Step by Step Veterinary Physiotherapy: For Sport, For Work, For Life.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Happy Days. A lovely day visiting some beautiful horses and home to find my application to renew my RAMP membership has been approved.

04/04/2026

This was summer 2022 and the knowledge learned informs the way I practice, every day and every horse. I can smile at how ambitious it was but only now can I truly value it. 🐴

Research project with the University of Nottingham. We have been observing how horses learn a trot pole exercise. Do they have a more dexterous ( or dominant ) pair of legs? Do they use the right and left sides of their bodies evenly? How much do they flex their limbs? Is how they feel written all over their faces? If we change the rein - do they change the leading leg ? Last but not least can physios take meaningful measurements without access to treadmills, multiple high speed cameras and accelerometers?
Well this month these three beauties have been helping me and I am very grateful to their owners and Annemarie Mullen without whom there would be no project.
Our oldest project horse is 23 and back loving life after rehabilitation and our racehorse just 6 and only a year off the track. But today we have a young eventer, a golden oldie and a 2022 Badminton Grass Roots top ten finisher! 

28/03/2026

Case history Saturday : We have welcomed many new lovely horses this spring.

So what do we actually do?
❌I am not a massage therapist, although massage is terrific!
❌I am not a “back lady” although strong backs are vital to our horses.
❌I am not the lady with the INDIBA in the area - although I do have one and they are very useful!
Modern RAMP/NAVP registered physiotherapists do :
✅ Assess the whole horse. The initial meeting is in depth covers static and dynamic tests, your horse’s history (veterinary and athletic), current and previous environments.
✅ Start a comprehensive data set including video, measurements of body condition score, feet and gait using up to date technology including video and analytic apps.
✅ Palpate looking for areas of compensation, which may be under or over developed tight and/or painful.
✅ Apply non pharmaceutical pain relief modalities - we have all accredited Electro physical and manual ones within the practice.
✅ Prescribe exercises to help you and your horse.
✅ Liaise with your vet, farrier and saddle fitter and discuss other complementary activities such as hydrotherapy, and salt therapy.

Crucially empower you with more information about your horse and his way of going to move you forward on your journey together.

This lovely young horse had recently moved to bare foot care and presented with forelimb gait and foot asymmetry with bilateral splints. His muscular development shows areas of hypertrophy and hypertonicity. There is much to come from him with care from his whole devoted team of which I am delighted to be a part.

It’s not too late to get your best friend assessed this spring 07885470670

21/03/2026

All horses benefit from long lining cross training.
✅ riding but without weight on their backs
✅ reassure at their shoulder, develop independence when behind.
✅ vocal commands and direction changes perfected.
✅bright poles, steep hills, water challenge develops proprioception and confidence.
✅ comfortable footing
✅ mentally and physically demanding good for ponies and Nannas!

🩵Proudly wearing our ribbons.
. 🩵
Thank you Aylesford XC

14/03/2026

Herbies turn - he lives to jump (big) but had a fright on the lorry a week earlier earning a few scratches and a bruise so a gentle session for him too.. movement for improvement, make it easy for the horse and then move on up.
We were very pleased with them both today - the height of a jump means nothing, the challenges they have overcome mean everything.

14/03/2026

A long and very wet winter but the Step By Step horses are now out and about increasing their work intensity and variety. Bertie needs to build confidence with his jumping after years of sore feet. We ask how he is feeling by starting everything “small” whether on the flat or over poles. Today I had a lot of horse underneath me and he towed me to the poles, which told me a lot. If Bertie is sore he stops and Herbie pops his back and his butt up!!
It’s just their way of communicating and our job to listen and work or not work accordingly.
-motivation

08/11/2025

 Screen day today, the Vet Rehab Summit is a rich menu of learning and discussion and in the breaks I am writing a blog for the website!
The link is here

https://www.stepbystepvetphysiotherapy.co.uk/post/understanding-equine-normal-behaviour-during-initial-interactions-and-strategies-for-successful-intr

08/11/2025

Are you welcoming a new horse to your yard? It's a moment filled with anticipation! Understanding normal equine behavior during these initial interactions is crucial for fostering lasting relationships. Discover valuable strategies to ensure successful introductions. Read more here: https://wix.to/CQkLGdU

Introducing a new horse to your yard or home can be an exciting yet anxious moment for horse owners and yard managers. Horses are social animals with complex herd behaviour, and their first interactions often set the tone for future relationships. Understanding what normal horse behaviour looks like...