Consent
In order to carry out any assessment or treatment of your horse, by law, Katharine will require consent from your horse’s vet, prior to the initial appointment.
Please download consent forms here. These can be returned to Katharine via email or in paper format either prior to or at the 1st appointment.
Equine Assessment
In order to carry out a full assessment, Katharine will need to observe your horse move, so there should be somewhere relatively flat they can be trotted up and then somewhere enclosed (ideally a stable) for the remainder of the assessment and treatment, if indicated.
Katharine will first take a full history of your horse and detail of its current work and lifestyle which will help guide her assessment and pin point potential problem areas.
Your horse will then be assessed standing square, observed for posture, conformation and symmetry, followed by a dynamic assessment for Katharine to observe it move. This will involve walking & trotting in straight lines, performing tight circles and rein back and may include an assessment on the lunge, if indicated. A ridden assessment may also be offered, if required. Katharine will then proceed to a full palpation assessment of your horse, feeling joints, muscles, tendons & ligaments, including checking reflexes and range of movement.
Equine Treatment
The treatment techniques used most commonly are:
Mobilisation
- Vertebral mobilisation
- Joint mobilisation
Soft tissues techniques
- Massage
- Myofascial release
- Reflex inhibition
- Myofascial trigger point release
- Stretching
Exercise Therapy
- Baited stretches
- Pole work
- Long Reining
- Lungeing
- Transitions
Other treatment options less commonly used, but available if clinically indicated for specific injuries are:
- Electrotherapy
- Hot / Cold
- TENS
- NMES (Muscle Stim)
- Ultrasound
Rider / Combined Assessment
As a Chartered Physiotherapist, Katharine has the ability to be able to provide care for both horses and humans and can offer a combined horse & rider assessment if required. However, a more detailed human examination (including diagnostic ultrasound imaging) and a broad range of treatments can be offered at our human practice in Newmarket: Grosvenor Physiotherapy which deals with most major insurance companies.
