

A question I encourage every owner to sit with:

If you knew your horse’s bones were weakening in silence every day they stood still, would you keep managing them the same way?

Because in the end, it’s not confinement that keeps a horse safe.

It’s a resilient skeleton.

And only you can give them the environment their biology requires.

Change begins with us.

29/11/2025

✨ Business Update ✨

🇯🇪 As many of you know, I moved back home to Jersey in the summer and bought a beautiful Andalusian called Encantador (Enzo).

🐎 🐕 I will now be taking on more clients in the Channel Islands & if you are interested in how physiotherapy may help you or your animal my contact details are on the last slide.

🇯🇪 I specialise in equine, canine and rider physiotherapy, biomechanics and rehabilitation.

🇯🇪 Jerseys first physiotherapy & rider biomechanics clinic is with myself & Holly on the 28th & 29th March 2026 at Home Farm. Last few spaces available.

👩🏻‍🎓 My Qualifications - BSc in human physiotherapy, 2013 - Bournemouth University. PgDip veterinary physiotherapy 2020 at Hartpury University & upgraded to an MSc following a research year in 2022.

💪 I have extensive experience in the human physiotherapy world through NHS and private practice work over the last 12 years. Specialising in MSK, orthopaedics and rider biomechanics.

🐎 I have now owned my business for 5 years since qualifying as an ACPAT chartered physiotherapist. I have been working in the south of the UK & have been fortunate enough to work with an array of experienced vets, physiotherapists, farriers, dentists, saddlers & riding coaches in the UK & Channel Islands.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 To all my lovely UK Equine clients - I will continue to visit Dorset & Hampshire for routine equine physiotherapy every 2 months. For anything urgent in between I will refer you to experienced ACPAT chartered physiotherapists. No new clients will be taken on in the UK however I can refer you on to my fantastic colleagues!

🌈 It has always been a dream to work between Jersey & the New Forest and own a grey magical horse. I am super grateful to now live this dream! My vision 20 years ago was to be an ACPAT physiotherapist after being inspired by equine professionals treating my old horse Rory & thank you for being part of the journey. ✨

🦄 My future plans are to continue expanding my physiotherapy work with other amazing veterinary professionals to advocate for animal welfare & enhance MSK comfort & performance!

📸 the wonderful SP Photography

28/11/2025

THE FEI BLOOD RULE (ARTICLE 259) CHANGE FOR JUMPING - WHAT AM I MISSING?

🐎When the FEI's new blood rule for jumping was passed, I found myself confused. Why take a backward step on horse welfare? Why only in jumping? Why not across all disciplines? I've remained quiet, trying to understand if there was some nuance I've missed or misinterpreted. I don't think there is.

🐎WHO HAS SAID WHAT?🐎
I was really impressed that the BEF did not vote for this rule and that both the BEF and BS have denounced the change.

-BEF
Jim Eyre, Chief Executive of British Equestrian, said: “We support the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare, but based on the evidence and expert opinion, we could not support this rule. The vote was far from unanimous, and we welcome the FEI’s pledge to ongoing review and dialogue.

“If horses are to have a future in sport, we must demonstrate unwavering respect for their welfare. That means clear, ethical rules that put the horse first. We remain committed to working with the FEI and fellow federations to ensure fairness, clarity, and the highest standards of care in equestrian sport.”

-BS
British Showjumping Chief Executive Iain Graham said, “As leaders in equestrian sport, our duty is clear: protect our athletes, human and equine, and put horse welfare at the heart of every decision.

“While we recognise the riders’ concerns and welcome elements like enhanced veterinary checks and tougher penalties for repeat offences, removing automatic elimination for visible blood is a step backwards. It risks eroding public trust and undermines the very progress these changes aim to achieve.

The FEI's WELFARE ADVISOR
In March 2025 Dr Andrew McLean was invited to collaborate with the FEI on their Equine Welfare Strategy. This month following the rule change he said [re rule 259] "A very backward step. The FEI Welfare Group's strong recommendation against adopting this proposal was completely ignored. For me, never a more bizarre and stupid example of nailing one's own coffin.”

🐎WHO DO WE THINK VOTED AGAINST THE RULE CHANGE🐎
Votes are generally not made public, but Sweden, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Taipei are all believed to have voted AGAINST the change and GB have publicly stated they did not vote for the change!

ARTICLE 259
The new rule (Article 259 of the FEI Jumping Regulations) stipulates that rider induced blood on the horse will no longer lead to automatic elimination. Instead, a system of jumping recorded warnings will be introduced:

-First and second violations: registered warning
-Two or more recorded warnings within twelve months: a fine of CHF 1,000 and a one-month suspension.

If the blood stems from other causes, for example, the horse has bitten its tongue or is bleeding from the nose, the combination may be allowed to continue in the competition, provided that the horse is deemed fit by a veterinarian check.

The previous rule (240.3.30) covering automatic elimination in the event of the presence of blood has been removed. Rule (264.2.1) on automatic elimination for marks that indicate excessive use of spurs remains in place.

🐎MY CONCERNS🐎
Where as before it was clear: BLOOD = ELIMINATION, it will now be an OPINION-based rule not an absolute. I am concerned we may find vets under extreme pressure to allow horses to continue. If you have been around high-level competition you will understand the pressure that some riders and teams can bring to bear.

BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE - Potentially an indication of EIPH (Epistaxis) i.e. blood from the lung. Potentially linked to atrial fibrillation (AF). AF may progress to more severe arrhythmias and is associated with risks like collapse or sudden death. Will anyone be endoscoping horses to ensure that any blood in the nose is not from the lungs?

🐎DISSAPOINTED does not really begin to cover it. I thought we were moving in the right direction, but now I'm not so sure.

🐎WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS?🐎
Is the new blood rule for jumping acceptable? Is it a step forward?

19/11/2025

🙏🙏

REDWINGS FIREWORK PETITION - UPDATE

A huge Thank You to everyone who signed the Redwings Horse Sanctuary petition to reduce maximum firework noise from 120dB to 90dB.

This would mean that the maximum volume of fireworks would be reduced by 8x or if you like 1/8th as loud as they can be now!

100,000 signatures were required for this to be considered to be debated in parliament and the current figure is over 172,000!!!

17/11/2025

🐴HOW OFTEN IS THE POLL THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE NECK IN MODERN DRESSAGE COMPETITION?🐴

The 2025 FEI Dressage Judging Manual states (page 3, point 5) that...

"The head should remain in a steady position, as a rule with the nose line slightly in front of the vertical, with a supple poll as the highest point of the neck, and no resistance should be offered to the Athlete."

There are 11 further references that the poll should be the highest point.

🐴IS ANYONE ACTUALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE THE POLL IS ON THE HORSE?🐴

The 26th edition (2025) of the FEI Dressage Rules (page 47, 2.1.2) states....

"The crownpiece of the bridle must lie immediately behind the poll and may extend forward onto the poll but must not be fitted to lie behind the skull."

Debbie Symes (Sports Science Graduate, Dressage Coach and Advanced Dressage Rider) and myself have written an article on this exploring this issue in greater detail which is OPEN ACCESS - https://askanimalweb.com/the-poll-or-not/

15/11/2025

Voice aids are to be allowed in dressage in what has been welcomed as a 'positive step' for the sport. Read more below