Sam Browne Veterinary Physiotherapist

01/03/2026

Happy 1st March 🙌🏼 (cue equestrians everywhere breathing a sigh of relief and full hope that the worst is behind us)

At this point in the year I’m just announcing a few changes which are a reflection of where my focus is for the services I offer.

🦄 In the 6 years of working as a vet physio I have never had a price rise, but of course my costs have gone up over time, so from 1st April there will be a slight increase but I will still offer multi-horse discounts. I have a handful of space available in March if you’d like to take advantage of booking at my current rates!

🦄 unfortunately I just do not have the time to travel out to individual teaching clients any more, so will no longer be offering one-off lessons unless you are stabled at my yard or in the immediate area (Rettendon). I am still doing regular clinics and yard visits and will be offering a discount for clinic organisers if you want to chat about doing something at your yard ❤️

🦄 Horses are my passion and having been working in the equestrian industry for 20 years I have decided to solely focus on this and as such will not be taking on any more canine patients

🦄 Structuring my time more effectively as above means I can develop the human sports massage side of my services and will be offering this alongside my work as a vet physio, treating both horse and rider, with some clinics and camps focussed on horse-rider interaction in the pipeline. I am really excited to do more on this so look out for date announcements soon 👀

Thank you for the support so far ❤️ next groundwork or ridden poles clinic is being held at my yard in Rettendon on 8th March if you’d like to join us

27/02/2026

Couple of last minute spaces for next week! Pm to book x

Monday - hockley area
Friday - stock/billericay to Rettendon (anywhere in between)

27/02/2026

Always so grateful to have such lovely clients and feedback like this would make anyone’s day 🥹

Keeping your horse comfortable and feeling good is one of the main aims 🙌🏼 if you’ve got plans for spring, or just want to keep your horse well conditioned for the work they’re doing, keeping up with regular treatments is a key part of your horse’s routine.

Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to leave a review ❤️ it really is very appreciated 🙏

24/02/2026

Well not that I’m one to get ahead of myself but… the temperatures this week 🤩🔥 (disclaimer - pic of Philip & me from the alternative universe known as ‘summer’)
What is it about a few sunny days that just gives us back our equestrian mojo 🙌🏼
If you and your horse have had a quiet few weeks/months due to the awful winter we’ve had - and frankly no one would blame you - now is a good time to plan a proper conditioning and fitness plan and book in a once over from your equine musculoskeletal therapist. It can take 6-8 weeks to get a horse to a mid-level of fitness (provided all goes to plan!) so hold your horses before booking any shows!

If you’re not sure where to start, one of the best things you can begin with are short walk hacks and gradually increase duration and incline. For a treatment for your horse (which comes with a tailored exercise plan!) pop me a message! X

20/02/2026

Pelvic Tilt - Step by Step Guide

Always check your horse is comfortable with you standing behind them to perform this reflex exercise - safety first 👷‍♀️

Really useful for recruiting the core, pelvic and spinal stability muscle groups as well as suppling the back particularly the lumbo-sacral junction.

Aim for a steady, controlled movement that is held for around 15 seconds - start off with light pressure and gradually increase if needed.

*you may need to adjust how much pressure you use and fingertip placement - all horses are different!

17/02/2026

A few little information points to help get the most from your horse’s treatment 🦄
⭐️ clean & dry - As part of the session I will need to fully palpate an then manually treat your horse - and any mud or wet hair makes this really difficult/impossible. Shine or conditioner sprays that make coat slippery are also quite unhelpful (makes my hands shoot across the horse at 100mph 🤣)
⭐️ suitable area to assess - I do need to confirm your horse is sound prior to treating (unless a vet referral - see the next point) and also assess them dynamically to help me form a treatment plan. I don’t expect a red carpet 😅 but somewhere relatively flat and level, which is a safe area to walk and trot in a straight line does need to be available. I may need to look at your horse on the lunge as well. If you’ve booked a ridden assessment please use the horse’s normal tack.
⭐️ Horses must be sound and free from pain, injury and illness - maintenance treatments are permitted without veterinary referral in healthy animals only. This is a legal requirement. We can discuss a referral with your veterinary surgeon if they are currently under the vet.
⭐️plan not to ride or work your horse in the hours leading up to your appointment to allow for a clear picture during assessment. Workload after treatment will be discussed during your appointment but anticipate that they will need at least one rest day (field time is normally fine)

Hope this is useful if you’re new to getting your horse treated - any questions feel free to message me!

