Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterised by progressive articular cartilage erosion, bone remodelling, joint inflammation, osteophyte formation, and reduced joint range of motion. It commonly affects joints such as the hocks, where repetitive biomechanical loading accelerates cartilage wear and can compromise normal limb function.

Secondary changes often develop in surrounding musculature, tendons, and ligaments due to altered joint mechanics and compensatory movement patterns. Physiotherapy aims to maintain joint mobility, optimise muscle recruitment, and modulate pain, while structured exercise programs support synovial fluid circulation and functional loading to slow degeneration. Early and ongoing intervention can reduce the impact of OA, restore efficient movement patterns, and improve both performance and long-term comfort.

Back pain may arise from muscular dysfunction, facet joint irritation, or overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines). These conditions are commonly associated with local inflammation, muscle spasm, reduced intervertebral mobility, and altered neuromuscular control.

Our approach targets both the local pathology and the wider biomechanical consequences. Treatment focuses on improving the health and mobility of tissues surrounding the affected spinous processes, while restoring appropriate recruitment of the deep abdominal and core musculature responsible for dynamic spinal support.

Back pain frequently results in compensatory movement patterns affecting the forelimbs, hindlimbs, and pelvic girdle. We therefore assess and treat the entire kinetic chain, addressing secondary dysfunctions and facilitating the return of normal, efficient movement patterns to maximise overall function.

Injuries to the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons (SDFT/DDFT) and suspensory ligament are common in performance horses due to the high mechanical loads placed on the distal limb. Pathology typically involves fibre disruption, haematoma formation, inflammation, and subsequent remodelling, with a significant risk of re-injury if rehabilitation is not carefully managed.

Successful management depends on structured, progressive loading to promote optimal collagen alignment and tensile strength during healing. Our aim is to support high-quality tissue repair while minimising adhesions and reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

Treatment may incorporate Winback tecartherapy to enhance circulation, support cellular activity, and modulate inflammation within the affected tissues. Rehabilitation programmes are individually tailored and closely staged, combining controlled exercise progression with manual therapy and biomechanical assessment to restore limb strength, symmetry, and functional performance.

The sacroiliac joints are formed where the left and right halves of the pelvis articulate with the triangular-shaped sacrum. This region is a critical force transmission point, transferring load generated by the hindlimbs through the pelvis and into the axial skeleton to allow forward propulsion, collection, and jumping efforts.

Due to the presence of a joint on both sides of the pelvis, the sacroiliac region is particularly susceptible to asymmetrical loading. Horses rarely generate perfectly equal force through each hindlimb, and repetitive uneven stress can result in ligamentous strain, joint irritation, inflammation, and altered force transfer. Over time, this may lead to reduced impulsion, poor hindlimb engagement, strength deficits, and compensatory movement patterns. If unaddressed, sacroiliac dysfunction can become chronically painful and contribute to instability within the pelvic girdle.

In collaboration with your vet, physiotherapy aims to influence both pain and biomechanical function within this region. Through a comprehensive assessment of pelvic symmetry, neuromuscular control, and load transfer, we apply a wide range of evidence-based techniques to address inflammation, improve stability, restore muscular balance, and promote more symmetrical, efficient movement patterns.

Soft tissue injuries are common throughout a horse’s athletic career, ranging from mild muscular strain to partial or complete fibre disruption. These injuries involve inflammation, oedema, pain, and altered neuromuscular recruitment. The physiological principles of tissue healing closely mirror those in human medicine, and rehabilitation follows the same evidence-based loading and repair strategies.

Our aim is to promote high-quality tissue repair and efficient healing, ensuring optimal collagen organisation and a safe return to previous levels of function and performance.

Treatment may include Winback Tecartherapy to support circulation and modulate inflammation, and influence collagen alignment in associated tendinous structures. Rehabilitation is carefully progressed according to healing stage, incorporating manual therapy, stretching, and targeted exercise with load management strategies to restore strength, symmetry, and full functional capacity across the wider kinetic chain.