There are many signs that could indicate your horse could benefit from physiotherapy, including (but not limited to):

• Behavioural issues -e.g. napping, bucking, head shaking, excessive tail swishing, etc

• ​Toe dragging, general stiffness and other changes in movement

• Inability or reluctance to stand square

• Poor transitions during ground and/or ridden work

• Lack of topline or previous poor saddle fit

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Various conditions that your horse could experience can also benefit from physiotherapy, including (but not limited to):

• Soft tissue injuries - muscles, tendons or ligaments

• Joint conditions - e.g. hock osteoarthritis, sacroiliac dysfunction, etc

• Back soreness - muscular, skeletal (kissing spines), etc 

• Wounds (acute or chronic)

• Nerve injuries/neurological issues

• Post-surgical rehabilitation

• muscle imbalances (possibly due to previously ill-fitting saddles)

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Horses have an innate ability to mask pain by adapting their gait and posture, which may be difficult to spot. If left unaddressed for long periods of time, any compensatory musculoskeletal adaptations may lead to permanent damage, which can limit their performance.

Physiotherapy not only accelerates healing or improves performance, but it also helps improve comfort, gait re-education, restore mobility and aid in the prevention of injuries. This ensures your horse can perform optimally throughout their ridden career and maintain comfort through their retirement.