Equine Physiotherapy Session
Updated: Sep 19
What to Expect During an Equine Physiotherapy Session
An equine physiotherapy session consists of a gait assessment, palpatory assessment, treatment, and exercise prescription or advice, where appropriate.
Gait Assessment
The gait assessment can vary between horses depending on their soundness, exercise restrictions, and gait findings.
All horses that are able will be assessed walking and trotting in a straight line. Depending on the findings, your horse may also be asked to:
Back up a few steps
Perform a tight turn on each rein
Complete a lunge assessment, if you have noticed any issues when your horse is lunged
If a lunge assessment is required, please let me know before the appointment so I can allow additional time.
Palpatory Assessment
The palpatory assessment is where I get hands-on with your horse, starting at the head and working towards the tail.
I will assess:
Muscle mass and tone
Pain responses
Trigger points
Areas of tension or restriction
Any other abnormalities or areas of concern
If your horse is head shy, I will leave the head until later in the assessment. This allows your horse time to become familiar and comfortable with me before I assess this area.
Treatment
Treatment will form the main part of the physiotherapy session. The treatments provided will depend on the findings from the gait and palpatory assessments.
Treatment may include:
Massage therapy — all horses will receive massage as part of their session
Laser therapy
Ultrasound
Pulsed magnetic field therapy
Heat pad therapy
Manual therapies
The treatment plan will be tailored to your individual horse and their specific needs.
Exercise Prescription & Advice
Exercise recommendations will be provided depending on what we are working to improve with your horse.
Exercises may include:
Pole work
Baited stretches
Lunging
Long reining
Lateral work
Hill work
Any exercises prescribed will be discussed with you so that you understand how and why they may benefit your horse.
How Long Does a Session Take?
An equine physiotherapy session usually takes approximately 1 hour.
The exact time will depend on factors such as:
The size of your horse
Findings from the gait assessment
Findings from the palpatory assessment
The treatment required
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