Equine physiotherapy has developed into a recognized profession with a growing evidence base, offering effective treatment for musculoskeletal problems and contributing significantly to horse welfare.
Musculoskeletal pain is among the most prevalent welfare problems in domestic horses - and among the most underdetected, because horses are stoic and behavioral signs of pain are often attributed to training problems rather than physical discomfort. Equine physiotherapy bridges this gap by providing assessment and treatment of the physical causes of behavioral resistance and poor performance. The welfare implications are significant: horses treated for genuine musculoskeletal pain with effective physiotherapy show improved behavior, willingness, and quality of life. For horse owners, understanding that behavioral problems may have physical causes - and seeking proper diagnosis before assuming a training issue - is one of the most important welfare perspectives to develop.