LGAP Animal Physiotherapy.

29/08/2025

Some advice from a great nutritionist about taking care when buying your forage and understanding how to help our horses that suffer with weight issues.

ENERGY OVERSUPPLY: A SILENT RISK IN SO-CALLED 'SAFE' FORAGE

I'm astounded and very concerned to see advice in a forage analysis report that a hay supplying 9MJ of energy per kilo is suitable for a laminitic horse.

Even if that hay was to be fed at just 1.8% bodyweight intake per day (dry matter) - which is restricted i.e. lower than a normal appetite - this will supply 81MJ of energy.

An overweight laminitis-prone 500kg horse needs about 63MJ of energy per day (to ensure gradual weight loss, we feed 90% of energy requirements), so this hay fed at RESTRICTED quantities will oversupply this horse by over 18MJ of energy!!

That is the equivalent of about 1.5kg (a heaped stubbs scoop) of conditioning mix.

This is disastrous advice.

And if we fed this hay free choice to a normal (not a large) appetite (2.5% of BW), this could supply 112.5MJ of energy...
..which is how much a horse in significant work would need. And it's an almost 50MJ oversupply (about 4 stubbs scoops of conditioning mix), which is going to cause significant fat gain.

(And despite the simple sugar being almost 10%, the NSC is 21% - we all know that we must take into account not just sugar, but the entire NSC content of a hay i.e. the fructan as well).

This is DOUBLE the recommended amount of non-fibre carbs recommended for laminitics!!

(There is agreement amongst nutritionists, physiologists and research specialists that we need to consider fructan in hay and not just sugar and starch, when assessing suitability for EMS, laminitis and indeed obesity).

It is absolute basic nutrition knowledge to consider the dietary energy intake (we also call that 'calories').

I've said it many times before but I will say it again...

We MUST look past sugar (or worse, just sugar and starch) to assess the suitability of a forage for laminitics or overweight horses and ponies!!

It can be disastrous not to.

I've had countless owners come to me for advice - more than one almost in tears - wondering why their horse has put on weight on 'low sugar' hay.

And sadly, some of them have ended up with a bout of laminitis.

When taking advice on forage analysis results, please check the source is either a qualified nutritionist or the company has a qualified person working for or with them (who can train them).

Please be very careful who you take nutrition and feeding advice from.

Just because they sell products (feeds/supplements/forage/forage analysis) does not mean they have a suitably qualified person to offer nutrition advice (which this case clearly shows).

Feel free to share this

ps the overweight pony in the picture needs an energy (calorie) deficit, because this is the ONLY thing that will cause fat loss (he is not linked to the report I mention)
🐴🍏

26/08/2025

Today might be a bank holiday, but it’s also !

A perfect reminder of how much our dogs do for us... whether they’re adventure buddies, working dogs or champions of the sofa.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in keeping our best friends moving well, feeling comfortable and enjoying life to the fullest, especially as they age or recover from injury.

Give your dog that extra bit of love today! And if you’ve noticed any stiffness, limping or changes in how they move, we’re always here to help.

22/08/2025

Gentle soft tissue work through the hamstrings helps release tension and improve flexibility which is especially important for horses in regular work or returning from injury.

Hamstring restriction can sometimes be a secondary symptom of other postural weaknesses and can affect stride length, engagement and comfort under saddle. Targeted treatment like this supports freer movement and overall wellbeing. Have a question? Get in touch!

13/08/2025

Gentle hind limb retraction, combined with spinal and pelvic extension, helps stretch the hip flexors and support overall mobility.

It’s especially useful for horses who feel a bit tight behind, show a shortened stride or are returning from injury.

Subtle, hands-on techniques like this can make a big difference. Get in touch if you’ve noticed changes in your horse’s movement or would like to arrange an assessment.

07/08/2025

Kobe took a big jump in the forest and misjudged the bracken as a solid landing spot. Kobe’s owner noticed he was doing a lot more forward stretching and asked Leanne to take a look.

Leanne quickly diagnosed a first rib misalignment, a common but often overlooked source of discomfort in dogs. This area isn’t usually assessed by vets, which means it can go undetected. Early assessment can make all the difference. If you’ve noticed changes in your dog’s movement, posture or behaviour after a knock or fall, don’t wait - getting them checked early can help prevent ongoing discomfort and get them back to feeling their best.

05/08/2025

Flashback to last week at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show where I had the absolute pleasure of showing Binky and Dinky, twin pure-breed Shetland lambs. Huge thanks to my lovely friend Rosie Maskell for stepping in to help handle them in the ring! It was something a little different for us as it was our first time ever showing sheep and we had such a fun day. I also had the chance to show Poppy, their beautiful mum and pure-breed Shetland ewe. The sheep were incredibly relaxed and happy and we even came away with a few rosettes to top it all off. Already looking forward to the next year's!

04/08/2025

Sunday morning hack to check-in with the forest mares. Everyone’s looking happy and healthy - always a joy to see them doing so well!

29/07/2025

!

While the sunglasses are just for fun, keeping your small pets active, hydrated and comfy during the warmer months is really important...remember to:
Always provide fresh water
Keep their environment well-ventilated
Avoid outdoor play during the hottest part of the day

Whether it’s gentle mobility work, enrichment ideas or seasonal care tips - we’re always here to help. If you’ve got any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

28/07/2025

I'm back from a wonderful holiday with my family, feeling fully refreshed and recharged! I’m working my way through all the messages, so if I haven’t replied yet, feel free to send me a little nudge. Thanks for your patience 😀

22/07/2025

Horses, like humans, can experience tension and restrictions in their neck muscles and fascia. Leanne uses gentle, targeted soft tissue and fascial techniques to release these tensions, improving comfort and mobility.

Addressing neck restrictions not only enhances your horse’s balance and performance, but also supports long-term wellbeing resulting in a more comfortable ride.

17/07/2025

Good physical performance is not just about muscles - joints matter too!

This technique, called tuber coxae dorsoventral mobilisation, helps us check how well the sacroiliac (SI) area is functioning so we can apply gentle treatment when required.

The SI joint is essential for smooth, powerful movement from the hindquarters. If there’s restriction or discomfort in this area, it can affect your horse’s performance, balance and comfort under saddle.

Get in touch if you’d like to know more or to book an assessment.

09/07/2025

Why is it important for us to observe both horse AND rider in motion during a physio assessment?

How a horse moves under saddle reveals so much more than when standing still. Watching the partnership in action helps us spot physical imbalances, compensations or subtle movement issues that could be affecting performance, comfort or long-term health, for both the horse and rider.

This could be a general ridden issue or a high performance problem including jumping or advanced movements.

It also helps us to see any saddle imbalances which can be caused by the saddle itself or a horses asymmetry.

Observation is a key step in developing effective, personalised treatment plans that support mobility, performance and overall wellbeing.