I attended Un. of Tennessee summer 2010 for the Canine Rehab Program Certification program. Since then, I have treated two dog cases. In May 2011 I started working at the Mass Referral Vet Hospital in Woburn, treating dogs of all kinds in Woburn Mass, 2 days a week.
Equine Rehab Services is now expanding to treating canines! Jennifer
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sorry this has taken me so long to get back to. SO much to do, running one's own business> marketing is my current push. My preference is to be more hands-on-horses, therefor marketing , which is mostly done from my computer chair , is something a little more foreign and frustrating for me. I am more horse savvy than computer savvy, so frustration ways heavily on me when at the computer.
I spent a busy day visiting Wadsworth Farm in Danvers last week. Met some impressive horses, riders and trainers there. The trainers and riders I consulted with complained of difficulties with their horses performance, identifying some significant limitations in what they are asking from the horse that they can't achieve in terms of performance. When I looked at the various horses, surely physical limitations were found that correlated with the horse's inability to do what was asked of them. For example, if a horse can't bend in the trunk from the Left leg aid, to shorten the L trunk and lengthen the R side of the trunk, it is the physical therapist's job to determined what physical problems ( etiology) could this be stemming from? So I think: is it coming from pain when the horse has to shift its weight on to the R fore? is there spinal limitations in the thoraic-lumbo region? are muscles shortened on the R trunk? Upon further investigation, the answer is Yes, all of the above seem to play a part as to why this horse is having difficulty with L concavity bending. Therefore I think it is so important that when riders find "blocks" of movement in their horses, that they consider the possibility that is it not just stubbornness on behalf of the horse, or the rider's inability at use of aids, but rather, could the horse truly have a physical problem that is limiting their performance? Often the answer is YES, that requires consultation from a practitioner for appropriate treatment of the problem, before the horse can truly perform to what the rider is asking.
This is in reference to horses that vets "vet out" as > nothing wrong that they can see. Often asymmetries, or range of motion is limited, but vets are not looking for those subtleties, rather for specific injuries or lamenesses. We know those do not always show up right away, but a horse can be "off" in a variety of ways that trainers and riders can "feel" before obviousness lameness shows up on the horse. I also treat very specific injuries and illnesses too, but these are the trickier ones, that aren't lame, that are of fun challenge to me.
I spent a busy day visiting Wadsworth Farm in Danvers last week. Met some impressive horses, riders and trainers there. The trainers and riders I consulted with complained of difficulties with their horses performance, identifying some significant limitations in what they are asking from the horse that they can't achieve in terms of performance. When I looked at the various horses, surely physical limitations were found that correlated with the horse's inability to do what was asked of them. For example, if a horse can't bend in the trunk from the Left leg aid, to shorten the L trunk and lengthen the R side of the trunk, it is the physical therapist's job to determined what physical problems ( etiology) could this be stemming from? So I think: is it coming from pain when the horse has to shift its weight on to the R fore? is there spinal limitations in the thoraic-lumbo region? are muscles shortened on the R trunk? Upon further investigation, the answer is Yes, all of the above seem to play a part as to why this horse is having difficulty with L concavity bending. Therefore I think it is so important that when riders find "blocks" of movement in their horses, that they consider the possibility that is it not just stubbornness on behalf of the horse, or the rider's inability at use of aids, but rather, could the horse truly have a physical problem that is limiting their performance? Often the answer is YES, that requires consultation from a practitioner for appropriate treatment of the problem, before the horse can truly perform to what the rider is asking.
This is in reference to horses that vets "vet out" as > nothing wrong that they can see. Often asymmetries, or range of motion is limited, but vets are not looking for those subtleties, rather for specific injuries or lamenesses. We know those do not always show up right away, but a horse can be "off" in a variety of ways that trainers and riders can "feel" before obviousness lameness shows up on the horse. I also treat very specific injuries and illnesses too, but these are the trickier ones, that aren't lame, that are of fun challenge to me.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Equine Rehabilitation
I have just come back from a 5 day intensive International Symposium of Animal Rehabilitation with Veterinarians and Physical Therapist from around the world. Many parts of the world are much more advanced in acceptance and practice of equine rehabilitation for horses recovering from injury and/or for maintenance of good health, than we have been accustomed to in the USA. Equine Rehab is now becoming a recognized valid method for returning horses to health and optimal function after injury, surgery, or maladaptive use, here through out the US.
At the symposium I heard a multitude of Vet and PT speakers present a huge variety of up to date information on such things as back pain, hydrotherapy, arthritis, kissing spine, to name only a few. I spent an entire day attending a lecture with hands-on lab course in the Equine Veterinary Hospital at University of Minnesota on the subject of Sacro-Iliac Dysfunction and Treatment in the Equine.
I have started this blog to encourage horse owners and practitioners to write in questions or comments on any concerns or related equine physical problems to allow others to benefit from our shared experiences and knowledge bases.
At the symposium I heard a multitude of Vet and PT speakers present a huge variety of up to date information on such things as back pain, hydrotherapy, arthritis, kissing spine, to name only a few. I spent an entire day attending a lecture with hands-on lab course in the Equine Veterinary Hospital at University of Minnesota on the subject of Sacro-Iliac Dysfunction and Treatment in the Equine.
I have started this blog to encourage horse owners and practitioners to write in questions or comments on any concerns or related equine physical problems to allow others to benefit from our shared experiences and knowledge bases.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
