Equine Physiotherapy

Caramac71

Caramac71

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I'm posting on behalf of my daughter as she doesn't have an account on here. Apologies if this is in the wrong section but I really wasn't sure where to post.

My daughter is 16 and has ambitions to be an Equine Physiotherapist. She is in year 11 and considering her options for further eduction.

The way we understood it, to train as an Equine Physio firstly she would need to train as a human physio - then once qualified do a part time veterinary physio course.

However, we have been to look at a college that offers an Equine Sports Therapy degree course. If she were to go along this route it would mean she could do a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management if she wanted, rather than A level study.

Obviously the BTEC course appeals to her as there is so much more practical and riding work. And she could pick up trainer qualifications as a sideline along the way. But she is a bright kid and currently on track for A and A* in all her GCSEs, so to go the A Level route isn't out of her capabilities.

So really, she could do with a bit of advice from anyone who has chosen one or other path. Does the Sports Therapy degree course lead to actual employment or is she then still looking at doing specialist training afterwards? Would the human Physiotherapy degree lead to more options available to her in the future? Are there any benefits of doing one course rather than the other?

I know we are 2 years + away from higher education but having to consider this in order to select the best route for further education.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, she would be very grateful to hear it.

Thank you :)
 
I can't recommend personal advice for the career she wants to do as I am not a physio, but would definitely advise she take a look at the national careers website! She can also give them a call to discuss in further detail.

The link to the animal physio role and advice about how to get there is here: https://nationalcareersservice.dire...profiles/Pages/veterinaryphysiotherapist.aspx It states entry requirements, and by the looks of it if she takes the A-Level route- having science behind her is a good idea.

Wishing her all the luck for her GCSE's- and just remember, there is likely to be more than one way into her chosen career path. What I would say is that if there is more than one way for her to achieve her dream job, employers really do value work experience as well as the right qulification, and if she can get some work behind her as well as some bits of professional development (such as first aid, trainer qualifications etc) it will put her in good stead for the future.

Hope this helps :)
 
I'm a physiotherapist. Not a vet Physio. It always was my intention to do the masters course but I never got round to it!! I have horses and have friends who are vet Physios. I have also used chiropractors and osteos for my horses on the past.

When I qualified I had to work for 2 years before doing the ACPAT conversion (which I think is why I never did it). This is not the case now and you can apply and go straight into the masters vet Physio course straight away.

The sports therapy degree will not qualify you as a therapist. You will have to do another course which is also a MSc in vet Physio but attached to a different governing body. (ie not ACPAT). I believe you can do this straight away too after the animal science degree.

If I were going through my career again which would I choose?

The human Physio first.... Why? Because you learn to CLINICALLY REASON!!!

Assessing, analysing, creating a problem list and therefore devising an appropriate treatment plan is a skill!!! As is progressing that treatment. The more practice you have at this the better in my opinion. You learn this from the word go at Physio school. You also learn the basics of physiology and anatomy, and specific patho-physiology which yes will be human but it will link in. The anatomy is similar, no not the same, but similar and you can APPLY this knowledge as you have practiced applying knowledge in that way.

However, on the flip side it is bloody hard work. As are a levels. If your daughter is able to keep the end goal in mind it's very doable. If she isn't going to enjoy the human side at all (there is a lot of rehabitation work in hospitals) then it might not be for her. It's a long old slog if you don't enjoy it.

The horsey degree route would have been very hard to resist for me and you do end up with the same 'job' at the end. The governing body it's attached to will be different and may influence some customers (in a "I'm only going to use an ACPAT Physio" way) and they may go elsewhere. I however go to see (and take my animals to see) professionals who have a good reputation and who know what they are doing. The qualification is important, but not the be all and end all.

The chiro I use did an equine science degree first and the was in the first year if the MSc conversion course for horses only. She is awesome and her clinical knowledge and treatment us fantastic. However I do think she regrets not being able to treat humans too, which is worth a thought.

Not sure I've helped, but there you go!!!
 
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A girl I know is going the human physio route, hoping to start next Sept, as far as I know it is currently a funded course, which may obviously change by the time your daughter applies, due to a shortage of physios, the qualification will open far more doors in the future rather than being limited to animals only and is a useful fall back if for some reason she cannot do horses, I know an osteo who has gone back to people as her own body was struggling to cope treating horses, it is very physical, she now just does a few yards and concentrates on people as her main job.
 
Thank you all - really helpful replies and has given her lots to think about. At this stage, as the requirements for A level courses should be well within her abilities, then it makes sense to continue along this route rather than BTEC equine courses which may limit her options for higher education.

Very good points about being able to treat people - our equine dentist has said similar, about the physical strain of treating horses.

So her plan is to continue with education to A level, meanwhile work towards PC tests and possibly BHS levels, and gain some work experience or do voluntary work so she has some practical experience to put on her CV.

Once again, thanks for the advice, it was all very helpful.
 
Yes good idea about the voluntary work. I worked in a nursing home which gave me invaluable experience to talk about at interview. They're not very keen on you saying you're off to treat horses after a degree that is supported by the nhs funding wise!!!

Treating both yes because of the strain of handling horses all the time, but also to treat horse and rider together. There aren't many people about that do that.

Sensible to keep her options open at this stage.
 
After A levels there are a couple of undergraduate veterinary physiotherapy courses your daughter can do direct. Once pased she can be fully insured to treat horses with veterinary referral. The anatomy is taught to the same level as undergraduate vet courses so very detailed an intense, which is what is needed if you are going to treat animals.
Here are the links to the 2 courses I know about
http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/undergraduate/201002/veterinary-physiotherapy#.VQDBjnysXpU
http://www.writtle.ac.uk/MVetPhys-Veterinary-Physiotherapy (3 year undergraduate then in to the final MSc level to qualify)

There is the human route then convert to veterinary but just a thought when did anyone last check if their vet was trained as a human doctor before they became a vet ;-)
 
Atlantis put it beautifully. I went down the national diploma in horse management route, then bsc equine science. I then decided physio was where I wanted to go and had to fight tooth and nail to prove I didn't want equine physio, just human physio.

Get some work experience in the human field, in a variety of areas. She might find she prefers it with horses at a hobby.

Juniberry, human and equine physio cannot compare at all to doctor and vet as the comparison you gave. Physio is similar no matter what animal you treat, whether that be human or horse. Besides, are you actually not aware of the effects of the rider on horse muscle spasm/stiffness and pain... Don't just treat the single animal, treat the combination. I also agree with Atlantis on the better clinical reasoning skills you gain from human physio.
 
Thank you, it is interesting to read different views. She has made up her mind to continue her education at A level after her GCSEs, and she has already arranged a few work experience placements in different (human) environments. She is aware of how incredibly difficult it is to get a place on a physiotherapy degree course so will have to work hard for the next few years!
 
I'm also a physio (2012 graduate, however I'm currently studying another degree at a different uni. I wouldn't have got into my current course if I did an undergrad degree in veterinary physio - human physiotherapy opens a lot of doors so even if she gets to the end of the course and finds she doesn't want to practice then there are still a lot of options.

Personally I'd use an ACPAT physio (an animal physio who trained the human physio route) as the whole set up seems very professional, plus there is the added benefit of being able to split your work between human and animal :) I have a lot of friends who are currently doing the animal physio course, I think the current one doing it is there one weekend a month and is able to combine work with humans in NHS during the week and her work for the vet physio course :)
 
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