Emma Barber Veterinary Physiotherapy

Emma Barber Veterinary Physiotherapy Professional Veterinary Physiotherapy services, Remedial Groundwork, In-hand and Ridden Coaching.

Putting your horses physical and emotional wellbeing first, while empowering the horse-human relationship. Emma provides Veterinary Physiotherapy, Biomechanical and Rehabilitation training to Equine patients in the Midlands and surrounding areas. As an experienced horsewoman Emma has worked professionally in the equine industry for more than 20years, initially as a freelance groom and qualified riding instructor, going on to qualify as a McTimoney Animal Manipulation therapist and Veterinary Physiotherapist. Emma combines her academic knowledge and practical experience to provide owners with a highly tailored service. Giving owners the skills and knowledge to help their own horses stay in the best possible health. Emma is passionate about improving the well being of all horses, from happy hackers to top competition horses and all those in between.

08/02/2026

“Not all horses like turnout” is one of those phrases that sounds thoughtful but completely falls apart under scrutiny.

Horses are a grazing, roaming, social species. Movement, forage access, and the ability to choose distance from others are not preferences. They are biological needs.

When a horse appears to “dislike turnout,” what they are actually responding to is the conditions of the turnout provided.

Small turnout spaces.
No horses within sight.
Mud up to their ankles.
Incompatible herd mates.
Inadequate shelter.
Pain that is worsened by movement.

There are MANY factors that can make being outside stressful rather than supportive.

Of course an animal that has never had turnout, or has only experienced it in stressful, unsafe, or barren conditions, isn’t going to immediately cope well with being turned out, even when the setup is objectively better. Horses learn what is safe through experience. A nervous system shaped by confinement does not instantly recalibrate just because the environment improves.

A stress response caused by deprivation does not turn a need into a preference.

And yes, horses can absolutely enjoy coming in to dry off, escape insects, rest away from the herd, or be protected during extreme weather. That doesn’t contradict turnout being essential. That proves the value of choice.

A horse choosing to come inside is very different from a horse having no option but to stay inside.

If a horse “doesn’t like turnout,” the question isn’t why doesn’t this horse want to be outside?
The question is what about this setup makes being outside worse than confinement?

Well done super Scooby and Mandy Morris! So well deserved 💙
08/02/2026

Well done super Scooby and Mandy Morris! So well deserved 💙

Should we walk our horses before mounting??Giving your horse a short walk in hand before mounting serves as a crucial wa...
07/02/2026

Should we walk our horses before mounting??

Giving your horse a short walk in hand before mounting serves as a crucial warm-up to help loosen the back and joints, particularly during the winter months. This is especially important for the older, slightly stiffer equine!

When horses haven’t had as much opportunity to move – such as over winter, when stabling is often necessary due to weather conditions – their joints can lose some of their natural mobility. This is partly due to the thickening of the joint fluid within the joint capsule.

Joint fluid is stimulated by movement and acts as both a lubricant and a source of nutrients for the cartilage. When movement is restricted, this fluid is absorbed into the cartilage, reducing its lubricating qualities and causing the joints to become stiffer.

Many of the joints in the body are synovial joints containing synovial fluid, including the facet joints of the spine – the joints we sit over when riding!

Allowing your horse a few minutes to walk in hand before mounting, especially first thing in the morning after being stabled, helps to gently mobilise the back before taking the rider’s weight, loosen the joints of the limbs, allow the horse time to settle with the saddle and girth, and gives you a valuable few moments to connect with your horse before getting on. 🐎

Think I chose a good morning to sort the paperwork with this weather, though I will be back out this afternoon seeing ho...
05/02/2026

Think I chose a good morning to sort the paperwork with this weather, though I will be back out this afternoon seeing horses.

Being a veterinary physiotherapist includes plenty of paperwork, including contacting vets for referral or routine treatment notification. I also write a full report for my owners so they know exactly what I’ve found at our sessions, and it gives them something to refer back to for recommended exercises and advised rehab.

I also include photos of the horse so I can easily look back at my records to see progress or changes in the body that could indicate an issue.

As always I have my trusty secretary Nancy at hand. Her typing is really poor, and she never gets me a cup of tea, but she is very cute 🥰

01/02/2026

An open letter to influencers in the equestrian world

I’ll be blunt……

“Only her 5th time sat on.”
“My 4yo first jump.”
“So pleased with her.”

This influencers own words on the post.

