Cheshire Equine Therapy - physical therapy, rehab, coaching, & training

13/09/2025

I know it's quite short notice, only a week away, but people have been asking me for ages about organising some more xc clinics. With me going away for a week at the beginning of October by the time I get back and get organised it will be the middle of October the weather and ground conditions won't be as favourable and this is the only day I have before I go, so here we are 😄

This clinic on Sat 20th sept is at the fantastic & is aimed at those beginning & improving. Catering for all levels, heights, confidence, experience, so even if you've never had a go before but want to give it a try, now is the time (as long as your horse is fit enough).
Some groups will be going on the grassroots development course which is 26 acres with a huge selection of fences everything below 90cm, including water jump, ditches, steps starting from 30cm. Great for novice horses/riders or those building their confidence.
The improvers groups will be going on the 80 acres which has over 100 fences designed with training in mind with heights ranging from 75cm to 1.20m with combinations, drops, arrowheads, ditches, banks, chase fences, barn and an extensive water complex. Maybe you want some training before the last few events or hunter trials of the season, or had a few problem fences at previous events that need ironing out, or getting ready for some arena eventing or hunting.
Groups will be small to allow more tailored tuition (max 3 riders per group) sessions are 90 mins, £55, which includes facility hire.
You must wear a skull cap at the current safety standard with floppy peak (PAS 015:2011, VG1 01.040 2014-12, or ASTM F1163, SNELL E2021) & 2018 body protector.
Michelle Woolrich a fully qualified, registered & insured BHS APC UKCC2 coach, equine physical therapist, trainer. If I have not seen you ride before you will be required to send me a video of you riding the horse you will be fetching so I can put you in an appropriate group. £30 deposit at the time of booking secures your place. To book contact 07515552694 or DM

08/09/2025

⭐⭐ Racewood Introductory Offer ⭐⭐

A coaching session with myself on the eventing simulator at the Racewood training centre, Tarporley. This offer is just for the first three months while I'm still becoming acustomed to the complexity of the machines. These sessions should cost £62 I'm offering a 20% discount making them £49 until November. Below or a list of the dates and times I currently have left available at the centre, lots have gone already, so please contact me to book quickly. I maybe able to add some other dates if these get filled up but this isn't guaranteed so be sure to get your spot. I'm trying to do 2 per month; 1 weekday, 1 weekend day with some weekday slots for after work times to be accommodating for those that need post 5pm.
We can use these sessions to work on whatever you or I feel you need to work on, be it position, balance, rider alignment, posture, biomechanics, confidence, independent seat, core recruitment, confidence, post injury stamina, jumping position and rhythm. Just because it's the eventing simulator you don't have to jump, so don't worry if you don't want to, that's fine we have lots of other stuff to work on. Beginner or elite, show jumper or happy hacker, there's always lots of take away pointers, something for everyone.
£30 deposit is required at the time of booking, an invoice will be sent, your space will not be confirmed until this deposit is received. Sessions last approx 50 mins, please arrive 15mins early. A form will also be sent for you to complete prior to your appointment and message will be sent the day before with any other information you require. Tea and coffee facilities are available. 

💢Mon 22nd sept 2025  3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm

💢Sun 28th sept 2025 10am 1pm

💢Thurs 23rd Oct 2025 5pm

💢Sat 25th Oct 2025 1pm

💢Weds 19th Nov 2025 4pm 5pm 6pm

💢Sat 22nd Nov 2025 3pm 4pm

I look forward to seeing you 😊

02/09/2025

Super proud of this little one eyed ginger girlie yesterday. We went to as her first time out since her op with bessie fellow ginge Rory and also on his first time back out in the world following problems. Both behaved brilliantly, even popped a few little xc fences and she felt fab, little spooky, little hesitant think it will just take her time to rebuild her confidence, but still fab, and despite getting completely drenched in the rain even down to my 🩲😂

01/09/2025

Really interesting results especially considering recent events with my own flossy girlie so having tried many different fly masks on the market.
Based on independent testing by web & Dr David Marlin , if you are looking for a mask to reduce UVA/UVB exposure to the eyes for a horse affected by uveitis or headshaking or any other medical condition then either the Equilibrium Field Relief Midi (£27.81; 81% UV blocked; Grey) or the Harrison Howard Supreme Fly Mask (£24.99; 80% UV blocked; Grey) would seem the best options.
Other companies seem to like to inflate their claims on % of uv rays they block.
As an Equilibrium Products professional ambassador, I am really pleased with these results, if you want to know more about their fly masks or any of their other products or place an order feel free to contact me.

Many horse owners use face masks or fly masks that claim to reduce UV exposure to the horse's eyes and face.

26/08/2025

I talk to clients lots about prehabilitation (prehab) for their horses. What I'm referring to is a preventative and proactive approach to conditioning and care. Instead of waiting for an injury or lameness to occur and then starting rehabilitation, prehab focuses on preparing the horse’s body to withstand training, competition, or general leisure riding & everyday stresses, thereby reducing the risk of injury in the first place.

🔹 Definition

Prehabilitation in horses is the use of targeted exercise, physiotherapy, bodywork, & management strategies designed to optimise musculoskeletal health, improve strength, flexibility, coordination, & resilience, before problems develop.

🔹 Key Components of 🐎 Prehab

1️⃣Strength and Conditioning - Exercises to build core stability, thoracic sling engagement, and correct muscle balance. Pole work, hill work, long-reining, in-hand work, and controlled groundwork.

2️⃣Flexibility and Range of Motion - Stretching routines, ABS (active baited stretches), mobility exercises.

3️⃣Proprioception & Coordination - Balance pads, poles, lateral work, somatic exercises, varied terrain to improve neuromuscular control.

4️⃣Bodywork & Physiotherapy - Regular physio, chiro, osteo, esm to spot & address tightness or asymmetry before it becomes a problem.

5️⃣Management Factors - Good hoof care (balanced trims/shoeing), correct saddle & tack fit, appropriate diet, & turnout to encourage natural movement.

6️⃣Sport-Specific Preparation - Tailoring the programme to the horse’s discipline (dressage, sj, race, endurance, etc.), focusing on the physical demands of that sport but also incorporating some cross discipline training

🔹 Benefits of Prehabilitation

- Reduces the likelihood of injury.

- Improves performance and longevity of the horse’s career.

- Helps horses return more smoothly to work after rest or injury.

- Promotes balanced musculoskeletal development in young horses.

Prehabilitation in the horse is the equivalent of human athlete’s conditioning programme with gym work, stretching, and balance training to avoid injury, horses benefit from structured “prehab” before they encounter the full physical demands of any training

24/08/2025

Most riders who use auxiliary reins do so owing to others’ influence and their own lack of skill, research has found – and those who use them tend to have less knowledge of equine biomechanics than those who do not. Read more below

22/08/2025

Please don't ride with your phone in your back pocket as it will actually make your horse crooked 😕🤳🏼📱

𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧

While on a clinic some time ago, and again at a competition yesterday, I noticed a rider carrying their phone in their rear (right) pocket while riding.

This should be avoided at all levels.

Placing a phone in the rear pocket is likely too:

1) Significantly affect the function of the rider’s seat
2) Compromise the effectiveness of the rider’s seat aid
3) Induce/create rider asymmetry
4) Lead to uneven loading of the saddle and horse
5) Compromise rider-horse interaction

Although carrying a phone while riding can be useful for safety and other purposes (apps), alternative locations should be considered.

Image of a rider sitting on a pressure mat with their phone in their right back pocket.

Note: sharing as an observation. We have not shown this experimentally (yet).