What does a physiotherapist or osteopath do to your horse?

[jennie1000]

I have now had both a physiotherapist and an osteopath to my horse over the years. I mut say I was disappointed in the latest physiotherapist. She took the usual info about diet, age, workload of the horse. Did some work slapping and massaging along her spine. Did a few stretches left and right with her neck. Then finally checked a reflex behind her tail.... Ran her fingers somewhere and got a response like you get in a. Cats back. She did nothing with her tail, didn't lift her legs up at all.

I was just wondering roughly description wise what you guys get when you have a physiotherapist or osteopath out. Not after specific details just a general overview of what it looked like they were doing.

 

[be positive]

On the first visit my physio will watch the horse walk and trot in hand, do small circles and back up. She then goes all over the horse, from head to tail and down all legs, if she finds sore or tight areas she will work on them methodically going all over as required, when all work is done she will then check again and do stretches with carrots to find how good the range of movement is. All legs will be picked up and may be worked on but it depends on what the issues are.
She also looks at the saddle to make sure it is not causing problems.

I have known her do a full check and find nothing needs doing in which case she says so and does not charge the full rate, she takes around an hour to do a full treatment. The horse ideally is turned out immediately after treatment, has the following day off, again in the field and is then back in work although gently for a day or two depending on how bad it was. A follow up is usually about 2 weeks later just to make sure they have responded well to the treatment and do more if required.