Why Physios Prefer Your Horse To Be Clean & Dry For Their Appointment

With Winter approaching, it is inevitable that we will be getting more rain over the next few months.

When my clients receive appointment reminders, it requests that horses are clean and dry. So why is this?

In short, wet and muddy coats make it difficult for a physio to perform an accurate physical assessment, and therefore treatment.

When a coat is wet, it is much more difficult to feel the underlying muscle tone, subtle changes in the tissues, and if there is any heat or tension present.

Think of it like trying to put on a pair of jeans whilst your legs are still damp. It's not the easiest!

A wet coat also reflects light differently so when your physio watches your horse moves, their gait analysis may not be the same as when they watch your horse move when the coat is dry.

Slippery and wet coats can impede hands-on manual therapies and prevent proper contact for electrotherapy treatment.