💭Frequently Asked Questions💭

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, I need your vet’s consent before treating any animal with a diagnosed condition, an existing injury, lameness, or one who has had surgery or is currently under veterinary care.

If your dog or horse is fit and well and the session is purely for maintenance or conditioning, consent isn’t usually needed.

You don’t need to chase this yourself — just add your veterinary practice’s details to the patient registration form and I’ll liaise with them directly on your behalf.

Dogs

• Initial consultation — approx. 90 minutes — £65
• Follow-up appointment — approx. 60 minutes — £60

Horses

• Initial consultation — approx. 1 hour 30 minutes — £70
• Follow-up appointment — approx. 1 hour 15 minutes

Travel charges may apply. Your final price is always confirmed before you book, so there are no surprises.

I travel from SS16 6NB (Basildon), and the first 15 miles are free. Beyond that a mileage charge applies.

Essex is my main patch, but I’m happy to travel further afield on request. I also cover occasional appointments in Thetford, where I regularly travel for my own dogs’ training.

Worth knowing: appointments in London, or over the Dartford Crossing, need a personalised quote — the Dart Charge plus the fact that a short distance can mean a very long journey. Get in touch and I’ll confirm the price up front.

Monday to Friday: 9am – 7pm

Saturday: 9am – 1pm

Sunday: closed

The later weekday slots and Saturday mornings go quickly with owners working around a job or a yard routine, so it’s worth asking early.

I come to you.

Dogs — in your own home, somewhere your dog is relaxed and comfortable. I’ll be sitting on the floor with them, so I just need enough space to lay a bed or mat down. A quiet room, clear floor, no draughts.

Horses — at your yard. Please have your horse in from the field, clean and dry, ready for the start time. A quiet area where we can tie them up and they’re happy to stand is ideal.

Treating your animal in their own environment means they stay relaxed, and I get to see how they really move day to day.

I’ll email your invoice with the booking confirmation. You can pay cash or bank transfer on the day — bank details are at the bottom of the invoice. Bank transfers must be settled within 7 days of the appointment. Late payment charges apply to overdue invoices (see my Terms and Conditions).

Your slot is held exclusively for you, so I ask for as much notice as you can give:

These charges are waived if your slot gets filled — you’re welcome to pass it to a friend, provided vet consent is in place where needed. I’ll also waive the fee if your animal is genuinely ill or injured (I may ask for evidence).

We start with a conversation about your animal’s clinical and behavioural history, their exercise routine, current medical status and daily management.

I then carry out a full physiotherapeutic assessment — posture, conformation, muscle health, neurological function, movement quality and joint health — so I understand exactly what’s driving the problem.

Next comes hands-on treatment, targeted at the aims we’ve agreed together. Finally we build a home therapy and exercise plan tailored to your animal.

Afterwards I’ll email you a comprehensive written report covering my findings, the aims we set, and their individual home programme.

Before: have your horse in from the field, clean and dry, ready for the appointment time.

After: they can be turned out or walked in-hand. They’ll then need the next day off ridden work, so please plan that in. Where appropriate I’ll usually suggest a day of non-ridden work after that — lungeing, long-reining or groundwork.

Yes please — it genuinely helps. Videos of your horse being ridden and/or lunged add a lot to my assessment. If they struggle with something specific — transitions, canter, jumping — a clip of that is especially useful.

Hands-on: massage, stretching, myofascial release and joint mobilisations.

Where clinically indicated, I may also use:

• PEMF therapy — for deeper musculoskeletal pain, circulation, inflammation, and supporting nerve and fracture healing
• Photizo LED red light therapy — for muscle soreness and tissue repair
• Hot and cold therapy — to relieve pain, ease spasm and prepare tissue for treatment

Every treatment is chosen for the individual animal. I don’t diagnose conditions or prescribe medication — that’s your vet’s role, and I work alongside them.

• Injury recovery and post-operative rehabilitation — cruciate repairs, fractures, wounds
• Chronic pain and ongoing conditions — arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia
• Neurological conditions
• Sports conditioning — agility and working dogs, eventers, dressage horses
• Senior animals — staying comfortable, mobile and enjoying life

Veterinary physiotherapy works best alongside your vet, as part of the wider team looking after your animal. It isn’t only about putting things right when they go wrong — it’s about keeping your animal strong, comfortable and moving well for as long as possible.

This happens more often than you’d think. Your vet’s job is to rule out disease and injury first, which is exactly what you want them to do. But an animal can be healthy on paper and still be stiff, sore, uneven, or simply not quite themselves.

Muscular tension, compensation patterns and reduced range of movement often don’t show up on a scan — yet they’re precisely what physiotherapy is designed to find and treat. If your gut says something isn’t right, it’s worth having them assessed.

I’ll tell you straight away and ask you to see your vet. If you’d like, I’ll send them a report or speak to them directly, so your animal gets the best possible outcome. Working alongside your vet is how I get the best results — it isn’t a formality.

I may take photos or video during sessions for clinical records and progress tracking. These are stored securely.

Nothing is ever used on social media or for marketing without your written consent. If you’d rather I didn’t use images of your animal at all, just say — I’ll completely respect that.

Very common, and never a problem.

I work at your dog’s pace, not mine. If they’re unsettled we slow down, take breaks, or spend the first visit simply getting to know one another. Some dogs need a couple of sessions before they properly relax, and that’s fine. Nothing is forced, and treatment stops the moment your dog says they’ve had enough.

The fidgeting often settles once they realise the session feels good. If your dog is sore or guarded about being touched, that’s usually a reason to see them — not a reason to stay away.