19/06/2025
Duke has been one of my most rewarding cases 🐴💙
When I first met him, he was holding on to a lot of tension and discomfort. Although his ulcers had healed, pain memory and compensatory tension were still present throughout his body. Coupled with some underlying biomechanical weaknesses, it resulted in one very unhappy horse.
We had to go right back to basics, helping him rebuild physically and mentally. Thanks to his owner’s unwavering dedication and hard work, Duke is now back to doing groundwork exercises — and hopefully returning to ridden work very soon!
✨ Physiotherapy can play a crucial role in the management of ulcer-prone horses. Chronic discomfort can lead to muscle tension and altered movement patterns. Physiotherapy helps to counter these effects by relieving pain, improving posture and mobility, and promoting a calmer, more comfortable horse - which is essential for reducing stress, a major contributing factor to gastric ulcers.
It’s been a privilege to be part of Duke’s journey!
