LGAP Animal Physiotherapy.

09/12/2025

Cold weather can make some dogs, cats and horses stiffer... just like us! Some breeds, like the New Forest pony, grow their own winter coats, which perfectly protect them during the winter months, but others may need more help from us. Similarly with dogs, some grow great winter coats whilst others don't.
Remember to:
* Keep them warm: Coats, blankets or rugs help.
* Watch slippery surfaces: Ice, frost and wet leaves can be tricky.
* Warm up first: Gentle stretches or a short walk before exercise.
* Watch for discomfort: Slower movement, stiffness or reluctance to play may mean aches or soreness.

A little care goes a long way. Early physiotherapy and tailored exercises help pets stay mobile, confident and happy.

If you have any concerns, get in touch!

01/12/2025

We had our initial consultation with this sweet rescue puppy, Moose. He’s showing weak back legs, so we’ve prescribed some gentle exercises to help strengthen them. We’ll reassess his progress in a few weeks.

His weakness could be related to age, conformation, or his past experiences – he was sadly abandoned and found malnourished, in a poor state of care. With love, attention and physiotherapy, we hope to see him gain in both strength and confidence.

28/11/2025

When we ride, we’re not just thinking about our own posture but how we are affecting our horse’s spine too. Sitting on the spinous processes (those bony bits along the back) can compress them, influencing their internal anatomy.

Think of it like a bow and string: the horse’s back is the bow, the abdominals underneath are the string. A restricted back means the abdominals can’t work properly. By keeping rider position, saddle fit and weight balanced, we help the horse move naturally and stay strong.

Small adjustments = a big difference for comfort and long-term health!

Tallulah, the advanced riding simulator at When we ride, we’re not just thinking about our own posture but how we are affecting our horse’s spine too. Sitting on the spinous processes (those bony bits along the back) can compress them, influencing their internal anatomy.

Think of it like a bow and string: the horse’s back is the bow, the abdominals underneath are the string. A restricted back means the abdominals can’t work properly. By keeping rider position, saddle fit and weight balanced, we help the horse move naturally and stay strong.

Small adjustments = a big difference for comfort and long-term health!

Tallulah, the advanced riding simulator at Tilefield Equestrian - Amanda Barton, gives riders detailed feedback on their position and even lets you watch yourself in action, allowing targeted adjustments that improve balance, coordination and comfort in the saddle. Try it out for yourself!

25/11/2025

Injuries or just everyday riding can subtly change how your body moves in the saddle. Even small shifts in posture or saddle alignment can cause discomfort for you and your horse.

In a recent fitting with Tom from , Harbour had put on 9kgs and had a small lump near the stirrup bar and left back of the saddle, as seen on the diagram. The saddle was flocked to address these areas.

A well-fitted saddle makes all the difference and regular saddle checks are important. Visit our Professional Associates page to find an expert near you who can help keep you both happy in the saddle.

18/11/2025

November is
This month, we celebrate our wise, slightly slower (but much cuddlier) older companions. Senior pets may benefit from gentle exercise, physiotherapy and small home environment adjustments to stay comfortable and mobile. With the right care - and plenty of treats - we can help them continue to thrive and enjoy their golden years in style!

13/11/2025

Have you noticed anything different with your dog’s movement or posture? Watch this video to learn what to look for and what to do if you spot any signs of discomfort.

05/11/2025

Leanne was completely spoilt for her birthday last weekend!
From a birthday ride to a surprise party and a cosy overnight stay at a hotel, everything was lovingly organised by her amazing family. With such wonderful family and friends, her birthday was truly unforgettable!

02/10/2025

Forelimb mobility work can play a valuable role in supporting horses recovering from injury, experiencing stiffness or needing improved shoulder function. When carried out appropriately, gentle extension exercises may help to ease muscle tension, encourage healthy range of motion and support joint comfort, which can contribute to overall performance and wellbeing. If you’re concerned about your horse’s mobility, get in touch to arrange a consultation.

