Hi, I'm Ciara
If you're a dedicated leisure horse owner, wanting answers, pain alleviation & freedom of movement -You're in the right place
If you're a dedicated leisure horse owner, wanting answers, pain alleviation & freedom of movement -You're in the right place
"She suddenly feels connected -and so much power from behind! I almost regretted having you out"
You're doing all the right things.
You're trying to listen to your horse.
But nobody has been able to really get to the bottom of their issue and do what your beloved companion needs, to be truly comfortable and happy.
Let's put our minds together and help them.
Please get in touch at physio.ciara@gmail.com if you can't find an answer to your question.
I have a BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy [3 year full-time human Physiotherapy degree], plus a PG.Dip. Veterinary Physiotherapy [Masters-level 2 year degree in the animal side of Physio].
I am a Cat.A member of ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy), RAMP member (Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners), CSP member (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy), and registered with the HCPC (HealthCare Professions Council).
I've been a Chartered Physiotherapist since 2010, initially going into rotations in the NHS; Burns & plastic surgery (lots of scar management), Hands (lots of tendon surgeries), Neurological rehab, as well as the 'classic' MSK departments.
I then became a specialist senior Musculoskeletal Physio in 2013, where I've developed a huge amount of skills diagnosing people with any given pain in their body, and the most effective treatment options from continually updated evidence.
Since also qualifying in animals, I've treated various conditions, e.g. Kissing spine, suspensory lesions, hamstring muscle tears, lots of Arthritis, headshaking, navicular syndrome, facet joint arthropathy, and a load of weird & wonderful pains & restrictions that haven't been able to get specifically diagnosed.
I love working as part of a team, having worked with specialist thermography clinics, Vet lameness work-ups, farriers, saddlers/fitters, dentists and instructors.
I run a collaborative clinic with a brilliant dressage instructor using an equine simulator, combined with Physio to really get the best results with riders. I can then put this together with assessing & treating the riders' horse(s), shedding light on things that wouldn't be possible without my double profession & collaboration!
Equine initial appointments are £75 (plus travel), follow-ups £65.
Human initial appointments £60, follow-ups £50.
Canine/small animal initial £65, follow-ups £55.
I also offer various packages for horses and riders.
More details about sessions, travel costs & packages are here.
I'm based in East Grinstead, West Sussex, and travel up to 45 minutes radius from there. (So parts of Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex & Kent; I'm on the border of all of them!)
I use whichever method is most effective for the individual in front of me.
I have a wide range of options, including H-wave, nmes, Laser, PEMF, therapeutic Ultrasound.... Plus hands-on techniques including joint mobilisations, manipulations, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, scar massage techniques... plus things like splinting, kinesiology taping, etc.
But honestly, it's all about the assessment. You need to know what's actually wrong, to choose the right treatment. This is where my passion and skills are!
Honestly, this is the type of horse owner I love the most. Knowing that you're very protective, gives me confidence that you always want to do the best thing for them.
What makes me different from other therapists is my passion for listening to the horse. I have a keen interest in equine behaviour & mental wellbeing, and regularly do extra learning on these things. So I base my physical assessment on behavioural signs & facial expressions, as well as the hands-on 'feel'.
When treating, I constantly monitor how your horse is feeling, and respect them when they say no. I don't push into stress, I give them breaks when needed, or adapt my treatment if they're too worried. There is always something else I can do!
The complex ones are my favourite!
My experience in the NHS has not been with simple things that just get a bit of massage. Oh no, that's not what Physio is. (Any patient walking into our hospital department asking for a massage is laughed at quite frankly)
Physio is all about clinical reasoning. Taking the history of medical conditions, previous injuries, current presentation/assessment findings, plus evidence-based knowledge, and putting it all together.
I LOVE working out what's been bothering horses, whether a new thing or a real long-term bug-bear, particularly those behavioural issues that you're not sure if it's actually pain.
Including those that nobody else has been able to find the problem.
I dig deep, test everything possible, and work as a Team with your Vet to give you answers.
Website update in progress...
Website update in progress...
One size does NOT fit all when it comes to treatment!
I don't have a 'routine'; I assess every horse as an individual and adapt techniques, only doing what they need and are comfortable with.
I don't believe in using force & 'making' horses do what we want.
