Euro Vet Physio

Euro Vet Physio Catherine Bayliss, BSc (Hons), PGDip. MSc. (Vet Physio), MIRVAP(VP)
Fully qualified and insured veterinary physiotherapist.

Area: Shropshire, Mid/North Wales, West Midlands, West Staffs. Increase Performance & Release Potential

Conformation.Our April Topic.Confirmation is the structure and proportion of the musculoskeletal system. An imbalance in...
09/04/2026

Conformation.Our April Topic.
Confirmation is the structure and proportion of the musculoskeletal system. An imbalance in confirmation may inhibit performance.

Kissing Spines.Diagnosing kissing spine is a challenging process of elimination, as many of the symptoms have other caus...
02/04/2026

Kissing Spines.

Diagnosing kissing spine is a challenging process of elimination, as many of the symptoms have other causes.

Back pain itself can emanate from other pathologies and secondary to other conditions.

Its also important to note that a kissing spine may not always cause pain or dysfunction, however, the more vertebrae affected the more likely it is to be a cause of pain.

Mild cases or those unable to have surgical intervention can be managed with a combination of treatments to manage the pain and support the musculoskeletal system,
路 Mesotherapy - injections of anti-inflammatories
路 Therapeutic ultrasound
路 Exercise prescription

Your Veterinary Physiotherapist can support you and your Veterinary Surgeon to manage pain and dysfunction.

If surgical intervention is required then your Veterinary Physiotherapist can support post-surgical pain management and a full rehabilitation program.
Post-surgical rehabilitation is pivotal in achieving a successful recovery.

Conformation can impact on the horses way of going.I often discuss the impact of conformation of the horse I am treating...
01/04/2026

Conformation can impact on the horses way of going.
I often discuss the impact of conformation of the horse I am treating with the owner. This helps them to understand how biomechanics can impact training results.










There are several reasons why we want to improve the horses range of movement.Here are some common ones.馃 Increase perfo...
30/03/2026

There are several reasons why we want to improve the horses range of movement.
Here are some common ones.

馃 Increase performance
馃 Remove restriction
馃 Improve joint quality
馃 Maintain an active horse
馃 Support an elderly horse
馃 Strengthen the horse
馃 Supple the horse

Just like there are a number of reasons why we want to improve joint range of motion, there are also a number of activities that can help your horse improve his range of motion.
Here are some simple activities

馃弴 Pole work activities
馃弴 Stretching, active and passive
馃弴 Vet physio treatment
馃弴 Joint supplement
馃弴 Hacking

Consistent regular work improves strength and performance.


Below is a guide to the frequency of treatment suggested in relation to workload.However, if your horse has received tre...
30/03/2026

Below is a guide to the frequency of treatment suggested in relation to workload.

However, if your horse has received treatment it does get easier to identify when they would benefit from their next treatment.

Some horses naturally get stiff on one rein. We can release and apply exercises but if they have a natural pattern it can take sometime to change the cycle.








Veterinary Physiotherapy can help your horse improve performance.
29/03/2026

Veterinary Physiotherapy can help your horse improve performance.

How often should my horse be treated? I'm often asked this question and it can be difficult to answer as there is no sta...
27/03/2026

How often should my horse be treated? I'm often asked this question and it can be difficult to answer as there is no standard response. It is rather dependent on a range of factors.

馃Age
馃Workload
馃Medical history
馃Conformation

I will explain some of the reasons for regular treatment and the timescales over the next few days

The PollThere are a number of ways a horse can easily sustain an injury to the poll for example pulling back whilst bein...
25/03/2026

The Poll
There are a number of ways a horse can easily sustain an injury to the poll for example pulling back whilst being tied up, falling in the trailer, whilst being ridden the horse may try to avoid a bit or be forced to work in a false outline. If an injury is sustained, it should be treated. If your horse doesn't like you touching his poll or seems to have become head shy he may be experiencing poll pain.

An injury or strain to the re**us capitus muscles can resonate throughout the body, causing tension and changes in the gait due to the shortening of the front limb stride. Tension and pain may travel through the back and affect the pelvis and hind limb action.
We know that in humans neck pain can often cause headaches and, for all we know this could be how our horses also experience neck pain.

A Vet Physiotherapist will always palpate the poll region and check for heat, tension, pain, inflammation, adhesions, and knots. There may also be scar tissue present.

Treating this region with massage, LASER, and stretches can relieve pain and inflammation, reduce tension and help repair any damage to the re**us capitus muscles.

Your horse will definitely thank you for the treatment and will feel much more relaxed and softer to ride.

Whatever type of therapist you choose to treat your horse, you should understand what the therapist is legally able to t...
24/03/2026

Whatever type of therapist you choose to treat your horse, you should understand what the therapist is legally able to treat, the methods of treatment they are allowed to use and the regulatory body they belong to.
Working within our remit of allowable treatment is a vital part of ensuring that liability insurance covers any and all eventualities.
I chose to train as a Veterinary Physiotherapist because I believe it offers the best range of treatments and aftercare, available to animals.
However, there are many types of therapists out there. The most important thing to check is that your chosen therapist was trained and qualified at a reputable school or university.
Ensure that insurance covers them for the treatments they provide and they registered with an industry body that regulates them.

The epaxial groupThe rider sits on the thoracic region of the horse. The muscles that support the rider are known as the...
19/03/2026

The epaxial group

The rider sits on the thoracic region of the horse. The muscles that support the rider are known as the epaxial group. The individual muscles are called
路 Transversospinalis (Spinalis),
路 Longissimus
路 Iliocostalis

There is very little movement in the thoracic region, this is an important aspect to consider as the rib and major organs are housed and suspended in this region.

What issues can develop?
路 Myofascial trigger points
路 Muscle atrophy
路 Impinging dorsal spinal processes ( kissing spines).

The exact cause of kissing spines is not understood and many horses with kissing spines do not show any clinical signs.

A Veterinary Surgeon will diagnose kissing spines with the use of radiographs or CT scans. Many cases have been successfully managed both conservatively with physiotherapy and with surgical intervention that is supported by the use of physiotherapeutic exercises and treatments.

The latest research has identified a genetic link to some cases of kissing spines

Research 猬囷笍
Genomic loci associated with performance limiting equine overriding spinous processes (kissing spines) - ScienceDirect

16/03/2026

The forelimb protraction stretch increases the length of the muscles throughout the shoulder region and beyond.
The tissue must be warm before stretching so it's good to do after riding, working, or giving your horse a massage.
Considerations when stretching include, the elevation of the limb and the traction on the limb itself. All of these actions should never hurt your horse and they should never be out of the normal range of movement.
Please notice how I am supporting the carpus (knee) and the metacarpophalangeal joint (pastern). They must be supported as a horse may put a lot of his weight into a stretch, particularly if he is really feeling relief or benefit.

Address

Habberley, Pontesbury
Shrewsbury
SY50SQ

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 6:30pm
Thursday 9am - 6:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday 9am - 2am

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Euro Vet Physio posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Euro Vet Physio:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category