“Spread The Word – Why Dog Owners Are Better Than Horse Owners” – Email 9

Hi ,

So, I was having a conversation with Kelly the other week, which could have been summarised as 'why dog owners are better than horse owners' (a physio's perspective), and I think she was intrigued by what I had to say.

So 'why are dog owners better than horse owners', you might ask? Because (from my experience) they do their homework! 😂 I guess what I'm saying is 'my pony ate my homework' is a far more common excuse in my line of work… It sounds funny, but it's true.

I think one reason for this is a common misconception around equine physio: that the physio is someone you see once a year for a quick check-up and a bit of soft tissue work, and then you're away—see you again in a year. While this might be a valuable service for someone with a horse in great condition who has a really good understanding of everything they should be doing themselves to keep their horse on top form… If your horse has a genuine concern, weakness, or is receiving physio following an injury, then there are two things that need to be done well to get the most benefit from physio. One is regular treatment as per your physio's recommendations, and two is homework! Whether that's prescribed exercises, or changes in routine or riding habits, and so on… working together with your physio and carrying out these exercises can be a huge benefit for addressing weaknesses and asymmetries, promoting tissue healing, and ultimately preventing injury in the long run.

This feels like a good topic for a magazine article to me – 'how to get the most out of your physio appointment' – but possibly just because I'm passionate!

Jokes aside… here are four bits of content from the IH members area that, depending on your circumstances, might be of benefit to your horse…

— Abi Pass MSc RAMP & The Intelligent Horsemanship Team

p.s. If you are a horse owner who already does their homework, take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back.

Making the Most of Box Rest

An extended period of box rest—whether it's for an injury or as a preventative measure to avoid too much sun and sugar this time of year—often means a horse receives less exercise and runs the risk of losing muscle mass and fitness. Here are some tips on what you could be doing with your horse from physio Emma Sharman.

*Always check exercises with your own therapist first, especially if your horse is recovering from an injury!

Massage and Stretching

At home, massage and stretches can be a great way for you to help maintain your horse's health between physio sessions.

Here are two great articles with massage and stretching exercises you can do yourself at home, from The Horse Physio, Sue Plamer.

Utilising Hydrotherapy

Definitely more utilised by dog owners, hydrotherapy can be a great way to build muscle and target specific movement goals set by your physio. This article takes a detailed look at some of the research-proven benefits of equine water treadmills.

Doing Targeted Strengthening Exercises

This is the big one for me!

At-home exercises to target your horse's weaknesses – especially those without a rider – can be extremely beneficial. I guarantee, your physio will be able to tell if you've done these consistently between sessions or not! This Ultimate Guide covers five key areas of at-home exercises you could be doing.

Are you doing any of these already?