29/09/2025

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, a reminder that our pets are often experts at hiding discomfort. Subtle changes like slowing down on walks, stiffness after rest, reluctance to climb stairs or seeming less playful can all be signs of pain. As animal physiotherapists, we see every day how pain, whether from arthritis, injury or age-related changes, can affect a pet’s quality of life. With the right support - from physiotherapy and tailored exercise to pain management strategies - many animals regain full mobility, confidence and their best quality of life. If you have any concerns about your pet, get in touch to arrange a consultation or a quick chat.

10/09/2025

Does working your horse on firm ground actually help prepare them for competition or could it increase the risk of injury?

This is a really informative video from Dr. David Martin. The rain may have made an appearance, but it’s still important to think about the surfaces you’re training on, with this year’s unpredictable conditions, knowing how and where to train your horse safely can be a real challenge…

29/08/2025

Some advice from a great nutritionist about taking care when buying your forage and understanding how to help our horses that suffer with weight issues.

ENERGY OVERSUPPLY: A SILENT RISK IN SO-CALLED 'SAFE' FORAGE

I'm astounded and very concerned to see advice in a forage analysis report that a hay supplying 9MJ of energy per kilo is suitable for a laminitic horse.

Even if that hay was to be fed at just 1.8% bodyweight intake per day (dry matter) - which is restricted i.e. lower than a normal appetite - this will supply 81MJ of energy.

An overweight laminitis-prone 500kg horse needs about 63MJ of energy per day (to ensure gradual weight loss, we feed 90% of energy requirements), so this hay fed at RESTRICTED quantities will oversupply this horse by over 18MJ of energy!!

That is the equivalent of about 1.5kg (a heaped stubbs scoop) of conditioning mix.

This is disastrous advice.

And if we fed this hay free choice to a normal (not a large) appetite (2.5% of BW), this could supply 112.5MJ of energy...
..which is how much a horse in significant work would need. And it's an almost 50MJ oversupply (about 4 stubbs scoops of conditioning mix), which is going to cause significant fat gain.

(And despite the simple sugar being almost 10%, the NSC is 21% - we all know that we must take into account not just sugar, but the entire NSC content of a hay i.e. the fructan as well).

This is DOUBLE the recommended amount of non-fibre carbs recommended for laminitics!!

(There is agreement amongst nutritionists, physiologists and research specialists that we need to consider fructan in hay and not just sugar and starch, when assessing suitability for EMS, laminitis and indeed obesity).

It is absolute basic nutrition knowledge to consider the dietary energy intake (we also call that 'calories').

I've said it many times before but I will say it again...

We MUST look past sugar (or worse, just sugar and starch) to assess the suitability of a forage for laminitics or overweight horses and ponies!!

It can be disastrous not to.

I've had countless owners come to me for advice - more than one almost in tears - wondering why their horse has put on weight on 'low sugar' hay.

And sadly, some of them have ended up with a bout of laminitis.

When taking advice on forage analysis results, please check the source is either a qualified nutritionist or the company has a qualified person working for or with them (who can train them).

Please be very careful who you take nutrition and feeding advice from.

Just because they sell products (feeds/supplements/forage/forage analysis) does not mean they have a suitably qualified person to offer nutrition advice (which this case clearly shows).

Feel free to share this

ps the overweight pony in the picture needs an energy (calorie) deficit, because this is the ONLY thing that will cause fat loss (he is not linked to the report I mention)
🐴🍏

26/08/2025

Today might be a bank holiday, but it’s also !

A perfect reminder of how much our dogs do for us... whether they’re adventure buddies, working dogs or champions of the sofa.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in keeping our best friends moving well, feeling comfortable and enjoying life to the fullest, especially as they age or recover from injury.

Give your dog that extra bit of love today! And if you’ve noticed any stiffness, limping or changes in how they move, we’re always here to help.