Tom Beech

[HuskyFluff]

My horse has the chance of a session with Tom Beech. There's nothing apparently wrong, but thought it may be educational (for me!) and good for the horse as a general MOT. It is however quite expensive. So experiences/recommendations/thoughts would be welcome..

 

[Zoeypxo]

I saw him a few years ago for my horse who i was having a-lot of issues with at the time, vets couldnt find what was wrong but tom did and she came back into full work after a 3 month rehab plan and 2 treatments from tom. Unfortunately she injured a tendon last year so is out of work again.
Id love to see tom regularly but the nearest place is 100 miles away and i dont have Transport hiring a box is too expensive now.

 

[Marigold4]

I had him out twice to my horses - initial treatment and then follow up. I can't understand why he doesn't want to see them trotted up first - he just starts working on them. Not sure how educational you'll find it as he tends to work rather than talk. At follow up, he didn't remember why he had seen them in the first place and said different and contradictory things! Perhaps he was having a bad day. I didn't notice any difference after the treatments given.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I took Toby because he sucked back in ridden work and was always behind the leh and crooked. Vets had said he was fine - just weak behind and wobbly from lack of schooling/balance etc . (He was only 5).

He said Toby’s teeth were showing alignment issues elsewhere and did a treatment which he says ‘improved’ that. But there was no obvious changes in how he moved or felt afterwards. Then he gave me a fairly standard rehab plan which worked fine to strengthen him and even him up.

He is eye wateringly expensive so Id certainly not go if there was nothing wrong!

He was helpful enough but I could not really justify the cost. The teeth thing seemed a bit irrelevant and the plan was no different to any other for strengthening up.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I had him out twice to my horses - initial treatment and then follow up. I can't understand why he doesn't want to see them trotted up first - he just starts working on them. Not sure how educational you'll find it as he tends to work rather than talk. At follow up, he didn't remember why he had seen them in the first place and said different and contradictory things! Perhaps he was having a bad day. I didn't notice any difference after the treatments given.

I also found this very odd considering my horse had ongoing lameness.
He didnt ask to see her move at all. But he did help me so i cant complain too much!

 

[Trouper]

I can't recommend him highly enough and have had some fascinating discussions on what he was finding with the horse (and friend's horses) and what treatment he was giving. Speak as you find, I guess.

 

[Boulty]

I’d say if there’s no issues with the horse it’s a lot of money to spend but if there’s any little niggles or unevenness it could be worth trying . He did assist me in getting to the bottom of some issues with my previous horse when no other vet would even acknowledge there was anything wrong when my trimmer & physio & saddle fitter & me were all convinced there was (this ended in him referring us for imaging & PTS based on the findings but at least I had the closure of knowing what was going on & all the information I needed to make the call) & he’s helped me with some issues with the Fuzzball (who at one point I wasn’t convinced would ever actually be able to come into work) and the clinic we go to has the opportunity for polework & equisimulator lessons as well so I feel like we’re getting several different benefits at the same time. We’re at the stage where it’s more maintenance work than anything else but I still feel it’s worth keeping on top of.

Re the not trotting up… the Welsh had a few vets walk & trot him up and not spot anything untoward when he did have plenty of issues (He didn’t move straight behind & also used to be reluctant to drop everything properly to wee but as it was subtle they weren’t as bothered as they maybe should have been). Tom located rather a lot of issues and got him moving a lot straighter behind (as I said further up he couldn’t totally fix him as he’s not got a magic wand). I think he feels for certain tension patterns and from experience can probably connect which thing is compensating for which. I guess because a lot of what he does is finding that tension and getting it to release / figure out why it’s there in the first place perhaps how the horse moves is largely irrelevant to him as it’s not going to change how he works on it. Just my interpretation / understanding. Could be totally wrong!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think from what the posters above have said, it would be a waste of money if your horse has not got any issues. Always good and bad reviews with people but if you have no issues to address, I wouldn’t bother

 

[Dexter]

I had a very good experience a while back, two friends had awful experiences recently. I'd still use him if i had something weird going on, but I wouldn't bother for a routine check. Its too much money if you are one of the ones who doesn't have a great time with him.

 

[Jellymoon]

I’ve had him twice, he didn’t seem to do very much, and charged an eye-watering amount, I was very underwhelmed.

The reason I had him was because I’d heard such amazing things about him, so he’s obviously doing something right!

Just not for me I’m afraid.

