Vet Physio Phyle

12/08/2025

One of Meji’s favourite places to visit… the beach 🌊

We loaded up, and headed down for a beautiful early morning ride through the sand and waves. Of course Meji loved every second of it!

We even had and her lovely dad meet us down there to catch some photos and videos of us… I can’t wait to see them!

Of course Meji was a super good boy, he was a bit worried about crossing the pebbles at first but he was brave and went through them… they were very deep bless him. He had a dog run up to him on the beach, bark and snap at his legs and run around him for a good while until the owner could catch him. So proud of Meji, just stood rock still and didn’t move. He had a play in the water, watched some paragliding and surfing, so for him is the perfect start to the day 🥰

The most wonderful morning 🌅

09/08/2025

Super interesting!

Great to see Melissa Troup Equestrian Coach BHSI & McTimoney Animal Chiropractor research into effects of rug layering on horses’ stride length featured in Horse&Rider Magazine this month.

Well done Melissa. 👏👏 McTimoney College of Chiropractic

08/08/2025

There are SO many ways in which we can take care of our horses backs, and in turn, their whole body.

Not all of these options are good for everyone, and that’s the thing with horses. Not one singular option is right for every horse. You will see in all of the studies I have quoted, there is not one result that says directly reduced back pain by 100%… and that’s because horses vary like humans. Back pain can come from a series of different things, and vary in intensity. Preventing its onset and managing it when it does appear is BESPOKE to YOUR HORSE.

Here are a few things I do with my horse to keep his back (and therefore body) as healthy, strong and pain-free as possible.

Combining many of these will condition and strengthen your horse’s back and body, maintain its softness and recovery from exercise, all supported by a correcting fitting saddle and balanced rider.

One’s I didn’t mention are things like: nutrition, hoof balance/good hoof care, dental care, correctly fitting equipment etc etc. The list is truly endless!

Thoughts below, as always, and if you’d like another post zooming into specific exercises, I can do that! 🤍💫

06/08/2025

As we’ve had a bit of rain & cooler nights, some green shoots of rich grass are starting to come through so quick the horse are eating them before we can even see them…!

With this in mind I thought to re-share my graphic that shows the complications of a saddle that sits too narrow on a horses back.

Ensure to monitor your horses weight, top line and any changes in behaviour and movement that could correlate to saddles not fitting correctly.

04/08/2025

Why is hacking your horse isn’t “just a break” — it’s essential! 🌳

There are a number of different scenarios where hacking a horse may not be easy; location, behaviour, fitness, and weather to name a few. Having been faced with each conundrum myself, overcoming or finding ways around these limitations is really essential to building a stronger body and mind for your horse.

THOUGHTFUL AND VARIED 🌿
Use hacking as a time to plan a route whereby there are physical challenges for your horse they would usually not encounter by schooling ie. tree roots, winding & undulating paths, water and hills to name a few. These challenges will encourage your horse to naturally engage their core, lift through their back and refine oculomotor skills to lift limbs with precision.

LOW INTENSITY JOINT AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE STRENGTHENING 🌿
Varied surfaces, from road to soft sand, will place variable degrees of stress and strain on your horse’s soft and hard tissues. Over time, this is so crucial to developing stronger and more resilient tissues to reduce probability of injuries in the future. Riding a horse on the same type of surface is something lots of riders do to keep safe, however, this can be limiting for your horse. Of course, within reason if your horse is in rehab, or has had a previous injury in the past!

RIDER FUNCTIONAL FITNESS 🌿
Having to adjust riding styles over logs, under low hanging beaches and downhill is also fantastic for rider strength and conditioning!

MENTAL WELLNESS 🌿
Of course, this one cannot be missed out. My horse Meji loves his hacking, he is super nosy and he loves looking into driveways, watching sheep, snacking on wild thistles and just having a walk or trot through an open space. For horses that have evolved for roaming, the confinement of having to turn within the fenced arena isn’t natural for them. I often recommend for horses to go for a trot and canter in an open area like a beach or field where you can allow them to find their own fluid rhythm and build cardiovascular fitness.

I’m conscious this may all sound really simple and obvious, yet I do think it is still a part of our horses routines that we lack generally. Thoughts? 💭

01/08/2025

30/07/2025

An incredibly long 12 hour day, but topped off by seeing this girly do a full downward dog stretch after her INDIBA for suspensory ligament desmitis.

I wish I managed to get a full video of her stretch, but this photo was the quickest thing I could get. You can see how quickly I abandoned my stool and gel 🤣 Such proof how INDIBA really does reduce pain & inflammation but also travels throughout the body for a deep release effect. 🥰

animalhealth.uk

28/07/2025

What is muscle atrophy? 💭

Muscle atrophy is wastage of muscles, a reduction in their mass and therefore functionality.
It is most commonly seen in muscles that are not used due to weakness, compression, and pain as some examples.

It can be commonly seen through this area of the horse, the thoracic trapezius, in cases of poor saddle fit.

However… I find a large % of muscles that look atrophied are actually significantly compressed. Through estimating nerves, increasing blood flow, mobilising surrounding joints, especially in this area of the body, you can visibly see the thoracic sling muscles come back to life to change posture. Whilst there is still a degree of atrophy, it is much less than originally thought by the glancing eye.

25/07/2025

The dream! 😍

24/07/2025

Some insane figures in this study…

The reduction in stride length, combined with encouraging leg movement over back movement… the dots are joined! 💭

https://askanimalweb.com/new-study-links-tight-nosebands-to-reduced-stride-length-and-potential-facial-damage-in-horses-3/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLvPzFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmL407gd2JUgSGKOo6tBtxRDqjTFvcxJi9J_5Z1Pr6vQqQeat7HU5nr5g-dF_aem_DYrF5PkL42WdXUMg4BBw7w

A new scientific study co-authored by Animalweb’s own Dr David Marlin in conjuction with Anglia Ruskin University students Emily Hopkins and Stacie Whitrod and ARU Writtle Associate Professor of Animal Biomechanics and Sports Medicine and School Research Lead Dr Roberta Blake, has found that tight...

22/07/2025

• UPCOMING AVAILABILITY IN HAMPSHIRE/SURREY •

💫 Combining INDIBA Radiofrequency, Physiotherapy & Groundwork/Polework into one session; for deep postural release and re-education. 💫

The FER Approach — POSTURE RESET, a treatment process by Vet Physio Phyle.

1. INDIBA
INDIBA Radiofrequency is first used to treat areas of acute soreness, tightness and discomfort. Cellular biostimulation for repair, increased blood flow, reduced inflammation, reduced pain are some of the key benefits of treatment.

2. PHYSIOTHERAPY
Next, using neuromuscular release and mobilisation techniques, asymmetries and restrictions are addressed, facilitating relaxation and resetting your horses posture. Kinesiology tape may also be applied to key areas.

3. MOBILISE
We then move to the arena! Static and dynamic mobilisations using hands, weight shifting and poles are used to further unlock areas treated with INDIBA and physiotherapy. Building on the release process further.

4. ENGAGE
Specific groundwork and polework patterns and exercises are used to reinforce positive postural changes by promoting functional muscular engagement. These exercises can be used over a few weeks to continue to reinforce the effects of treatment, tackling chronic issues and improving performance.

Sessions are 1.5-2 hours.

If you are located outside of my area, but would still like your horse to benefit from this approach, I offer distance consultations as well as an online course; link to my FER Approach online course here: https://www.vetphysiophyle.co.uk/the-fer-approach 🤍