Understanding the role of physiotherapy and rehabilitation in equine welfare, including manual therapy, hydrotherapy, and exercise-based rehabilitation for horses recovering from injury.
Equine physiotherapy represents a welfare-positive evolution in horse care philosophy — from reactive treatment of clinical lameness toward proactive assessment and prevention of musculoskeletal problems. The rehabilitation approach treats the whole horse rather than the presenting injury, addressing contributing factors including muscle imbalance, gait asymmetry, and saddle fit. For horses recovering from significant injuries — tendon tears, bone fractures, and back conditions — structured physiotherapy significantly improves outcome quality and reduces re-injury risk. Welfare-centered equine care increasingly incorporates physiotherapy assessment as routine practice rather than a last resort, recognizing that horses benefit from the same evidence-based rehabilitation medicine available to human athletes.