Contraindications

Contraindications are situations, influences or factors which render the application of massage therapy inadvisable. 

If your horse has not already seen a vet and is presenting with any of the following, I would recommend speaking to a vet prior to your appointment with me:

• Colic

• Laboured breathing

• Discharge/mucous from the nose or eyes

• A significant (e.g. more than minor) wound that is less than 7 days old

• Infectious disease or illness

• Lameness which is consistently observable at trot, obvious at walk or resulting in minimal weight baring

Please note that this list is not exhaustive so if in doubt please do contact me for further advice. 

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Conditions

The following conditions have been set out by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in November 2020:

1. Under current UK law, musculoskeletal therapy can only be performed by a suitably qualified individual as part of a vet-led process. Animals with illness, disease, or pathology can only receive treatments from therapists under the approval of a veterinary surgeon. Under this rule, lame horses or poorly performing horses must first have been examined by a vet before the vet can approve musculoskeletal therapy.

2. Healthy animals do not require veterinary referral for maintenance care by therapists, though the horse does still need to be registered with a veterinary practice. As such, therapists and horse owners DO NOT need to contact a veterinary practice to seek approval for this care when a horse is not ill or injured.

3. Musculoskeletal therapy/physiotherapy is interpreted by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as encompassing all kinds of manipulative therapies, including chartered physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and animal therapists. All therapists must be over 18 years of age.