Echo Hill Equestrian Physical Therapy

07/31/2025

07/17/2025

July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month! Here are some common signs of dehydration in our fur kids.

We felt a pause in the heat the last couple of days, but it’s headed back our way! Keep a close eye on your pets and their hydration.

If emergencies arise, we are back in the clinic Friday at 7 am until Monday at 7 pm.

07/17/2025

The saddle is a symmetric object designed to sit on a symmetric, well-muscled back.

If the back is asymmetric or under-muscled, no saddle will fit.

A healthy back is the foundation for the saddle.

We start first by creating the proper muscle and fitness it takes to carry the rider comfortably, then we saddle the horse. This is the only way to have success in saddle fitting.

07/04/2025

✨ World-Class Opportunity Coming to Montana! ✨

We are thrilled to welcome Kim Gentry back to Kalispell on August 14, 2025 for a bit fitting clinic.

Kim is an independent, world-renowned bit fitting expert, trusted by some of the biggest names in the sport. She was recently in Europe working with Isabell Werth and regularly bit fits for top U.S. riders. Her clinics are known for transforming rides and unlocking potential you didn’t know was there.

With over 300 bits in her collection, Kim will assess your horse’s mouth shape, evaluate your current setup, and help you discover the bit that allows your horse to move with more comfort, connection, and confidence. Riders consistently experience game changing moments at these clinics!

If you’ve been:
✔️ Struggling to find the right bit
✔️ Feeling like something’s just not quite right
✔️ Curious if your current bit is truly the best fit

This is your chance. Spots are limited and filling quickly don’t miss this rare opportunity to work with one of the industry’s best.

07/02/2025

Why do we demand more qualifications to train humans than we do to train horses?

A kinesiologist for humans typically needs a degree and a nationally recognized certification — after years of formal study in movement science, injury rehabilitation, and anatomy.

But in the equine world? There are no consistent regulations, no common baseline qualifications. Anyone can call themselves a horse trainer.

And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve handed a scientifically grounded rehabilitation plan to a trainer—detailing exactly what a horse needs to recover—and it’s ignored.

Not adjusted.
Not adapted.
Completely dismissed.

Despite clear recommendations like:

* This horse lacks spinal stability—jumping is contraindicated.
* Pelvic range of motion is insufficient for collection work.
* Shoulder mechanics don’t support lateral movement yet.
* Neck range of motion does not allow for true bend.

The response? Silence. Or worse—resistance.

And more often than not, that horse is pushed anyway.

Meanwhile, I hold a university degree in this.

Years of study. Clinical experience. An evidence-based approach.

But somehow, that gets overlooked in favour of someone with no formal education in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, or rehabilitation.

Let’s be clear:

Horses can’t say, “This movement hurts.”

They can’t articulate where they feel pain, or what they’re physically not ready for.

So we owe it to them to know better and do better.

If you’re working with a trainer who can’t identify basic anatomical structures or doesn’t understand the difference between mobility and stability, please think twice.

You’re not just wasting your money—you’re risking your horse’s body.

You surely wouldn’t let someone without a license - rehab your child through post-injury rehab - so why is this acceptable for your horse?

This is one of the deepest flaws in the equine industry—and one that demands change.

If you're unsure who to trust, I will be curating a list of vetted, qualified trainers who understand movement science. This project will take some time but I will work on it over the coming months and add it to my website - stay tuned!

06/29/2025

Your pelvic floor supports organs like your bladder, bowels and reproductive system. Strengthen it with exercises and mantras (like "squeeze before you sneeze") from physical therapist Sara Reardon.

06/28/2025

This 🙌

If my human patients couldn’t speak, they would be labeled as “difficult.”

This week, I had a day where all four human patients came in — each in acute pain.

* One had a previously herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, and facet joint arthritis—presenting with radiating lower back pain and numbness in both feet
* Another came in with acute sinusitis—reporting a migraine-like headache and sharp neck pain
* The third had a gym injury—a shoulder that couldn’t tolerate lifting or reaching
* And the last was recovering from three recent dental surgeries—experiencing sharp pain with neck rotation and jaw movement.

You know how I knew where to start?

Because they told me. Because I could ask the right questions. Because they could answer.

Together, we narrowed down which nerve roots were compressed, which cranial bones were impacted, which parts of the shoulder capsule were injured, and which jaw movements were triggering the neck pain.

They got relief because I believed them. Because they could communicate. And because I could do what I do best: assess, identify, and treat the actual cause.

And it reminded me—how many of our horses would be diagnosed with a “behavioural issue” instead?

Each case was complex. But each person could tell me what hurt. They could answer detailed questions, follow instructions, and guide me toward the root of their pain.

That’s what made effective treatment possible. That’s why they walked away with relief and a clear plan forward.

This is the power of two-way communication—and it’s what many horses are missing.

Most horses in pain can’t explain the exact location, nature, or trigger. And because of that, their pain is often misread as disobedience or attitude.

But pain isn’t a behaviour problem. It’s a physiological one.

I don’t treat behaviour. I assess structure, function, and compensation patterns—whether the patient can speak or not.

When behaviour doesn’t match expectation, it’s my job to investigate why.

That’s the difference between symptom management and meaningful change.

06/23/2025

06/21/2025

I’ve been riding horses for more than three decades—long enough to remember when carrying a whip wasn’t optional, it was expected. Whether I was legging up a green horse on a cold morning or galloping out of the start box at a four-star, the whip was always there—like the reins themselves—...

06/17/2025

Every horse. Every ride. Every time.

06/16/2025

Education, degrees and credentials matter. For laws, for safety, for best practice.

Just because someone says they're qualified, doesn't mean they are.

Recently, a friend told me their new therapist claimed their horse had a dislocated joint—and then told her that she will “reduce it.”

Let’s pause right there.

⚠️ That’s not possible.

If a horse had a true dislocation, it would be a medical emergency. The horse would be non-weight bearing, in visible distress, and require immediate veterinary intervention. Not massage. Not bodywork. Not “reductions.”

In this case? I had photos and videos of the horse just days before this supposed “dislocation” and “reduction.” She was moving normally. Now, nearly two weeks post-treatment, she’s lame, in pain, and exhibiting new-onset neurological symptoms.

This is not post-treatment soreness.

This is an injury.

And here’s what horse owners need to understand:

➡️ Terminology matters

Words like “dislocation” and “reduction” are not casual terms. They are medical terms, protected by law, and limited to use by those with specific medical licenses—like doctors or veterinarians. When a practitioner uses them inaccurately, it’s a red flag that they may not understand scope of practice or physiological contraindications.

This isn't just semantics—it's about safety.

Many owners don’t realize that manual therapy is a regulated profession in human healthcare. For example, in BC, Registered Massage Therapy became regulated in 1995. Before that, it was a basic spa course (~800-1000 hours). Today’s programs are approximately 2200-3000 hours, with extensive clinical training. The difference in education is massive—and it shows.

So here’s what to look out for:

🚩 A therapist tells you your horse’s joint is dislocated and they can fix it
🚩 They say it’s “normal” for your horse to be neurologic or lame for more than 48 hours after a session
🚩 They dismiss your concern or tell you to “trust the process” even when your horse is clearly worse

If any of this sounds familiar, walk away.

No treatment should ever cause injury. And if it does—even inadvertently—it is the practitioner’s responsibility to refer to the vet immediately, adjust their approach from that moment onwards, reassess frequently, and ensure the horse is not in pain.

As therapists, we are here to support the body—not damage it.

Please choose your practitioners carefully. Ask about their training. Ask about their scope. And if the language they use sounds like something out of a medical textbook—they better have the credentials to match.