https://www.facebook.com/336692603796161/

Melinda - Velvet Equine Veterinary Physiotherapy

Home
United Kingdom
Stroud
Melinda - Velvet Equine Veterinary Physiotherapy

Qualified and Insured, Equine Veterinary Physiotherapist (BSc) & Myofacial Release Therapist. Plus Core Strength & Rehabilitation. IAAT accredited. Ani. Phys.

Covering Stroud and Surrounds. Assessment and Treatment £60. Melinda de Smidt BSc TCAP Dip. IAAT

I am a fully qualified and insured Animal Physiotherapist and Equine Sports Massage Therapist. Registered with the International Association of Animal Therapists, covering an area about a 20 mile radius of Stroud. I grew up being involved with horses and studied for an Equine Science Degree in the US, while running a busy breeding, livery and teaching yard. In the UK I have worked on polo, eventing and dressage yards, and very much enjoy bringing on youngsters. In 2019 I completed my training in Equine Sports Massage at The College of Animal Physiotherapy Ltd. and went on to do the Animal Physiotherapy Qualification, which I passed with distinction. I am keenly interested in equine rehabilitation and so continue my studies with that aim. With over 20 years experience with horses I am passionate about helping your horse to feel good in its skin, and be able to do their job happily and well. A maintenance treatment is £50 and lasts about an hour. During the treatment I will use whatever therapeutic modalities I feel are appropriate for your horse's needs. Rehabilitation prices will depend on time and treatment needed.

06/02/2026

🥕 Stretching — helpful or harmful?

Carrot stretches are great… when done correctly.
But asking a horse to stretch past its current comfort can actually create more tension instead of relieving it.

A good stretch should be slow, controlled, and symmetrical — never forced or pulled. If your horse snatches the treat, braces, or swings through the shoulders, they may be compensating rather than improving flexibility.

Physio can assess what stretches your horse actually needs and show you how to do them safely so they support strength and comfort, not strain.

If you’d like a tailored stretch plan for your horse, just drop me a message 🐴💛

19/01/2026

🐴 Is your horse’s back as comfortable as it could be?

The back does a huge job — carrying the rider, compensating for hoof, saddle, and dental changes, and absorbing day-to-day slips and wobbles. When it becomes sore, you might see hollowing, reluctance to go forward, bucking when asked to canter, or difficulty lifting through the topline.

Physio can help by releasing tight musculature, improving spinal mobility, checking compensations, and using Indiba to support deeper tissue relaxation and recovery.

If your horse has felt a bit “not quite right” through the back recently, I’m always happy to chat. 💛

16/01/2026

✨ Indiba — supporting deeper relaxation & recovery

Indiba is a gentle radiofrequency therapy that helps increase circulation, reduce soreness, and support tissue repair making it especially useful for tight backs, sacroiliac discomfort, and areas that struggle to fully relax with manual work alone.

Many horses show softer movement, improved flexibility, and a calmer, more settled response during treatment, as the tissues warm and tension releases from deeper layers.

If you’d like to find out whether Indiba could benefit your horse, just pop me a message — always happy to chat. 🐴💛

13/01/2026

🐴 Poll tension — a small area with a big influence

The poll is a key junction for balance, posture, and relaxation. When this area becomes tight, you may notice head-tilting, reluctance to flex, resistance in the contact, or tension travelling down the neck and back.

Physio can help release soft-tissue tension around the poll and upper neck, improve comfort through the TMJ and cervical joints, and with Indiba, encourage deeper relaxation and better movement.

If you think your horse may be a little tight through the poll, feel free to get in touch for a chat or appointment. 💛

10/01/2026

🍑 The powerhouse — why the hindquarters matter

The hindquarters are the engine of the horse. Tightness here can show up as loss of impulsion, reluctance to step under, or difficulty with transitions and hill work — even if the issue doesn’t look like it’s coming from behind.

Through targeted soft-tissue work, mobilisation, exercises, and Indiba, physio helps restore strength, comfort, and symmetry through this key area.

If you’d like your horse checked, I’m always happy to chat. 🐴✨

07/01/2026

❄️ Winter stiffness — small signs to look out for

With the colder weather, lots of horses are feeling a little tighter than usual. If you notice shortened stride, “cold-backed” behaviour when mounting, or stiffness that only eases after warming up, it may be a sign their muscles are working harder than normal.

Physio (and tools like Indiba) can help warm tissues, reduce tension, and keep your horse comfortable through winter. If you’re unsure whether your horse might benefit, just pop me a message. 🐴💛

04/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year to all my wonderful clients and your amazing horses! 🐴💛

Thank you so much for your support over the past year. It’s been a real privilege to help keep your horses comfortable, happy, and moving at their best, whether they’re competition partners, golden oldies, or much loved field companions.

Here’s to a new year of healthy bodies, soft backs, relaxed movement, and plenty of happy hacks, training milestones, and muddy cuddles along the way. I’m really looking forward to working with you and your horses in the year ahead.

