http://www.ellieb-vetphysio.com/

Ellie Brassey Veterinary Physiotherapist, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire & surroundings, Swindon Village (2025)

Q: What is the address?

Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire & Surroundings

10/11/2025

Don’t Overlook Physiotherapy for Your Dog 🐶

Physiotherapy isn’t just for injured dogs , it’s about keeping them comfortable, mobile, and pain-free throughout life. From playful pups to golden oldies, every dog benefits from proactive care.

Here are a few everyday habits that can quietly cause discomfort or tension 👇

🐶

🔹 Collars and pulling on the lead
Constant pulling puts pressure on the neck, shoulders, and even the spine — sometimes leading to long-term tension or pain. Switching to a well-fitted harness spreads pressure evenly and helps protect muscles and joints.

🐶

🔹 Stairs and slippery floors
Running up and down stairs or losing grip on smooth floors can strain joints and muscles, especially in young dogs or those with arthritis or hip issues. Non-slip mats, ramps, or gentle guidance can make a big difference.

🐶

🔹 Jumping in and out of cars or onto furniture
That daily leap in and out of the car adds up! Repetitive jumping can jar the shoulders, elbows, and lower back. A small ramp or lift in/out support helps protect joints — especially in larger breeds or older dogs.

🐶

🔹 Overdoing exercise or swimming
While activity is great, sudden bursts of intense play, long walks, or endless swimming can fatigue muscles that aren’t conditioned for it. Build up gradually, and let rest days be part of your dog’s routine.

🐶

🔹 Feeding position matters
Dogs with neck, back, or shoulder discomfort can struggle when feeding from the floor. Using an adjustable raised feeder can help them eat more comfortably without over-stretching or hunching.

🐶

🔹 Weight and muscle balance
Extra weight or weak core muscles increase strain on joints and ligaments. Physiotherapy exercises help strengthen supporting muscles and improve balance, coordination, and posture.

🐶

✨ Small changes in daily care can make a huge difference. Physiotherapy keeps dogs moving freely, builds strength, and helps prevent pain before it starts.

10/11/2025

Don’t Ignore Physiotherapy for Your Horse 🐴

Physiotherapy isn’t just for horses in pain it’s about keeping them comfortable, preventing issues, and helping them move at their best. Whether you’ve got a happy hacker or a top competitor, regular physio makes all the difference.

Here are a few everyday things that can quietly affect your horse’s body 👇

🔹 Haynet height matters!
Too high = constant neck and back tension.
Too low = overstretching.
Feed as close to the ground as safely possible to encourage natural movement and healthy topline muscles.

🔹 If your horse feels ‘fresh’, find the cause , not just the outlet.
Endless lunging won’t fix it. Check for pain, saddle fit, nutrition, turnout, or changes in routine. Fresh behaviour is communication, not defiance.

🔹 If your horse is spooky 👻 teach, don’t punish.
Tension restricts movement. Instead of forcing them past something scary, use calm, consistent exposure. Relaxation = correct movement.

🔹 Racehorses: pre-race care matters too.
Pre-race physio warms up muscles and improves stride length.
Post-race helps flush lactic acid and reduce inflammation.
Both are key for soundness and performance.

🔹 🛑 Laser therapy helps healing.
Low-level laser therapy speeds up recovery, improves blood flow, and reduces inflammation — great for wounds, scars, and soft tissue injuries.

🔹 For the greedy feeders.
Soak hay to lower sugars instead of cutting quantity.
Use small-holed nets or multiple feeding spots to slow eating and reduce neck strain.

✨ Every horse deserves to feel their best — and regular physiotherapy keeps them moving freely, performing happily, and staying sound for longer.

06/11/2025

🐎 From the Racetrack to a New Chapter 🦄

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is working with ex-racehorses as they transition into new careers from happy hackers, eventing and showing to simply enjoying life away from the track. 💙

This change is a huge physical and mental transformation. Racehorses are built and trained to run fast in straight lines at a young age, so when they start a new discipline, we’re asking their bodies to move, balance, and strengthen in completely new ways.

💫 Farriery & Foot Balance
Good hoof balance is the foundation of soundness. Many ex-racehorses need time and careful farriery to correct long toes or low heels and thin soles from their racing days. Balanced feet = a balanced body.

🪶 Saddle Fit & Posture
Many ex-racers start with a weak topline and strong underneck muscles. As they develop new strength and posture, their shape changes, so regular saddle checks are essential.

💆‍♀️ Physiotherapy Support 🙌 🛑
Physiotherapy helps release tension from old muscle patterns, build correct strength, and prevent compensations as they adapt. It supports:
• Core and topline development
• Flexibility and suppleness
• Comfort during retraining

🧠 The Mental Side
Leaving the track can be overwhelming. Calm, consistent handling, turnout and gentle physiotherapy helps these horses relax, trust, and settle into their new life.

