Equine physio out on wednesday, what to expect?

sandi_84

sandi_84

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I'm having the physio come out to check Loki over and give his back any adjustments it might need but as it will be both of our first times with a physio I just wondered what I should expect?

For those who missed my previous posts:

I had a saddle fitter out to him last year, she measured him up and then came back a week later with a few saddles to try. One really didn't fit at all, the other looked ok but after a short ride it was moving around too much so that option was out but the third didn't move and I was told it fitted perfectly as it was and it didn't need any reflocking or adjustments. It is a narrow 17.5" saddle.

Not knowing anything about saddle fit I went on what I was told by the saddle fitter and bought the saddle.

Roughly 8 months on and my sharer told me she thought it needed reflocking. I posted pics here and was told that if my horse was a narrow fit HHO-ers were monkey's uncles so I arranged for another saddle fitter to come out to have a look.

The saddle is too narrow, apparently he should be in at least a medium fit and the flocking in the back of the panels wasn't right either (i.e not right as in hadn't been flocked hardly at all in places rather than just normal wear and tear) and was creating pressure points which had become a bit sore :(

He's had nearly a month of 2 hacks a week at walk wearing my bareback saddle pad and the pain seems to be gone but I made a physio appointment for him just to be 100% sure that my poor boy was pain free before the saddler comes back out with some saddles to try.
 
It seems to depend on type of physio as we've had a few different ones on the yard. In all cases they should take a full history and see the horse move (mine was viewed in hand and on lunge). Then they make adjustments using massage, or ny pulling bits or with pads. Then they'll let you know if any follow up is needed and may give you exercises. Seems to take about an hour.
Hope it goes well.
 
My physio asked what the horse was doing and any possible concerns, then trotted up. my boy was slightly lame to trot so went on to lunge him to have a look at canter. basically they go all over, muscle massage and also stretches. some horses really relax and enjoy it, but if sore they can get a bit grumpy. then she tells me any areas of concern and different exercises to do. my boy had to do in hand work for a month with a bit of stretchy tape (like an exercise band) behind his hind legs to get his lame hind stronger) my girl was fine and just enjoyed a nice massage!
my physio does also check saddle fit roughly if concerned of soreness there
 
I use a physio for my horse and have been using the same one for years (for various horses). She keeps notes on them which she always brings with her. At the start of each session, we talk through what work the horse has been doing, how it's going, any issues or concerns, when were teeth, saddle and feet last seen to and so on (she will usually have a look at the saddle on the horse too). Then trot up and down, small circles on both reins, rein back. We talk through what she sees there, then she examines him all over. IIRC she usually starts with his head and works her way along his neck, back to his tail. If she finds a knot or sore bit, she explains what she's found then does stretches and/or manipulations to relieve it. Afterwards she summarises what she found, how she rectified it, why she did the exercises she did, how they helped, and talk through a plan of action. That might be a course of lungeing (say in a pessoa), or it might be some pole exercises, whatever is required.
 
Who have you got coming out if you don't mind me asking?

Is it an actual physio or a EBW or McTimoney Corley practitioner? That will have quite a lot of bearing on how they actually treat the horse!
 
Thanks every one :)

BeauBear said:
Who have you got coming out if you don't mind me asking?

Is it an actual physio or a EBW or McTimoney Corley practitioner? That will have quite a lot of bearing on how they actually treat the horse!
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply, I went to bed shortly after posting and have only just got round to checking for replies after work today :/

She's a McTimoney Corley Equine and Canine Spinal Therapist (mouthfull!) and she came highly recommended by my new saddle fitter :)
 
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