Equine Rehabilitation & Performance Clinic
Supporting Recovery. Enhancing Strength. Improving Movement.
Osteopathic Rehabilitation Performance and Fitness Clinic
Welcome to Cumbria Osteopathy’s Equine Rehabilitation, Performance and Fitness Clinic
Our approach is uniquely designed to get your horse back to fitness and functionality following an injury. By combining osteopathy with targeted rehabilitation exercises, every treatment is tailored to your horse’s individual needs. What’s more, we blend state-of-the-art fitness strategies with traditional osteopathic care to create a truly comprehensive rehabilitation programme.
Use the buttons below to learn more about how we work, what to expect, or to get in touch if you have any questions – we’re always happy to help.
What Are the Benefits of Rehabilitation?
Helping Your Horse Move and Feel Better.
Comprehensive Equine Rehabilitation
Getting a horse back to peak fitness following injury is a painstaking process. Therefore, excellent horsemanship and individualised care are imperative. Equine physical rehabilitation focuses on multiple goals, including:
Assisting Injury Recovery: Promoting healing and reducing pain through gentle osteopathic techniques.
Improving Mobility: Addressing uneven movements and stiffness by restoring balanced muscle tone.
Alleviating Illness Signs: Detecting early signs of discomfort and acting on them before they compromise overall performance.
Maintaining Health through Strength Training: Enhancing muscle tone and range of motion with dedicated exercise programmes.
In addition, we integrate ground exercises and ridden sessions where appropriate. This tailored approach helps alleviate muscular tension, improve joint flexibility, and enhance overall performance.
Is Your Horse Showing These Signs?
Understanding When It’s Time to Seek Support
Recognising the Need for Rehabilitation
It is essential to observe any subtle changes in your horse’s performance or behaviour. Often, these changes can indicate underlying issues that require rehabilitation. Furthermore, our osteopathic assessments highlight any stress on the horse’s muscular system. Common signs and potential indications include:
Physical & Performance Indicators
Uneven Shoe Wear: May indicate imbalanced muscle forces.
Stiffness on One Rein: Possibly a sign of muscle tension or nerve irritation.
Disunited Canter and Unlevel/Uneven Steps: Clearly a reflection of uneven muscle tone.
Sore Areas on the Spine or Unexplained Lameness: Often signalling physical discomfort or injury.
Behavioural Changes
Rearing or Bucking: An indication that the horse may be experiencing pain.
Reluctance to Jump, Turn, or Stand Still: These observations can signal discomfort or a decline in coordination.
Flinching or Violent Tail Swishing: Even during routine grooming, these behaviours highlight a potential issue.
Head Shyness or Refusal of the Saddle: Such changes are important signals that require a full osteopathic evaluation.
Moreover, just as in human osteopathy, changes in sleep, nutrition, or behaviour should not be overlooked when considering overall health. Transitioning to a rehabilitative regimen early on can prevent further injury and stabilise long-term performance.
How Does Osteopathy Support Recovery?
Gentle, Effective, Long-Term Care.
Our Osteopathic Approach
At Cumbria Osteopathy, our skilled osteopaths are trained to relieve chronic pain, enhance performance, and help prevent future injuries. Initially, we undertake comprehensive assessments in collaboration with your vet, the horse’s owner, and the trainer. In this way, we can design a truly individualised therapeutic programme.
Diagnostic Process
Our diagnostic process includes two primary phases:
Biomedical Screening: This initial step helps identify any serious underlying pathologies that might impact the treatment plan.
Osteopathic Reasoning Models: We then evaluate the relationship between structure and function, guiding us to effective treatment approaches such as postural adjustments, targeted exercise regimes, and dietary modifications.
This dual-phase approach is notably different from traditional clinical reasoning and ensures that our rehabilitation plans are both holistic and effective. Consequently, your horse benefits from a balanced programme designed to prevent re-injury while enhancing overall performance.
