The Positive Vet Physio

10/10/2025

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁…

My biggest pet peeve: winter turnout!!

Does your yard offer winter turnout?
And by that, I mean any kind…..??

all weather turnout pens, a small sacrifice paddock, a track system, or even a little grazing “pot” where your horse can stretch their legs, drop their head, roll, and just breathe.

Because let’s get one thing straight, 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭.
Neither is ten minutes standing in a pen while someone sweeps the yard. That’s not freedom. That’s a token gesture dressed up as “care.”

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿.
𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲.

If your yard doesn’t provide any form of turnout through the winter, that’s not a management choice, that’s neglect. Plain and simple.

To every yard hiding behind “tradition,” “space constraints,” or “it’s too wet”…..enough.
F**k tradition when it comes at the cost of animal welfare.
If you can’t give horses the basics, then reduce your numbers or rethink your setup. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 “𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫” 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 22 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬.

And to the owners….yes, you too, if your horse is standing in a box all winter, you have a responsibility to do something about it.
Hand walk before work. Hand graze after. Lunge, long rein, free school.
Make the effort. Because your horse’s sanity depends on it. “𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆” 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲.

To the livery yards, welfare is not optional. It’s not something you offer when the weather’s nice or when it suits your schedule.
It’s your duty as a yard owner to provide the basics: movement, space, air, light, and social contact.
𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟.

Stop hiding behind excuses and outdated thinking.
Stop normalising cruelty because “that’s how it’s always been done.”
Horses aren’t ornaments. They aren’t there to fill boxes and balance books. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

So yes, this is a Thursday night thought, but it’s also a challenge:
Take a look at your yard. Take a look at your routine.
Ask yourself honestly……does your horse actually get to be a horse in winter?

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐭, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. 𝐃𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐁𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬. 🐴

07/10/2025

22/09/2025

It's been a while since I posted and being terrible at social media is one reason but this little bundle of squish was another good reason why 😍

However, I am dying to get back to what I truly love, treating our equine, canine and feline family members so they are happy, pain free and can live their best lives and working out how to break down strength exercises for horses using positive reinforcement 😊 🫶🏻

See you very soon 😊

24/07/2024

CALLING ALL EQUESTRIAN WHO TRAIN USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Let's flood Facebook with your videos of your horse learning things using positive reinforcement and show everyone there is another way!!!

24/07/2024

CALLING ALL EQUESTRIANS WHO TRAIN USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Let's flood Facebook with your videos of your horse leaning things using positive reinforcement and show everyone their is another way!!!

30/06/2024

Fabulous day treating some absolutely gorgeous ponies (17.3 is pony right?? 😂)

Finally remembered to get some pictures as I always forget. Amazing releases of tension working the myofascia of the scapula, which will help to release the muscles of the thoracic sling ready for their owners to strengthen this area with exercise prescription I give.

Poppy nearly fell asleep on me with the masterton method 'Head up' technique to help her release tension from her poll and the muscles around her head. Jack loved a 'Wither wiggle' and was showing significant tension release working around his withers.

These techniques, together with the owner putting the exercises given into practice to strengthen their horse's core makes such a significant difference. I never cease to be amazed at the difference when a horse has groundwork injected into their routines.

Spaces for booking with me are limited so get in touch to see how I can help your horse become strong to improve their performance and quality of life.

22/06/2024

It's the best day when you get a random message from a client who is feeling like they are finally moving forward with a happy, healthy horse 🤩😍
After a couple of treatments and the owner working super hard implementing the exercise programme I devised for them to do, it is paying off with a strong, pain free horse 🤩

This vet physio is doing a happy dance today 🤩 Love my job

06/05/2024

Really good examples of how positive reinforcement (clicker) training is used with many different animals.

Positive reinforcement training has completely changed they way I view horse training and movement, especially in relation to strengthening and teaching horses how to use their body.

If you're interested in learning about positive reinforcement training for strengthening your horse and starting a new training journey with your horse, give me a message to book a session with me.

“Horses are ‘too dangerous' to train with food”

But did you know?

🐘African Elephants, the largest land mammal, have been trained to take injections and many other husbandry behaviours.

🐻Bears, who have a bite force of over 1,200 PSI, have been trained to have their teeth cleaned and to give hair and blood samples.

🐯Tigers, with claws 4 inches long, have been trained to back up their tails into their handler to get injections and to accept fly spray on ears.

🦓Zebras, who have been known to kill lions in a single kick, have been trained to voluntarily walk onto a scale, stand still and get weighed.

🦛Hippos, the worlds deadliest mammal, have been trained to have their teeth brushed and blood drawn.

🦧Chimpanzees, who have 5 times the arm strength of a human male, have been taught to get their temperature checked and teeth inspected.

🦒Giraffes, the tallest mammal in the world, have been trained to have their hooves handled and trimmed.

This is just a small sample of the amazing things that have been taught with clicker training / positive reinforcement (R+). No force or fear needed! All these behaviours have been taught with food. If these larger, more dangerous animals, can be trained safely with food, so can your horse! 🐴🦄

Note: Just like all types of training there is a learning curve and methods of ensuring the safety of both the animal and the trainer. Sometimes that requires protected contact but most importantly requires a thorough understanding of the animals needs/body language.

Inspired by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin(included in comments!)

22/04/2024

Why choose a NAVP registered Veterinary Physiotherapist

NAVP