Helen The Physio

25/03/2026

18/03/2026

We all know the value of sleep. Being tired and driving a car is clearly an unsafe thing to do. It’s probably just as unsafe to ride a chronically tired horse! Let alone the welfare implications for our equid friends

Side note: my phone doesn’t like the word ‘equid’ and keeps changing it to ‘squid’. Completely changes the sentence impact.

16/03/2026

Our amazing UK Equine Physio, Molly, is available north of Napier next week. We don't often get asked to go in that direction, and she has limited availability, so contact us ASAP if you'd like a Physio appointment for your horse

11/03/2026

Horses, ponies, donkeys, and other equids of Manawatu-Whanganui, Taranaki, Wellington and lower Wairarapa, as well as your owners and riders: I am doing my next monthly Equine Physio circuit. I am unable to do an April visit, but I’m also planning my May dates.

If you’d like us to contact you regarding an appointment, text or email me on 0220198090 or office@helenthephysio.com

Looking forward to helping you and your horses lead your best lives together ❤️🦄

02/03/2026

Last minute availability this morning with our marvellous Physio Molly! Text 0220198090 if you’re keen

15/02/2026

Dear riders and owners of horses and ponies in Wairarapa, Wellington, Manawatu-Whanganui, and Taranaki! If you’re keen on a Physiotherapy treatment for your equine partner, contact me to be on the list. To those who have already responded to emails, many thanks, and we will be finalising times on Tuesday 🥰

03/02/2026

This could be very exciting for owners of horses who are badly stressed by travel

Transdermal melatonin may be able to reduce physiological stress biomarkers in horses, specifically those induced by the stressors of transportation

Transportation acts as a serious physiological stressor for horses, triggering acute metabolic and hormonal changes that can compromise their welfare.

In a recent study, a team of researchers discovered that the application of transdermal melatonin successfully lowered cortisol levels, suggesting it is a viable, non-invasive tool to mitigate equine transport stress.

The primary impact of transport on horse welfare is the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which lead to a elevation in serum cortisol levels.

This hormonal surge is accompanied by metabolic disturbances, including increased glucose levels due to cortisol-driven gluconeogenesis and heightened markers of muscular strain like creatinine and bilirubin.

These changes reflect the physical toll of prolonged confinement and the effort required for horses to balance themselves during the ride.
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Transportation also leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, specifically causing lower potassium and higher sodium levels.

The study notes that the resulting sodium-to-potassium ratio in transported horses approaches levels seen in pharmacological diuresis, which raises significant concerns for post-transport health issues such as colic or metabolic disorders.
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The team explored transdermal melatonin as a potential welfare management tool, finding that it effectively reduces cortisol concentrations in horses.

While melatonin does not eliminate all transport-induced effects, its ability to attenuate HPA activity suggests it may help protect horses against the cumulative oxidative and hormonal stress associated with transit.

Full paper - Effect of transdermal melatonin on circulating cortisol and blood chemistry in horses exposed to transport stress. W.L. Crossland, E.O. Aviles-Rosa, E.B. Perry, C. Crowell, E. Webberson, J. Brown, J. Fassbender.

21/01/2026

Dear friends, patients, clients, & referrers,
Helen is about to fly to South Africa for her sister’s wedding, and will do her best to have her phone off from Friday 23 Jan - Sunday 8 Feb.
Our marvellous Physio, Molly, and our terrific administrator, Carol, will be continuing the awesome work that they do. They are both part-time, so responses may be slower than what we like (we aim to respond within a working day), and there may be a small waitlist for appointments.
Molly works Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Carol monitors emails on Tuesdays, Wednesday evenings, and Thursdays.
Please email office@helenthephysio.com with all enquiries, as Helen’s phone may not pick up texts.
Helen knows that she has 8 people still waiting for reports, from her most recent Lower North Island circuit. She will write these up on the flight! Sincerest apologies for the delay - 7am starts and 9pm finishes are not conducive to admin!