BK Veterinary Physiotherapy

19/03/2026

𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐚

Kaia is a young dog diagnosed with 𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮, her owners came to me following veterinary advise. Hip replacements were being considered but the vets were reluctant to perform extensive surgery on such a young dog.

Physiotherapy was advised to get Kaia as strong as she could be in case surgery was needed and delay surgery if possible. Kaia was taking lots of pain medications and struggling to keep up with her friends.

𝗪𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻
✨ Targeted Strengthening
✨ Laser therapy
✨ Massage
✨Under Water Treadmill progressive strengthening

𝗞𝗮𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄
🩵 Off all Pain medications
🩵 Moving comfortably
🩵 Running, Playing, and enjoying her walks

Hip dysplasia is a lifelong condition but with good management dogs can be kept comfortable, and manage far better than you might expect.

Every dog is different but surgery isn’t always the only option.

Well done Kaia ✨ 🐶

18/03/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 🐾

Many owners are terrified of "over-walking" their pups, leading to bored, destructive dogs at home!
Truth is, movement is good it’s repetitive strain on unsuitable surfaces that causes damage.

We want to avoid "forced" exercise like long road walks, repetitive ball throwing, stairs, or jumping on hard or slippery surfaces. These put too much stress on soft, developing growth plates.

Natural free play is the gold standard. Somewhere like a safe field, puppies move like athletes sprinting, turning, and resting when they've had enough. This "self-regulation" is vital for building stable joints and a tired, happy brain. Research shows that this type of exercise is beneficial for physical development.

Balance is key: let them explore, let them play, and then let them sleep!

17/03/2026

A good curry comb can do wonders - your pony will definitely appreciate it.. an so will your physio

Hi guys! Only me… but can you all do me one favour!? 🙃

Get one of these, or a rubber curry comb, and give your horse a good, vigorous groom. Not just a quick flick with the brush, but a proper 20/30 minute rub down.

Yes, coats are changing and it can help to lift the moulting hair and dander… but it is also for another reason — fascia.

I remember when I was younger being taught how to groom a horse. I remember so clearly being told how important it was to use a curry comb vigorously to stimulate the circulatory system, remove debris and moulting hair. I remember my instructor telling me that I hadn’t done it long enough, and making me put down other brushes and go back to curry combing.

Not that I knew it at the time, but this was so important. By using a curry comb, over simply a desheding tool and a brush, we are bringing circulation to the skin, fascia and muscles. This brings warmth, healing, and the break down of tight fascia. I can always tell when a horse has had a groom using this method vs. not!

So, let’s not forget the old school curry combing to promote a healthy coat but also release some fascia! 🤍✨

17/03/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫?

We all know riders need a "good core" to sit well and allow the horse to move freely, but functionally, your hip flexors play a massive role in how you follow that movement.

When we talk about “engaging the core” in the saddle, we often think about the abdominals. However, one of the key muscles for rider stability is the iliopsoas. This deep hip flexor links your spine, pelvis, and thigh. Its job is to control your pelvic position and support your lower back as the horse moves.

To maintain pelvic stability in the saddle, the hip flexors need to be long and strong 💪. If they are tight and weak, you might find yourself:

❌ Bouncing in the sitting trot.
❌ Tipping forward (especially in the canter)
❌ Feeling your leg "creep up" the horse’s side.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺

Developing strength in a lengthened position is key. These three are game-changers for rider stability:

✨ High Lunge (for length and control)
✨ 90/90s (for hip mobility)
✨ Dead Bugs (for core-to-hip coordination)

Picture of my best riding efforts efforts featured below 🥴

15/03/2026

𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 🤨

This very interesting case is a great reminder that refusals are often communication, not bad behaviour (even after veterinary input).

I saw a talented 9-year-old showjumper competing at 1.15m who had started refusing jumps. His coffin joints had already been treated and he initially jumped again, but the refusals soon returned.

On first look he appeared well — good condition, moving fairly comfortably, and showing no obvious signs of pain.

But on assessment there were a few very subtle findings that highlighted a specific problem.

• reduced trapezius muscle bulk
• reduced stability through the right thoracic sling
• mild weakness through the right hind
• a small but important sign - a slight toe drag from the right forelimb when backing up
• minimal discomfort around the C5-6 vertebrae

Individually these signs were subtle, but together they suggested reduced stability and control through the forehand, secondary to cervical dysfunction. Further investigation and treatment to the leg alone would have been a diagnostic dead end as the "lameness" was actually originating in the neck.

Jumping requires a huge amount of strength, coordination and confidence in the forelimbs, especially on landing. If a horse feels unstable loading a limb, refusing the fence can simply be 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, not pain.

Because of these findings I recommended a thorough veterinary investigation before continuing physiotherapy.

A good reminder that horses are incredibly honest athletes and when they say “no”, it’s often worth listening.

15/03/2026

Loving the pole clinics over the weekend 🤩

14/03/2026

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 ✨

At first glance, it looks like a simple schooling figure, but biomechanically it tells us a lot about how a horse organises their body.
A shallow loop asks the horse to briefly leave the track, travel towards the quarter line, and return again. Because the change of line is gradual, it encourages balance and coordination without the intensity of tight circles.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲:

• Thoracic sling engagement to stabilise the shoulder as the line changes.
• Inside hind limb engagement, encouraging the horse to step under the mass for better lateral stability.
• Core activation to maintain posture through the subtle changes in direction.
• Symmetry and straightness, highlighting if a horse is "falling" through one shoulder.
For horses developing strength or rehabbing, this exercise allows the body to self-organise without excessive pressure. The goal isn’t complexity—it’s clarity of movement and quality of balance.
Often, the simplest patterns provide the most useful information about how a horse is truly moving🐴

10/03/2026

Look at Shadow enjoying his underwater treadmill session… on a cupcake 🧁🐾

One of my friends had these made for her 23rd birthday today — I think this might be my first physio patient to appear on cake!

10/03/2026

♥️ letting young horses figure stuff out for themself is a great life skill

10/03/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 🏇

When spaced appropriately for the individual horse, poles encourage the body to organise rhythm, balance and limb placement without the rider needing to increase pressure. For horses rebuilding strength or coordination, this can be extremely helpful.

For Sprout this week I’m using three canter poles set slightly shorter than a normal stride. The slightly reduced distance encourages him to sit a little more and generate lift rather than flattening through the stride.

𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲

• Hind limb engagement, particularly through the gluteals and hamstring group
• Lumbosacral flexion as the horse steps under the body
• Stifle stabilisation during the push phase
• Core activation to control the arc over the poles
• Thoracic sling support, helping lift the base of the neck and stabilise the shoulder

The goal isn’t height or difficulty — just allowing the horse to find rhythm and balance while strengthening the structures responsible for propulsion and postural control.

Simple exercises, applied thoughtfully, can have a big influence on long-term soundness and symmetry.
🐴