Name: Emma Sayers

From: Listowel, Co Kerry

Job title: Physiotherapist

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy from Bournemouth University and MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy from Hartpury University

What is your equestrian background? Having ridden as a child, I then worked as a groom in various areas but mainly with eventers and thoroughbreds. With the event horses, I also spent a season working in England and have travelled around Europe to various competitions. Having also been an event horse owner, competed a little and dabbled in breeding, I have seen the industry from many different perspectives. I still closely follow eventing and have an interest in National Hunt racing. It was while working as a groom that I developed an interest in physiotherapy for horses – I saw how hard horses work and the athletic demands placed on them and felt that it was only fair that they have all the necessary help to be able to do what riders ask of them.

Can you see an increase in people looking for physios for horses? Yes, I think generally people are becoming more aware of why physiotherapy might be needed and how it can benefit their horse. Any horse that is ridden, no matter what level or discipline, should be considered as an athlete and managed as such, i.e. consideration is given to all aspects of its physical and psychological needs. The horse’s body is amazing but ultimately, is not designed to carry a person. This combined with the demands of different disciplines and other factors such as conformation weaknesses, unbalanced riders, poor training and management means that some horses struggle to do their job and may be predisposed to many different injuries.

However, it’s important each horse is considered as an individual; some horses competing at top levels may only require minimal physiotherapy input and others who are maybe in light work and only ridden a few times a week might need a lot more help for various reasons.

Have demands on horses seen an increase in more problems for horses? I think like in many areas of life, there is a constant push for everything with horses to be bigger, faster and to happen now. I understand how it is easy to get caught up in this and often financial and competition pressures are a driving force. This isn’t to say that every commercially minded and competitive equestrian person is not producing their horses correctly but sometimes there is a need to take a step back and see if there is a different way of doing things while still making a living or being competitive. There is now a focus on breeding big-moving horses that find it very easy to look flashy but many are not working correctly though their backs and this eventually catches up with them. Many problems can be prevented by training and competing the horse at a level that is appropriate for its age and level of training. Unfortunately to do this correctly takes time and correct training – this doesn’t always go hand in hand with the demands of commercial production for sale and competition.

Outside of that, some people don’t understand the basics of good training and riding to give the horse time to develop correctly. There needs to be a better understanding of this among both professionals and amateurs. It can make a big difference to horse soundness, welfare, competition results and even just the enjoyment you can have from riding a happy horse that wants to work with you and can do what you are asking.

How would an owner know if a horse needed to avail of your services? Owners and riders tend to get in contact for a variety of reasons. Some want to make sure their horse is feeling as well as possible and to try prevent any issues occurring. Other horses are competing and it’s about helping the horse to cope with the demands of the sport and optimising performance. Some horses will have an injury or particular issue such as they are struggling with a certain movement or just don’t feel quite right. Sometimes it’s a change in behaviour such as the horse has started bucking or napping.

Soundness issues of varying degrees are common unfortunately and, in these situations, I will advise the owner to have a vet or farrier to assess the horse. I often refer to other professions such as vets, farriers, dentists, saddlers, nutritionists, trainers, etc. I find it is vital to consider the whole horse and the reasons why an issue is occurring and to use the expertise of others, alongside physiotherapy, to achieve the best outcome.

What areas in the country do you cover? I cover a large area that mostly takes in much of Munster and south Leinster. I do travel to other areas occasionally.

What do you enjoy most about your job? Being able to make an improvement in a horse whether that is better competition results, rehabilitation from an injury, improved behaviour or just being willing and able to work in a correct, soft, supple way of going.

Sometimes it’s about being able to show somebody how well their horse can move and use itself now that is feeling better when they didn’t realise there was an issue. They then have a better understanding of their horse’s needs both physically and from a training/exercise perspective, long term this means a happier horse and rider.

What advice would you give someone hoping to enter this profession? Have a good understanding of the industry and plenty of experience handling horses. There is a lot more to the profession than just physiotherapy skills. Spend time with physiotherapists, vets and farriers so that you understand the complexity of the keeping horses sound. I find that despite all my previous experience that there is always more to learn that.

Take the time to research different physiotherapy courses, speak to graduates and be sure that the course will give you a good level of training.

Emma Sayers was in conversation with Emer Bermingham