🫱 Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Success in a second career takes a team: farrier, vet, physio, saddle fitter, dentist, nutritionist, and a patient rider / owner.

✨ With the right care, ex-racehorses become balanced, confident, and willing partners and are incredibly intelligent ready to shine in their next chapter.

🐎 Racehorses are often inexpensive to buy, with many looking for new homes once their racing days are over — but their story doesn’t end there. With the right care, patience, and support, they can truly shine in life after racing. 🌟

25/10/2025

🤚 🌟 Let’s Talk About Laser Therapy! 🌟 🛑

Did you know that Low Level Laser Therapy (Class 3B) can be an incredible addition to your horse and dog’s treatment plan? 🐴🐶✨

This gentle, non-invasive therapy uses light energy to stimulate cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and speed up healing — helping your animals feel and move their best.

💥 What it can help with:
• Soft tissue injuries (tendons, ligaments & muscles)
• Muscle soreness or tension
• Wound healing & scar tissue
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Chronic conditions such as arthritis
• Post-surgical recovery
• Windgalls in horses – by reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and supporting lymphatic drainage, laser therapy can help minimise swelling and discomfort around the fetlock area

🛑 Laser therapy works by increasing circulation, oxygen delivery, and collagen production, promoting faster recovery and improved comfort — whether it’s your competition horse, your working dog, or your much-loved companion.

It’s completely pain-free and safe, and most animals find it deeply relaxing (many even drift off during treatment! 😴).

If your horse or dog is recovering from an injury, struggling with stiffness, or you simply want to support their ongoing performance and wellbeing, this could be the perfect option.

📞 or ✉️ 0 7 4 6 8 4 6 5 5 8 0

24/10/2025

❄️ Winter Wellness Tips for Your Horse ❄️
Cold weather can make our horses a little stiffer, but small daily habits can really help! 🐴💙

✨ Warm up before exercise – 10–15 mins of walking gets joints moving.
🧣 Keep them cosy, a well-fitting rug helps muscles stay warm.
🥕 Add gentle stretches after work to maintain flexibility.
🤕 Stable leg wraps
🚶‍♀️ Go for short in-hand walks on non-riding days.
💧 Encourage hydration, even slightly warmed water helps!
🖐️ DAYLIGHT physiotherapy appointments * Don’t forget the clocks change.

Little things make a big difference in keeping your horse supple, comfortable, and happy all winter long. 💙

*
Ellie Brassey Veterinary Physiotherapy

08/10/2025

🐴 “Animals Can’t Tell Us” “But They Do Speak”

As humans, we can describe our pain to one another we can say “my back aches” or “my shoulder feels tight others the spot and ‘ouch’.”
Our horses and dogs don’t have that luxury. They can’t tell us where it hurts instead, they show us through subtle changes in their behaviour, posture, and movement.

That’s where my role as an Animal physiotherapist comes in. My job is to have a trained eye, mind, and feel to recognise these signs to interpret what the horse or dog is trying to communicate through their body, and to respond in a way that’s gentle, professional, and effective.

🩶 How Horses Communicate Discomfort

Horses are incredibly expressive creatures once you know what to look for. Signs of pain or discomfort can appear as:
• 🐎 Changes in performance — reluctance to go forward, stiffness, or loss of impulsion
• Altered posture — uneven weight-bearing, standing awkwardly, or a dipped back
• 😣 Behavioural changes — becoming grumpy when tacked up, head tossing, tail swishing, or resistance to handling
• Subtle signs — a flick of the ear, tension around the eyes, or a change in facial expression
• 💤 Reduced enthusiasm — a horse that suddenly feels “flat” or less willing

These changes might seem small, but they often tell a much bigger story.

🖐️ My Role as a Physiotherapist

Through careful observation, palpation (feeling the muscles, joints, and soft tissues), and understanding of biomechanics, I aim to identify the source of discomfort, not just the symptoms.

Every treatment session is guided by the animals responses. The key is listening with the hands, the eyes, and empathy. My goal is always to make each animal feel more comfortable, balanced, and free in their movement.

Because while they can’t say, “I’m sore here,” their bodies are always communicating, we just have to know how to listen. 💙

25/09/2025

“Not just a ‘back’ person”

As an Equine & Animal Physiotherapist, the limbs of the horse play a vital role in both assessment and treatment. They are not only responsible for movement and weight-bearing, but they also provide valuable information about the overall health and comfort of the musculoskeletal system. By palpating, mobilising, and stretching the limbs, a physiotherapist can identify areas of restriction, tension, or discomfort that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Working with the limbs allows us to:
• Assess joint mobility and flexibility – detecting stiffness, reduced range of motion, or compensatory patterns.
• Relieve muscular tension – targeted stretches can reduce tightness and improve circulation to the surrounding soft tissues.
• Encourage correct movement – improving symmetry, stride length, and overall biomechanics.
• Support injury prevention and rehabilitation – gentle limb techniques help strengthen weak areas and protect against future strain.
• Enhance performance – supple, well-functioning limbs allow the horse to move more freely, comfortably, and efficiently.