 

[SEL]

The first session I had with him he gave the Appy a very thorough going over, including chiro type work under sedation. Didn't see her move though and that was odd for me given why I got him out. Apart from that I'd say it was the most thorough vet exam because he checked her teeth (fine) and also did an internal for ovaries along with some manipulation. Can't tell you if it helped because she needed the day off after and then it snowed for a week so all she got was turnout. No different after that week.

He suggested some time off even though she has PSSM and work is pretty key to keeping them healthy. I did do the time off but when he saw her 3 months later he said she was very stiff. I asked if he thought it was muscular stiff and he was non committal. He wanted her SI and stifles scanned and was convinced that would highlight the problem. My vet was fine with that - stifles completely clear and I'm pretty sure she only highlighted the mild change on the SI so the insurance company would pay out! We popped a bit of steroid in to the SI as a diagnostic (& insurance paying) and it did seem to help but I had arthramid in her hocks at the same time so it could well have been that too.

I have to confess I was underwhelmed but I have friends who think he is fabulous. I haven't had him out for any of the others although I keep debating about a gelding scar investigation with my young cob and he's one of the few who can do an internal to see if there is scar tissue.

 

[Birker2020]

I was going to ask him to give Lari the once over but he was very expensive.

He sent me an email in 2022 saying

"Currently the initial osteopathic examination and treatment fee is £250 per horse plus the visit fee (VAT included).

The visit fee is based on mileage but reduced when there are other horses in the area. It tends to be between £40-50. There are no visit fees for clinics.

The follow up osteopathic sessions are £195."

In the end I didn't bother as my vets advised me not to use him. They didn't give a reason and I didn't ask, just took their advice. As it turned out he was too broken to fix anyway.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd rather spend my pennies on someone (vet or not) who will actually bother to watch the horse move as part of the essential initial examination.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'd rather spend my pennies on someone (vet or not) who will actually bother to watch the horse move as part of the essential initial examination.

This.

The lovely chiro vet I use wants to see stood up, then walked away and back, trotted away and back every single time, before does anything else. If anything at that point is bothering him, I might get asked to pop a lunge line on for further trotting etc, but fortunately we've had no need to in the last 2 years.
His visit usually lasts about an hour, I'm very happy with what he does, B is too.
For the last year or more, he hasn't really taken on new clients outside his 'area' as doesn't want to spread himself too thinly.

 

[Michen]

Total waste of money IMO. Didn’t even watch my horse move. Can’t even remember what rubbish he came up with as to being wrong, the horse actually had a soft tissue injury.

Not that I’d expect him to have diagnosed that of course.

 

[ycbm]

I'm not sure if you're being satirical Michen, but Tom Beech is a vet and should certainly have diagnosed the injury if another vet did from the same symptoms.
.

 

[tristar]

the first thing I do is look at a horse is walking, moving and carrying itself, before i even ride it

any farrier, vet, body worker should be doing the same before they touch it

its the very least, the horse can tell you so much by just the way it is moving

 

[Michen]

I'm not sure if you're being satirical Michen, but Tom Beech is a vet and should certainly have diagnosed the injury if another vet did from the same symptoms.
.

How? It was only diagnosed through scanning and took two vets to even decide there was a true abnormality there.

 

[ycbm]

How? It was only diagnosed through scanning and took two vets to even decide there was a true abnormality there.

I did say "if". I was trying to work out if your post was being critical of the lack of diagnosis or not, since he diagnoses soft tissue injuries all the time.
.

 

[Michen]

I did say "if". I was trying to work out if your post was being critical of the lack of diagnosis or not, since he diagnoses soft tissue injuries all the time.
.

I'm not sure I understand. Your post says he should certainly have diagnosed the injury. I am just pointing out that it took a scan to do so, therefore I couldn't have expected him to.

But still- a waste of money in every other way IMO

 

[ycbm]

I'm not sure I understand. Your post says he should certainly have diagnosed the injury. I am just pointing out that it took a scan to do so, therefore I couldn't have expected him to.

But still- a waste of money in every other way IMO

Yes M, you clarified. I didn't find your first post clear but I do now you've given the additional information. Tom Beech isn't someone I would use, I have seen too many "he fixed my horse" posts, only to check back later and find that after 3 to 6 months the horse was not fixed at all.
.

 

[HuskyFluff]

Thanks for all your comments - it seems he's a bit marmite-y!