New Service: Tailored Equine Fitness & Rehabilitation Plans
Getting a horse fitter, stronger or successfully returning them to work isn't simply about doing more exercise. What you do, how quickly you progress and whether the exercises are appropriate for the individual horse all matter.
That's why I am now offering tailored equine fitness and rehabilitation plans, individually designed around your horse rather than following a generic programme.
Why Have I Introduced Fitness & Rehabilitation Plans?
Through my work as both an equine osteopath and rider, I regularly see how closely a horse's physical function and their training are connected.
Two horses may have the same goal but require completely different approaches to reach it.
Age, current fitness, discipline, conformation, previous injuries, strengths and weaknesses, available facilities and even the amount of time an owner realistically has available can all influence what an appropriate exercise programme looks like.
I wanted to offer something that brings these different considerations together.
My plans combine my knowledge of equine anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology and osteopathy with my practical experience working with and riding horses across a wide range of disciplines.
The result is a programme designed specifically around the horse in front of me.
Tailored Equine Fitness Plans — £45
My 4–6 week equine fitness plans are designed for horses that need a structured approach to developing their fitness and condition.
This could include horses:
returning to regular work after some time off
preparing for an increase in workload
working towards a competition or event
needing to develop strength and condition
progressing their general fitness
whose owners would simply like more structure and variety within their exercise programme
Depending on your horse and your goals, the programme may incorporate hacking, hill work, polework, ridden schooling, groundwork and appropriate rest and recovery.
Specific exercises can also be included to work on areas such as balance, coordination, strength and movement quality.
The aim isn't simply to make your horse work harder. It's to progressively prepare their body for the work you want them to be able to do.
Equine Rehabilitation Plans — £65
Rehabilitation requires a slightly different approach.
Following injury, time off or a prolonged reduction in workload, horses can lose strength and condition and may alter the way they use their body.
My rehabilitation plans provide a more detailed and progressive programme, which may include appropriate groundwork or ridden exercises, workload progression, specific exercises, progression markers and planned reviews.
Where rehabilitation follows an injury or diagnosed condition, the plan is developed alongside your veterinary surgeon's diagnosis and guidance, rather than replacing it.
This allows the veterinary recommendations to provide the framework for rehabilitation while the exercise programme considers how the individual horse is progressing physically.
Osteopathy + Tailored Plan — Starting From £100
For owners who would like a more complete picture before beginning their programme, I also offer an initial osteopathic consultation combined with a tailored fitness or rehabilitation plan.
The initial assessment allows me to look at your horse's movement, mobility, muscular and fascial tension and any compensatory patterns before developing their programme.
This can be particularly useful when returning a horse to work, rebuilding condition or where you feel your horse needs a more individual approach to developing their strength and fitness.
A Plan That Works for You Too
A good fitness/reahbilitation programme has to work for the owner as well as the horse.
There's little value in creating a technically perfect programme that isn't realistic to fit around your facilities, work or everyday routine.
When developing your plan, I therefore consider what you have available, how often you can exercise your horse and what you actually enjoy doing together.
The aim is to give you a clear, varied and achievable programme that helps you understand what you're doing, why you're doing it and when your horse is ready to progress