EQUINE REHABILITATION

From August 2007, we are able to offer a veterinary referral equine rehabilitation service and specialist livery facilities at the Linhay.

Horses that have been injured, or are recovering after surgery, may be hospitalised and undergo intensive rehabilitation, or a rehabilitation plan may be developed for owners at home. An initial assessment may be made at the Linhay where we have specialist facilities to do so, or home visits are also available.

There are two veterinary surgeons with IVAS (International Veterinary Acupuncture Society) qualifications in acupuncture, and trained veterinary nurses with equine experience. We also have top-level competition riders at the Linhay, to help bring horses back into work after surgery, or prolonged periods of rest post injury. Rebecca Sharples (Chartered Physiotherapist ACPAT(Cat A)HPC,CCRP), our head physiotherapist, has considerable equine experience, having worked with high level competition horses from a variety of disciplines including dressage, 3-day eventing and racing.

Our veterinary team will assess the horse, and develop an individual rehabilitation programme, with a multidisciplinary approach. We work closely with the owner, farrier, saddler and referring veterinary surgeon.

A combination of the following therapies, is offered to ensure the optimal return to function for equine patients.

• Physiotherapy: Including manual therapy, thermal modalities, TENS, neuromuscular stimulation, laser, ultrasound
• Acupuncture: Dry needling, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion and aquapuncture
• Therapeutic exercises: Stretching, ridden exercises