If you’d like to get your horse booked in for a New Year check-up or winter MOT, just drop me a message, I’m always happy to help. ✨

Wishing you all a brilliant year ahead.
Melinda 🐴

12/12/2025

Just a reminder I will be taking a short break over the festive period, my diary will be closed from 18th December to 28th December.
Appointments will resume as normal from 29th December. Please do get in touch if you would like me to see your horse before or after the holidays.

Wishing all my clients and their horses a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🐴✨

10/12/2025

Our golden oldies give us everything, and they feel stiffness more than most.

Physio can help with:
• Arthritis management
• Maintaining mobility
• Reducing stiffness
• Improving comfort and quality of life

If your older horse is slowing down or struggling with the cold weather, a session could make a big difference.

🐴💛 Message to chat about your veteran’s needs.

24 year old Ralph in the photo. 💙

04/12/2025

Most owners have heard of fascia, but it’s often misunderstood. Fascia is a stretchy, sensitive web of connective tissue that links the whole horse together, every muscle, bone, joint, and organ. When it’s healthy, the body moves freely. When it’s tight, everything feels restricted.

Why fascial tension matters

Because fascia runs in long continuous lines, a restriction in one area can affect movement somewhere completely different. That’s why you might see:
• One-sided bending issues
• Shortened stride
• A tight neck or back
• Sensitivity to grooming
• Stiffness that comes and goes

How physio helps

Physiotherapy can gently release fascial tension using:
• Myofascial release
• Slow stretching
• Postural exercises
• Indiba to warm tissues and improve fascial glide

A horse with healthy fascia feels softer, looser, and more balanced and usually much more comfortable in their work.

If you think your horse might be carrying hidden tension, just drop me a message. 🐴💛

01/12/2025

Winter is officially here in the UK, and many horses start to show little changes in their comfort and movement as the temperatures drop. ❄️🐴 Cold weather doesn’t just make us stiff, it affects your horse’s muscles, joints, balance, and general way of going too.

❄️ Why winter affects the body so much
• Cold muscles are tighter and less elastic, making horses more prone to stiffness when they first come out of the stable or start work.
• Joint mobility decreases in low temperatures, especially in older horses or those with arthritis.
• Slippery, muddy ground means the body works harder to stabilise, often leading to tight hamstrings, glutes, and lumbar muscles.
• Rug pressure (especially around shoulders and withers) can alter posture or create tension if the fit isn’t perfect.
• Shorter turnout and more stable time reduce natural movement, leading to overall reduced flexibility.

🐴 Common winter-related signs you might notice
• “Cold-backed” behaviour when mounting
• Shortened stride, particularly in the hind end
• Tightness through the back and hamstrings
• Tripping or feeling a bit unbalanced
• Added sensitivity around the withers, shoulders, or poll
• Stiffness that improves after a warm-up

✨ How physiotherapy helps your horse through winter

Equine physio can make a significant difference during the colder months:
• Soft tissue work to warm and loosen tight muscles
• Joint mobilisation to support comfortable movement
• Indiba radiofrequency therapy for deep, gentle warming, increased circulation, and pain relief
• Postural and strength exercises to combat reduced turnout or inconsistent work

Keeping your horse comfortable in winter doesn’t just help them feel better, it supports safer, more relaxed work and reduces the risk of strain injuries.

If your horse feels stiffer than usual, or you’d like a winter check-in, just drop me a message. ❄️💛🐴

29/11/2025

Most owners know their horse needs their teeth doing regularly, but fewer realise how much muscular effort and tension can build up in the face, jaw, poll, and neck during a dental appointment, even a routine one. Holding the mouth open in a gag for an extended period places a lot of strain on the chewing muscles and supporting soft tissues.

🦷 After a dental visit, it’s not uncommon to see:
• fussiness with the bit
• uneven chewing
• head tilting or resistance in the contact
• sensitivity around the face or ears
• general tension through the poll and jaw

✨ How physiotherapy helps post-dentistry:
• Gentle soft tissue release to relax tight facial and jaw muscles
• TMJ and poll mobilisation to restore comfortable movement
• Myofascial work to reduce bracing patterns created during gag use
• Indiba radiofrequency therapy to ease inflammation and support deeper tissue relaxation
• Neck and poll treatment to address any compensatory tightness

Equine physio works hand-in-hand with your qualified equine dental technician or vet. Once the teeth are sorted, supporting the soft tissues means your horse can return to eating, working, and accepting the bit more comfortably.

If your horse has recently had their teeth done or is booked in soon a follow-up physio session can make a real difference to their comfort and performance. Let me know if you’d like to get them booked in. 🐴💛

Address

Stroud
GL6

Telephone

+447990534447

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Melinda - Velvet Equine Veterinary Physiotherapy 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 Melinda - Velvet Equine Veterinary Physiotherapy:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Stroud?