About Me

My Qualifications

I am a chartered physiotherapist, fully insured and a member of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT), Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care (ACPOPC), and on the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP).

I completed a 3 year full-time BSc (hons) degree in human physiotherapy and graduated with a first class honours. I worked in many areas including MSK outpatients, acute stroke, general medicine, intensive care and trauma orthopaedics. Following this, I completed a 3-year MSc degree at Hartpury University in Veterinary Physiotherapy and set up First Class Physiotherapy in 2019.

My Work

I have over nine years experience treating a variety of horses from retired, happy hackers and riding club through to 4* eventers, grand prix dressage/show jumping horses and everything in between. I've attended numerous training days on mobilisation techniques, lymphatic techniques, sacroiliac dysfunction and many more. I enjoy critically appraising research, and recently had an article on equine sciatic pain published in the ACPAT Fourfront journal. I have worked with the British Dressage National Youth Academy and National Para Academy athletes, delivering presentations and hands-on treatment. I am a keen horse rider myself currently competing my 24yr old purebred Arabian gelding in veteran showing. We used to event, but now mainly show in-hand and under saddle up to International level.

I currently treat horses/humans 3 days a week, and work two days a week at Sue Ryder as a senior physiotherapist in palliative care.

Why Choose an ACPAT Physio?

The title 'veterinary' or 'animal' physiotherapist is unprotected, meaning that anyone can call themselves a 'veterinary physiotherapist' without having any qualifications at all. However, 'Physiotherapist', 'Physical Therapist' and 'Chartered Physiotherapist' are protected by law and can only be used by those that have completed the human physiotherapy degree and have the Royal Charter.

Any ACPAT Physiotherapist is a human physiotherapist too, and has studied to a high theoretical and practical level for a minimum of 5 or 6 years at level 6 or 7, including over 1200 hours in clinical practice during training. It is considered the gold standard of training. Many techniques cross over from human-animal, and the skills of observation, palpation and clinical reasoning are highly developed in ACPAT physios. All ACPAT members are fully insured and are required to keep up-to-date with relevant evidence through CPD.

Additionally, ACPAT Physiotherapists have been the choice of the GB Equestrian Olympic Team since 1992.