Frequently asked questions

For every horse! My patients include both sport horses, of which we demand maximum effort, and recreational mounts. Therapy also brings enormous relief to equine seniors, helps to introduce young horses safely into training and forms the foundation of recovery for animals returning to health after injury or surgery.

We start with a detailed interview — we talk about your horse’s health history, its daily work and any problems. I then move on to diagnostics: I assess the horse’s posture and its movement (in hand or on the lunge) and carry out a thorough palpation examination. Once I have located the areas of tension, I select the best methods and get to work. At the end you receive guidance for your own work with the horse, and I send a full summary of the visit to your e-mail.

The most important thing is for the horse to be thoroughly cleaned and completely dry. Working on a wet or dirty coat increases the risk of irritation and also makes it impossible to perform certain manual therapy and massage techniques. Also, ensure there is relative peace and quiet in the stable, allowing your horse to fully relax.

A standard visit usually lasts around 60 to 90 minutes. The first meeting may run a little longer because of the need to carry out a full initial assessment. I always set aside enough time in advance to complete the whole therapy plan without rushing, at a pace that is comfortable for the horse.

It all depends on the methods we use. After physical therapy treatments (e.g. laser or a magnetic rug) the horse can often work as normal. However, if we have done stronger manual therapy or a deep massage, the tissues need time to remodel — in that case I recommend 1 to 2 days completely free of work under saddle. I always leave you with detailed post-treatment recommendations at the end of the visit.

This is an individual matter. If we are working on a specific injury or a chronic problem, we meet more often (with laser, even several times a week at short intervals). For healthy horses that we want to keep in optimal sporting form and flexibility, prevention works ideally — regular check-up visits every few weeks.

The signals are often very subtle. It is worth booking a visit if you notice any of the following in your horse:

• A change in behaviour during grooming, saddling or girthing (e.g. pinning the ears, turning around, trying to move away).
• Reluctance to step under with the hindquarters, trouble with collection or maintaining a correct contact with the hand.
• Difficulty bending to one side, noticeable stiffness of the neck or back, or asymmetry of movement.
• A decline in the quality of movement, a shortened stride, more frequent stumbling or a loss of fluidity in the gaits.
• Problems striking off on a chosen canter lead, maintaining the canter or performing specific training exercises.
• A drop in willingness to work, declining sporting results or signs of discomfort during exercise.

Absolutely, and that is the best time! Equine physiotherapy is, to a large extent, about prevention. Regular visits make it possible to catch micro-tensions in the muscles and fascia, as well as asymmetries in movement, before they develop into soreness, a serious injury or lameness that takes the horse out of work for many months.

Your presence at the first visit is crucial for me, because you know your horse best and can tell me about its everyday behaviour and training. For later meetings you no longer need to take time off work or set aside your other commitments — if we agree the details in advance, I can work with your horse on my own in the box, provided that you or a groom prepares the horse (clean and dry).

It all depends on the location and type of injury. If the horse has fresh wounds, skin infections (e.g. mud fever) or saddle/girth galls, we do not perform massage in those specific areas. However, we can use a high-energy laser there, which is brilliant at speeding up wound healing, or a safe magnetic rug. I always tailor the therapy to avoid irritated zones and to work solely for the horse’s benefit.