That isn’t impressive. It’s alarming.

A horse that has only been sat on five times is still trying to work out how to carry a rider, balance itself, steer, stop, and process pressure. Jumping at that stage isn’t training, it’s overload. Calling it progress doesn’t change what it is.

A 4 year old horse is not physically mature. The spine and pelvis are still developing. Growth plates are still open. Jumping under saddle sends concussion through structures that aren’t ready to absorb it. You won’t see the damage today, you’ll see it in a few years when the horse is lame, sore, “difficult”, or quietly disappearing from work.

A “first jump” is not a milestone to brag about. It should be dull, small and unremarkable, poles, raised poles, tiny cross poles, loose schooling, no pressure, no rider expectation, no camera. If it looks exciting on social media, you’ve probably gone too far.

This also isn’t just physical. Mentally, this is unfair. Young horses need time to understand, not adrenaline to survive. Rushing them creates horses that try hard because they’re brave, not because they’re ready. That bravery gets used up very quickly.

If you choose to call yourself an influencer, you don’t get to shrug this off as “my horse, my choice”. People copy what you do. Kids copy it. Owners copy it. Riding schools kids copy it. And horses pay for it with shortened careers and broken bodies.

This isn’t being soft. It isn’t oh follow the animal rights movement . It’s basic, evidence based welfare, start later, go slower, protect longevity.

The industry keeps talking about horse welfare and social licence while applauding posts like this. You can’t have it both ways.

A horse’s value is not how early it jumps.
It’s how long it stays sound, willing and comfortable.

If that makes people uncomfortable, good….👍🏽

01/02/2026

Some areas to help assess if your saddle is causing any discomfort for your horse.

The areas shown can also indicate areas of compensation due to lameness or other conditions, so are always worth getting assessed by your vet physio or bodyworker.

If this info helped you, please Like and share 😁

31/01/2026

I’m not in my comfort zone being in front of or taking to camera, but I’m trying to push my limits and get my thoughts out there!

Forgive my crazy hair 🤣

Embrace positive February 🌷

Share your positive vibes below 👇🏼

Should Horses Regulate Our Emotions, or Should We Regulate Ours? Horses are often used in human therapy due to their gen...
29/01/2026

Should Horses Regulate Our Emotions, or Should We Regulate Ours?

Horses are often used in human therapy due to their gentle nature and their ability to provide non-judgemental, mirroring feedback to their human counterparts. This can lead to powerful therapeutic changes alongside the human therapist.

However, should we expect the horse to regulate our emotions in day-to-day settings, or should we be responsible for regulating ourselves for the benefit of our horse’s emotional wellbeing?

Since beginning my own journey using tools such as meditation, mindful movement (qigong), and continued study into human and equine emotion and behaviour, I’ve noticed a huge difference in how I interact with horses — and how they interact with me.

Bringing my awareness into the present moment has deepened my understanding of horses’ emotions, which in turn lets the horse know that I am aware and helps them feel safe with me in their environment.

As I have found such powerful benefits from mindfulness, I am studying to become a mindfulness facilitator with Breathworks and hope to offer these services to you in the near future.

If you want to build a stronger, deeper connection with your horse, the skills of mindfulness can be a major building block in achieving this. Through developing present-moment awareness and emotional regulation, we not only support our own wellbeing but also create an environment in which our horses can feel calmer, safer, and more understood — strengthening the partnership between horse and human.

29/01/2026

When it rains, embrace the water training ☔️

Eve and a bit of hydrotherapy 😂🥰

Address

Derby
DE243

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Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm

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+447815935599

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Who is Emma?

Emma Barber - MSc, PgDip, BSc (Hons), EEBW, BHSAI

Emma is a highly qualified and fully insured Veterinary Physiotherapist working in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire boarders.

A Veterinary Physiotherapist and McTimoney Animal Practitioner, Emma offers a combination of manual therapies, electrotherapies and remedial exercise to address musculoskeletal issues in your horse, giving the best chance for your horse to achieve and maintain peak health and well being.

Having worked in the equestrian industry for over 20 years, Emma is uniquely qualified to offer a vast experience of horses and equine management to back up her academic training and knowledge. Not only trained to the level of BHSAI, she also trained with Kelly Marks and the Intelligent Horsemanship Association utilising the methods of Monty Roberts to increase her understanding of horse psychology and behaviour, allowing Emma to work skilfully with even the most nervous or sensitive horse.