16/02/2026

How heavy is your horse’s head? 🐴
At an average of 23kg it is surprisingly heavy! And creates a cantilever effect through the neck.
Interesting fact and something to be aware of when assessing and treating the neck/cervical region.

09/02/2026

👋Happy February from Philip and me!
We’ve just got back from a lovely weekend away at with our pals. His first holiday and now officially a grown up boy. Trying to ignore the fact it seems to have rained for 1000 years 😭

I think I’m up to date with any messages/bookings now after being away so please give me a nudge if not! Stay dry everyone - not long til spring 🤞🌳

22/10/2025

Some dynamic mobilisations for my youngster Phillip as part of our routine - specifically targeting spinal stability and core activation to give him the best chance in his athletic career as well as keeping him comfortable. Of course, emotional support Shetland Sparkles gets to join in as well ❤️

14/09/2025

I’ve had a cancellation space on the pole clinic indoors this Wednesday at Beechwood Equestrian Centre

Children’s group 4.30pm-5.30pm, £25 per rider groups of 4, pop me a message if you’d like the space 🦄

06/09/2025

A well written piece, far more eloquent than my shorter version -
‘Your horse didn’t wake up this morning and think what can I do to REALLY annoy her today’

And why words like naughty, lazy, etc shouldn’t feature in our training…. Just do our best to listen, every day 🦄🦄🦄

ARE WE BLAMING HORSES FOR BEING HORSES?

If a horse is difficult to lead, bites someone, stops at a fence, bucks under saddle or refuses to load, the explanation you’ll hear most often is that they’re being naughty, stubborn or difficult. This culture of blame runs deep in the equestrian world. But why do riders and handlers so often blame the horse. Why is it the horse’s fault?

Human psychology gives us some clues. Humans are prone to the fundamental attribution error. That means we’re quick to assume a behaviour is caused by what the horse is like (‘he’s lazy,’ ‘she’s always moody’) instead of looking at what’s happening to the horse.

In practice, that means we often jump to the idea that a horse is being awkward on purpose, rather than considering external factors like pain, inappropriate management, unclear training, or fear. We assume intention when, in reality, the horse is usually just responding to their circumstances. We don’t consider what’s really driving the behaviour and motivating the horse to behave that way.

Add to this the traditions of equestrian culture, where riders are often told from an early age that horses ‘test you’ or ‘take advantage if you let them.’ This narrative becomes normalised — and so blaming the horse feels natural, even when the science tells us otherwise.

Research shows a very different story:

• Studies by Dyson and colleagues (2018–2020) demonstrate that many so-called 'naughty' behaviours are actually signs of pain under saddle

• Hausberger et al. (2008, 2020) found that poor housing and pain are strongly linked to so-called ’problem behaviours.'

• Cheung, Mills & Ventura (2025) show how riders often rationalise practices that compromise welfare in order to reduce their own cognitive dissonance.

Blaming the horse is easier than admitting our tack doesn’t fit, our training wasn’t clear, our horse may be in pain or that we did the wrong thing. It protects us from uncomfortable truths. But it also prevents us from seeing behaviour for what it really is: communication.

Horses don’t plan or plot to punish us. They respond. And they can suffer.

So next time something goes wrong, rather than asking ‘Why is he being naughty?’ consider asking “what is my horse trying to tell me?’ instead.