I am a big advocate of Positive Reinforcement training. My approach with Physio is respecting them; always be watching & analysing their body language, listening to what they're saying and using that to guide my treatments. Both in the sense that they can tell me where things hurt, but also when they need a break.
Team work is vital, and I always strive to liaise with Vets & the wider team, to give you the most accurate answers and rounded care, for the best result for your equine.
Trained and qualified to the Gold Standard among animal Physiotherapists, I am ACPAT Cat A, RAMP registered, HCPC registered and member of the CSP. Fully regulated and insured, you can be sure to receive evidence-based, safe and effective care.
For more information on the organisations, please follow the links below.
I can be the bridge of communication if your horse or dog is showing potential signs of pain, even if you're not sure if a behaviour may be pain-related. With thorough, understanding assessment, I can help you understand what they're trying to tell you.
Working as part of a team with you, the Vet, farrier, saddler, dentist, behaviourist, trainer/instructor, I can help get to the bottom of any concerns. You might be unsure if something your horse is doing is a behavioural problem or due to pain.
You might know there's a physical problem but need to get more answers; they're just 'not quite right'. You might have a riding issue, which I can help get to the underlying cause.
Physiotherapeutic treatments I provide will be chosen specifically for the problem and individual horse, from a wide range of modalities. Your role is to ask questions and keep me updated, to ensure you understand what my findings are and how we're managing any problems.
I treat rehabilitation cases post-injury or surgery, as well as diagnosed conditions, or not yet diagnosed problems. My favourite ones are those that the owner just knows there's something going on but can't quite put their finger on it. There's always so many factors to consider and I do love a complex case!
Get back to enjoying every moment and make riding feel good for you and your horse again!
Whether it's joint stiffness, muscular pain, nerve pain, tightness, weakness, or imbalance... Usually it's a combination!
I'll loosen things up, reduce pain & restrictions, and give you targeted exercises to ease everything long-term.
-Both for your horse and you!
I can diagnose any pain in your body, so you know what's going on and how to deal with it.
My treatment techniques and exercise programmes are based on sound evidence and clinical reasoning, to improve quality of life and minimise pain.
Your horse can feel freer, swinging their back when hacking out; able to bend their neck on turns without blocking or twisting their head; and use their back end with lifted shoulders.
Complete the package with rider Physiotherapy, to improve your ridden harmony, ultimately reducing strain on your horse.
The term Physiotherapist is a protected title, whereby only those with a degree in Physiotherapy (i.e. human) may use it. However, any word preceding it invalidates this, therefore ‘Veterinary or Animal or Equine Physiotherapist’ does not require any specific qualifications or regulation. There are copious training routes now available to gain a qualification in veterinary physiotherapy, which vary considerably in their length and requirements. The only way to be sure you are using a qualified Physiotherapist is to look for the title ‘Chartered’. A Chartered Physiotherapist has gone through the rigorous training routes of a human Physiotherapy degree, experience usually in the NHS, then a Masters-level post-graduate degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy. They are then eligible to be members of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).
Physiotherapy is a vital part of the NHS because it is a science-based health profession (not a complementary therapy), using physical methods to improve the body's function. A qualified Physiotherapist has undergone a 3-year full-time degree, gaining knowledge in anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics and pathophysiology. Core skills are then developed on clinical rotations in hospitals, including Orthopaedics, Musculoskeletal, Neurology, Respiratory, Community Rehabilitation, and many others, before specialising in their preferred area.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is a professional body for those that have successfully completed this standardised training and exams.
The application of all the physiotherapeutic skills can be applied to Horses, Dogs and other animals. Veterinary physiotherapy incorporates knowledge of veterinary practices, animal anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and pathophysiology. It also uses ‘evidence-based medicine’, where the most appropriate and effective methods are used to treat an animal.
There is now a register for animal therapists (animal physiotherapists, osteopaths & chiropractors) who have shown compliance with a Professional Code of Conduct, Standards of Practice and requirements for Continuing Professional Development. RAMP allows owners, Veterinarians and insurance companies to ensure they are using a highly qualified individual that is insured for their practice.
The most important skill of Physiotherapists is clinical reasoning; choosing the most appropriate management option supported by evidence. Physiotherapists’ skills are continuously developed throughout their career, usually in the NHS, which provides regular in-service training, peer supervision, watched assessments and case reviews. This scrutiny ensures safe practice, effectiveness and up-to-date knowledge of evidence.
All Physiotherapists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).