Helen Jacks-Hewett - McTimoney Animal Chiropractor

31/01/2026

29/01/2026

🗓️ UPDATE 🗓️

RAMP welcomes the news today that DEFRA have launched a public consultation which includes proposals for the reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

The consultation marks another step in our work to regulate the musculo-skeletal professions in animal practice. We would encourage all professional and owners to take time to review and respond to this consultation before March 25th 2026.

👉🏻 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act-1966

27/01/2026

I often get asked if horses get hip joint arthritis because this is something we very rarely hear about in comparison to other hind limb joints such as the hock or stifle. …and the answer is yes they do! But because of how deep the hip joints are within the pelvis they are very difficult for vets to diagnostically image and therefore pose a diagnostic challenge in the living horse.

Just look at the difference between these two sets of hips joints and you can see arthritis can be just as destructive as it can in all other joints.

A good lesson in if you can’t see it, feel it or image it, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem there.

25/01/2026

19/12/2025

Wishing all my clients a very happy and healthy Christmas! 🎄🥂

That’s me done for this year, I will be back at work on Monday 5th January. In the meantime I’ll no doubt be kept busy with these three… 🩶💛🧡

Thank you for your continued support in 2025, I shall very much look forward to seeing you in 2026 🎉

18/12/2025

For those of you who use pole work please can you take a moment to participate in this research survey? It all helps towards furthering our knowledge to help our horses 😊

How do you use polework?

Polework is everywhere in training and rehab, but how is it really being used?
A new international research project is gathering data from riders, trainers, and therapists worldwide, and the team is calling on the Animalweb community to get involved.

The survey takes under 10 minutes and is open to anyone aged 18+ who uses polework with a horse. Your input will help shape future research, education, and evidence-based training guidance.

👉 Read our full news story: https://askanimalweb.com/researchers-launch-international-survey-on-polework-use/
👉 Take the survey: https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5i05P0WNAvWtEeq

Thank you for supporting equine science and helping move the research forward.

15/12/2025

Bit of a theme this week… 😂

Meet Loki the super cute Jack Russell who is always so very desperate to get a look in but disappointingly it’s usually one of the other dogs in his household that needs to see me.

However, all his birthdays and Christmases came at once today because it was finally HIS turn to have a session with me and he was so happy! 🎉🎉🎉

Good boy Loki ❤️

14/12/2025

Then and now… I’ve have the pleasure of seeing Freddie the Giant Schnauzer as one of my regular customers over the years. These photos are 5 years apart and show that even after all these years Freddie still loves to sit on my lap even though he’s roughly the same size as me!

09/12/2025

This!!!

FORAGE ALONE CAN MAKE YOUR HORSE TOO FAT ❗️

And not just grass either!

So it's time to explain this again....

All types of hay (including organic meadow hay) and haylage can all cause obesity.

Don't assume that all fat horses are overfed from a bucket. Some will happily eat double the normal intake of forage if fed ad lib (free choice).

Some owners already know this, but more and more horses and ponies who aren't fed much in a bucket are obese, and there a persistent myth that if you feed natural non-ryegrass hay, they will regulate and stay a healthy weight.

This is simply not true.

Some will overeat more after restriction; some will regulate if fed ad lib (but not many); some will literally eat themselves to death (yes, even on just hay).

Horses are all VERY different so be open minded and MONITOR your horse or pony regularly and carefully.

Also worth noting is that horses and ponies can come down with laminitis on hay-only diets, without grass. This is more unusual than those who get laminitis whilst grazing, but I have come across several cases of the former.

Monitor, monitor, monitor your horses and ponies to avoid and manage obesity, and reduce the risk of laminitis.

Please help spread the word by sharing - thank you
🐴🍏
ps comment webinars for details of my winning the weight challenge talk happening tomorrow evening

08/11/2025

Transitional vertebrae - it feels like more and more coming over the dissection table all the time.

Anecdotally we hear similar stories time and time again… transitional vertebrae horses often do well when racing, endurance, trail riding (straight line work) but struggle with arena work, jumping (bending intensive work) assymetry, hind end dysfunction & disuniting.

08/11/2025

Great to see Pony Club Australia are teaching the next generation about equine behaviour in the context of sporting disciplines 👏

It’s important for all horse trainers and riders to learn how to identify the flight response.

For centuries, the world’s best trainers have emphasised the importance of rhythm and straightness — what we now call self-carriage. A horse that maintains his own rhythm and line shows confidence and relaxation. By contrast, a horse that accelerates suddenly or without being asked — whether under saddle or in hand — is likely showing a fear response.

A common example is the jumping horse that rushes towards a fence. This behaviour is often mistaken for enthusiasm or a “love of jumping”, but in reality, it’s a sign of anxiety. When early training is rushed or unclear, the horse learns to associate fences with fear. The obstacle becomes a trigger to run — both toward and away from it.

Physiologically, a horse showing a strong flight response on a cross-country course has a blood profile similar to one fleeing from predators. That’s why training for rhythm and self-maintenance of speed is essential for both welfare and rider safety. The jump should never cause acceleration; the horse must be trained to maintain a steady rhythm and tempo on his own.

In dressage — and across all disciplines — we should recognise tension as a sign of fear, not excitement or energy. The great classical masters understood this deeply:

▪️ Quickening legs signal the flight response.

▪️ A hollow back reflects tension and fear.

▪️ True impulsion comes only from calm, progressive training.

Understanding the difference between rhythm and rush protects both horse and rider — and ensures training remains fair, ethical, and safe.