Frequently Asked Questions

Physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy focus primarily on structure, joints, strength and rehabilitation. They create important changes in how the horse moves and functions.

My role is complementary to other modalities and is designed to help the body 'accept' what they do, rather than resisting it. 

Through gentle, horse‑led bodywork, I address:

• Muscle tension, guarding and compensation patterns
• Fascial restrictions that can persist between structural treatments
• The horse’s nervous system, helping it shift into a relaxed, receptive state

This helps the body accept and hold the changes made by physio, chiropractor or osteopath, rather than reverting back to old patterns.

Modalities like Hofmag PEMF further support this by improving circulation and cellular recovery around training, rehabilitation or competition, but do not replace hands‑on assessment and release.

In short:

• Structural therapies create change
• Bodywork supports integration, relaxation and long‑term sustainability

Used together, these therapies form a collaborative, horse‑centred approach that helps reduce recurrence of issues and supports comfort, performance and wellbeing. 

The best results come when everyone communicates—vet, physio, chiropractor, farrier, trainer and bodyworker.

The most effective programmes intentionally sequence and combine, rather than using any one modality in isolation

Structural work creates change; bodywork helps the horse keep it.

Bodywork and Hofmag sit in between other sessions to support the horse day-to-day. 

A typical sequence might look something like this:

Physio / Chiro / Osteo: Every 6-10 weeks

These sessions address:

• Joint mobility and alignment
• Strength, symmetry and rehabilitation needs
• Underlying biomechanical or neurological restrictions

This is where change is created in how the horse moves and functions. 

Bodywork: Every 4-6 weeks 

Bodywork focuses on:

• Muscle tension and historical compensation patterns
• Fascial restrictions that develop around structural issues
• Nervous system relaxation and release

This helps the horse accept, maintain and stabilise the changes made during physio or chiropractic work, rather than reverting to old patterns.

Hofmag: Weekly or fortnightly or around workload / competition.

PEMF is commonly used:

• Alongside training and competition schedules
• Before or after manual therapy to support recovery
• During rehab or heavier work phases

It supports circulation and cellular recovery but does not replace hands‑on therapy.

Take a look at the Nurova Maintenance Plan for details of how to put together a monthly plan.

I offer a calm, patient and intuitive approach to horses who need more time, understanding and specialised care. Rescue horses and those with difficult pasts carry deep physical tension and protective patterns. These can show up as stiffness, behavioural issues or an inability to relax.

I will work to help these horses feel safe in their bodies again.

Sessions in my Rescue Horse Regulation & Recovery Programme are guided by the horse, using a combination of Hofmag & bodywork to gently release tension without force.

True rehabilitation takes time and consistency and for this reason I recommend the block booking initially followed by the Nurova Maintenance Plan.

Some horses don’t cope well with traditional bodywork. They may be hypersensitive to touch, easily overwhelmed, constantly bracing, fidgeting, or shutting down. Others carry long‑standing tension linked to stress, pain, or past experiences, making deeper or more directive therapies difficult for them to tolerate.

My Rescue Horse Regulation & Recovery Programme is designed for rescue horses or those horses who are sensitive or reactive who need a calmer, nervous‑system‑led approach to bodywork.

This is not a deep massage or corrective bodywork session, it is a regulation‑first, horse‑led service focused on comfort, safety and trust.

Yes! Both modalities I offer help to maintain muscle suppleness making them less prone to injury. Enhancing range of motion, promoting tissue repair, improving circulation, reducing muscle tension, supports optimal physical function. Hofmag treatments also support faster recovery after exercise, indeed many professional riders use the device between training sessions to regenerate and recover.

If your vet has given the ok for bodywork, then 100% yes! Hofmag PEMF therapy can accelerate rehabilitation of tendon / ligament injury working at cellular level to support the body's own healing processes and endorphin release. Hofmag is also proven to reduce pain and inflammation, promoting tissue repair. Older horses with stiffness associated with arthritis and other conditions can be greatly improved by releasing tension and improving range of motion / movement.

For the best results, I find the ideal location is somewhere not too busy or with too many distractions. This can be your horses stable, or tied securely outside. Please ensure there is access for the Hofmag trolley if in a stable.

If you have booked a Hofmag session, you can ride before or after, in fact there are many benefits to riding after a Hofmag session, and recovery is improved if it is done after riding.

Bodywork is different in that it works best on cold muscles. If you have to ride after the session, my advice is to not do anything too strenuous for the horse, a gentle ride is ok. 

It is much better to let them process the treatment (turn out is ideal).

If your horse is reactive or sensitive then I understand having a lick or haynet can be useful. This is not an issue for a Hofmag treatment but for Bodywork I advise not letting the horse eat as this can distract from the tension release. 

Hofmag K8 Device is FEI permitted. It is also used by many elite professional riders during competitions to keep the horse relaxed between rounds.