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One of my favourite questions for my son is, ‘Tell me three things about your day’. The things he shares can be good, bad, or indifferent, but one-word answers are not allowed. Sometimes, his answers lead to further discussion; other times, they don’t. Always, though, the question opens up the opportunity for us to chat. Following in that pattern, today I’m sharing with you three things about my week. I share this with the hope of inspiring curiosity, compassion, connection and conversation. If you’d like to hear more along these lines, please join my free newsletter, subscribe to my Top Tips playlist on YouTube, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
This week has been full-on with work, with some interesting cases. I am acutely aware that whilst the more complex cases are interesting to me as a Chartered Physiotherapist, they can be all-consuming to the owner, for whom the horse is part of their family. That’s one of the reasons I try so hard to explain what I’m doing and why, and to be an active part of the team, discussing the needs of the horse and the owner with other practitioners involved in the horse’s care when appropriate. It’s crucial to recognise my role as part of this team. It might seem like being a physio is just about assessing and treating the horse, but at times, there can be a considerable amount of unseen care, with notes, messages, emails and phone calls. My brain is constantly whirring, thinking about the horses I’ve worked with, how I can better help them and their humans, and how I can take my learnings and use the knowledge to support others.
A horse I’ve worked with has had a recurrence of gastric ulcers. This assumption, made by the owner, is based on a change in the horse’s behaviour. Gastric ulcers have been diagnosed and treated in the past for this horse, with the initial investigation triggered by a change in behaviour. A gastroscope at that time confirmed the presence of gastric ulcers, and the behaviour went away when the ulcers were treated. The behaviour returned recently, so, with the vet’s support, the owner has started treatment for ulcers again. Looking at this from a physio point of view, we know that gastric ulcers are commonly linked to neuromusculoskeletal pain. So, if I see a horse with recurring ulcers, I ask the owner to look into whether pain could be the underlying cause. The thinking is that neuromusculoskeletal pain, even at a low level, creates a level of internal stress for the horse. It’s possible that this stress is then linked to the appearance of, or the flare-up of, gastric ulcers. In this horse’s case, I noted pain at the end of the range of a particular movement when I first treated it several months ago. This pain was reduced significantly with treatment and with the owner diligently following a home exercise program. Once the horse seemed more comfortable, her workload gradually increased, and the intensity of the home exercise program was reduced. On the visit this week, I noted that the original pain reaction has returned, along with the behaviour that the owner associates with gastric ulcers. I have recommended that the owner increase the intensity of the home exercise program and contact the vet to discuss this specific symptom of pain at the end of the range of the particular movement. We were able to film the reaction on the owner’s phone, which will make it easier for her to explain to the vet. Being proactive in identifying and addressing potential issues is a crucial part of my approach to equine care, and being able to catch a behaviour on camera is so helpful!
Welsh Section D’s are a firm favourite of mine. My family bred three Welsh Section D’s from our mare Sheadon Saffron. Saffron was fantastic, being first my mum’s pony, then mine, then my sister’s. Then she bred three foals and went on loan to a pony club home before finally returning to me to retire. I have a wonderful watercolour of her on my wall painted by the talented Judy Kingdon. I was privileged to add a new Welsh D to my books this week. He’s a recent purchase, and his owner asked me to check him over. He is an absolute delight, and I said he’d be welcome to come and live with me! There was some muscle spasm in the saddle area, which isn’t surprising given that he’s changed weight and workload significantly since he arrived. The saddle fitter has visited recently, but for a variety of reasons, didn’t see the owner ride in the saddle. I stressed to her the importance of getting the saddle fitter back out so that, this time, he could watch her ride. I’ve checked with the Society of Master Saddlers, and several saddle fitters, and the advice is always that the saddle fitter should see the horse ridden where possible.
Do you have high blood pressure? I’m sharing this information because I believe it could potentially save your life. It’s been a while since I home-tested myself for sleep apnoea, but the importance of being able to self-test was brought home to me after I recommended the test to a client. Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea. Although I had various reasons for testing myself, it turns out that I don’t have this condition. My client, however, suffers from a severe form of sleep apnea. Since sleep apnea is so treatable, in the vast majority of cases, I highly recommend getting yourself tested if it’s something you feel you might have. If you’re interested, I used the WatchPat test, which you will find available on various websites. If you google it, it’s w-a-t-c-h-p-a-t. The blurb on the Intus Healthcare website, for example, states, “Our Home Sleep Test is quick and reliable for diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea. All sleep test results are analysed by our NHS-qualified sleep professionals, and your results are with you within two working days. We use the innovative WatchPAT device for this Sleep Apnea test. This medically approved diagnostic testing equipment offers comparable testing accuracy to an overnight sleep test conducted at a hospital or a clinic. It is the most clinically validated Home Sleep Apnea Test available. Our in-house sleep doctors will diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea and advise you of the most appropriate treatment. You must have a BMI below 45 and be aged over 18 years to take this test.” Symptoms of sleep apnea mainly happen while you sleep, but you might have a headache when you wake up, or during the day, you might feel tired, find it hard to concentrate, or have mood swings. There are many potential causes of high blood pressure, and sleep apnea is one of them. So if you have high blood pressure and your partner has noticed that you snore a lot or stop breathing in your sleep, maybe it’s worth considering getting yourself tested.
Sue Palmer MCSP, aka The Horse Physio, is an award-winning author, educator, and Chartered Physiotherapist. Sue specialises in understanding the links between equine pain and behaviour, focusing on prevention, partnership and performance. She promotes the kind and fair treatment of horses through empathetic education, and is registered with the RAMP, the ACPAT, the IHA, the CSP and the HCPC.
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You can find The Horse Physio on the web, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on YouTube, book an online consultation, or take a look at Sue’s online courses.
Horse Health Check: The 10-Point Plan for Physical Wellness
Head to Hoof: An Introduction to Horse Massage
Horse Massage for Horse Owners
Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy
Kissing Spines In Horses: Preventive Measures and Long-Term Management Solutions
Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson
Understanding Horse Performance: Brain, Pain or Training?
Horse Massage for Horse Owners
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