horse physio - The Horse Physio - Sue Palmer

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14.11.24 Behind the Scenes with Sue Palmer The Horse Physio

By Sue Palmer on November 14, 2024

This week, I had the pleasure of hosting an ACPAT Veterinary Physiotherapy student from Hartpury University. As a qualified Chartered Physiotherapist transitioning into animal therapy, she brought great energy and thoughtful questions to our sessions. Inspired by her curiosity, I’m sharing some insights from our discussions. We explored how often horses should receive physio, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment plans based on their work level and physical needs. We also discussed the importance of encouraging relaxation during treatments, as a calm state promotes healing. Finally, I explained why I now focus solely on physiotherapy rather than coaching, highlighting the power of teamwork in equine care.

Bridle fit and the potential influence on performance, by Dr Sue Dyson

By Sue Palmer on October 10, 2024

I believe that it is important to look holistically at a horse. If a horse is ‘fussy in the mouth’, creates increased rein tension on one rein of the bridle or ‘avoids’ a contact, has an unsteady head position or tilts the head it is important to be aware of all possible causes. These include the fit of the bridle, the bit and any influence of a martingale, oral lesions, sharp teeth edges, saddle fit and subclinical lameness. We also cannot forget the influence of the rider. Optimal comfort for the horse is likely to enhance performance.

Why I Became a Horse Physiotherapist

By Sue Palmer on September 12, 2024

If you're wondering whether being a horse physiotherapist is the job for you, perhaps contact some local practitioners and ask if you can shadow them for a few hours, or if you can take them out for a coffee and have a chat with them about their work. There are other options, including qualifying as a massage therapist, an osteopath, or a chiropractor. Personally, if you ask me about physiotherapy for horses, I will always recommend that you qualify as a human physiotherapist first, and then go on to do a course registered with ACPAT or RAMP to qualify you to treat animals.

“It’s a new day; it’s a new plan”

By Sue Palmer on August 15, 2024

So how is this a ‘new plan’? Haven’t I always shared my learning through my books, online courses, blogs, and social media? Well, yes, I have! This is different because, for now, at least, I will focus more fully on this aspect of my world - my own learning. Perhaps it won’t look any different to you from the outside, or maybe it will. But I feel different inside. I feel I’ve given myself permission to dive deep into the world of learning yet again. It’s as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve taken the self-imposed pressure off, and I’m allowing myself to have fun.

A Promise To Your Horse

By Sue Palmer on July 11, 2024

Dear friend, I promise to do my best to put you first and to understand your needs, wants, and desires. I realise you are wise in so many ways, and I am ignorant. I am in awe of your energy, peace, acceptance, beauty, and grace. I am grateful that you agree to spend time with me, and I promise not to ask of you that which you do not wish to give.

Don’t wait until your horse is in pain to check their comfort levels!

By Sue Palmer on April 28, 2024

I’m frustrated at horses being labelled as naughty when they’re actually lame or in pain. How else is a horse supposed to tell you that he’s hurting other than through his behaviour? Since you’re reading this, I know you share my frustration. We know that just about everyone loves their horse and wants the best for him. You’d be devastated if he was in pain and you didn’t know about it. So, to help owners and riders be more confident that their horse is comfortable, I’ve put together this short video and blog, which I’d appreciate it if you would share widely on your favourite social media channel. Here are three simple exercises you can do on a daily basis to check that your horse is comfortable.

Finding the Right Time: A Guide to Stretching Your Horse

By Sue Palmer on April 4, 2024

Determining when to stretch your horse depends on your goals. Stretching may improve flexibility, reduce injury risk, help monitor neuromusculoskeletal health (meaning relating to nerve, muscle and bone), and enhance your horse's overall comfort. There are no hard and fast rules, and here are some examples of when to stretch, based on the stretches that I share in my online course, “Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy.”

How do I do fascial stretches with my horse?

By Sue Palmer on March 6, 2024

To stretch the fascia, we need to be slow and gentle. That’s one reason I’ve chosen to share fascial stretches in the course "Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy". I think that slow and gentle works well with horses. A blog by Amanda Oswald on the Pain Care Clinic website states, “We know that trying to force fascia to stretch is not going to get us anywhere. However, the viscoelastic properties of fascia also mean that it responds well to heat and gentle sustained pressure. This combination creates a physical change in the tissue, making it more fluid, in the same way that the combination of heating and stirring treacle makes it more runny.”. Allow the soft tissues of the body time to release tension. Think of how your body feels when doing a stretch (for example, a calf stretch or a hamstring stretch), and imagine that perhaps your horse is feeling similar sensations. With these stretches, slow and steady wins the race.

What is a stretch?

By Sue Palmer on February 21, 2024

The word "stretch" can function as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it refers to something soft or elastic that is capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking. For example, "my sweater stretched in the wash." It can also mean straightening or extending one's body or a part of one's body to its full length, typically to tighten one's muscles or reach something. For instance, "the cat yawned and stretched." As a noun, it can refer to an act of stretching one's limbs or body, such as "I got up and had a stretch," or a continuous area or expanse of land or water, like "a treacherous stretch of road."

Help me to help 100 horses (or more)

By Sue Palmer on February 8, 2024

Do you live in an area where it's challenging to get access to physio for your horse? Does the cost of physio mean that you can't have your horse treated as often as you'd like? Would you like to be able to do more for your horse? Would you happen to know someone who any of the above applies to? Please help me reach these people and their horses by sharing this blog. I'd love to help 100 horses this month; perhaps it's your horse I can help? If not your horse, wouldn't it feel wonderful knowing that you have made a difference by passing on the information someone needs to support their horse? I'm on a mission to help those who can't get the horse physio assessment and treatment they would like to offer their horse. I've carefully and lovingly created an online course, "Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy". There are ten stretching exercises (video included) and lots of information about how, where, when, why and what to stretch.

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