The demonstrations shown here are just a few examples (sped up for clarity) of the stretches and palpations I use in practice. Each technique is selected and adapted depending on the horse’s individual needs, whether that’s for performance enhancement, recovery from injury, or maintaining overall comfort and mobility.

07/09/2025

🐾 September is Animal Pain Awareness Month 🐴

Did you know? What often looks like bad behaviour in horses and dogs can actually be a sign of pain.

⚡ Horses may show pain by:
• Resisting the bridle or saddle
• Refusing jumps or hollowing their back
• Tail swishing, ear pinning, or sudden “grumpiness”

⚡ Dogs may show pain by:
• Reluctance to walk, play, or jump in the car
• Growling or snapping when touched
• Struggling with stairs or getting up
• Licking or chewing certain body areas

👉 These aren’t just quirks or stubbornness — they’re ways our animals communicate discomfort.

As an equine & canine physiotherapist, my role is to help identify these subtle signs, ease pain, and restore comfort so your animals can move and feel their best.

✨ Remember: Pain is not bad behaviour

02/09/2025

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also called cold laser therapy, is often used in equine physiotherapy as a non-invasive treatment to support healing and manage pain.

Here’s what it can be good for in horses:

✅ Main Benefits of LLLT in Horses
• Pain relief – reduces nerve sensitivity and helps modulate pain pathways.
• Reduced inflammation & swelling – helps manage acute injuries or post-exercise inflammation.
• Improved circulation – enhances microcirculation, promoting delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
• Accelerated tissue healing – stimulates fibroblast activity and collagen production, useful for wounds, tendon/ligament injuries, and muscle tears.
• Muscle relaxation – helps release tension and improve range of motion.
• Joint health – supports horses with arthritis or degenerative joint disease by reducing pain and stiffness.
• Nerve regeneration – can assist in recovery from certain neurological injuries.

🔹 Common Uses in Equine Physiotherapy
• Tendon and ligament injuries (e.g., superficial digital flexor tendon strain).
• Back pain and muscle tightness.
• Arthritis and joint pain (hocks, stifles, fetlocks).
• Wound healing (surgical sites, cuts, abrasions).
• Nerve injuries (facial nerve paralysis, radial nerve damage).
• Laminitis (to improve circulation and reduce pain).
• Mouth sores from the Bit **

07/08/2025

As an Equine Physiotherapist one of the gait assessment tasks I get the owners to do for me is to back their horse up (i.e., walking in reverse) it should be a simple but powerful exercise that offers multiple therapeutic and conditioning benefits:

🐴 1. Engages the Core and Abdominals
• Backing up requires the horse to lift through its back and engage its core muscles, particularly the transverse abdominis and re**us abdominis.
• This helps support a stronger topline and improve postural stability.

🐴2. Activates the Hindlimbs and Gluteals
• The horse must step under with the hindlimbs, which encourages flexion at the stifle and hock joints.
• It activates muscles like the gluteals, hamstrings, and deep pelvic stabilisers.

🐴3. Promotes Pelvic Engagement and Lumbosacral Flexibility
• Backing up encourages pelvic flexion (tucking the pelvis), which is key for developing collection and proper movement mechanics.
• It also helps mobilise the lumbosacral junction, which is often a stiff area.

🐴4. Improves Proprioception and Coordination
• Moving backwards is not a natural movement for most horses, so it challenges their body awareness, balance, and limb coordination.
• Especially helpful for horses recovering from neuromuscular or balance issues.

🐴5. Low-Impact Strengthening
• It’s a low-impact exercise that can be used as part of a rehab or conditioning program.
• Builds strength without the concussive forces associated with trotting or cantering.

🐴6. Assists in Straightness and Symmetry
• With correct handling, backing up can help identify and correct asymmetries or uneven weight distribution.
• It promotes straight movement and equal use of both hindlimbs.

🖐️ Tips for Use:
• Always ask for a few slow, deliberate steps with good posture (no hollowing or rushing).
• Reinforce engagement and softness, rather than dragging or resisting.
• Use in-hand before or after exercise, or incorporate into pole work for variety.

Ellie Brassey Veterinary Physiotherapist

10/11/2025

10/11/2025

06/11/2025

25/10/2025

24/10/2025

08/10/2025

25/09/2025

07/09/2025

02/09/2025

07/08/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category