Combined Horse and Rider Physiotherapy

Assisting horse and rider to find harmony as one

The rider is often the source of early signs of clinical back pain in horses – yet we tend to overlook this and go straight to saddle fitters, massage, or the vet. Think about your posture would change and the ache you would feel after carrying a heavy backpack on one shoulder all day.

Riding with pain will also affect the symmetry in which you ride due to the body naturally compensating. This has a direct effect on not only the horse’s movements, but also can create a domino effect of musculoskeletal pain in the horse. For example, if you have been struggling with back pain, then you may having trouble stabilising your spine and allowing your pelvis to move independently and absorb forces in the saddle, and therefore your horse has to work harder to stabilise and can lead to overload and back pain.

Combined horse and rider physiotherapy sessions include:

• - Rider off-horse musculoskeletal assessment

  - Ridden biomechanics assessment

• - Equine musculoskeletal assessment

• - Rider physiotherapy treatment

• - Equine physiotherapy treatment