The Therapy Puzzle: Finding a Therapy That Fits
The Therapy Puzzle: Finding a Therapy That Fits
with Abi Pass, MSc Vet Physio & RAMP Member
A welfare-led guide to choosing appropriate support for your horse: when veterinary advice should come first, what different therapies may offer, and how to find a practitioner who suits the individual horse.
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When something feels not quite right with a horse, deciding who to call can be surprisingly difficult. Is it time for the vet, a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, a bodyworker, or perhaps a combination of support?
In this comprehensive article, veterinary physiotherapist Abi Pass explores the therapy puzzle with clarity and common sense. Through conversations with physiotherapist Sue Palmer, veterinary surgeon and equine chiropractor Dr Nicole Jones, and Equine Touch™ practitioner Alison Ball, she explains what each approach seeks to do, where it may fit, and how treatment should be assessed.
Just as importantly, the article makes the case that the individual practitioner matters as much as the therapy label. Their qualifications, experience, clinical reasoning, communication and willingness to work within their scope all make a difference. You will find useful questions to ask before booking, guidance on when veterinary input is needed, and sensible ways to judge whether a treatment plan is genuinely helping.
There are no promises of a quick fix here. Instead, this is a thoughtful guide to making informed decisions, staying curious about changes in your horse, and remembering that lasting improvement usually depends on the bigger picture: diagnosis where needed, rehabilitation, workload, management, handling, training and time.
