Donna is trained and qualified in Equine Shiatsu, Sports Massage and Craniosacral, therapies proven to be useful for human health and well-being and are believed to offer the same benefits to horses. Donna has completed intensive hands-on clinical training in Advanced Osteopathic Techniques.
Donna has completed CPD equine short courses in Advanced Myofascial Release, Myofascial Release for Performance & Therapy, Advanced Myofascial Release and Kinetic Chains, Triangulation Assessment with One Point Correction, Spinal Freedom, Introduction to Kinesiology Taping, Kinesiology Taping for Movement, LLLT, PEMFT, Photizo Red Light Therapy, Emmett Technique, Craniosacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, Saddle Fitting, Bit and Bridle Fitting, Advanced Regenerative Support and Prescriptive Training including TENS and NMES, Introduction to Zoopharmacognosy.....and more!
Donna also attends many online webinars and CPD short courses on a number of education platforms such as Gillian Higgins - Horses Inside Out, Russell MacKechnie-Guire - Centaur Biomechanics, Dr David Marlin, IAAT and MVDr. Ivana Ruddock-Lange for extra CPD, knowledge and information on research.
ALL horses and ponies benefit from regular treatments and Donna recommends routine therapy programmes for effective prehabilitation to help reduce risk of injury, such as 3 monthly treatments for those horses and ponies in regular work; the competition horse will benefit from more frequent monthly/bi-monthly visits; and for post injury cases bespoke therapy and rehabilitation programmes can be arranged. Donna is able to monitor the patterns of any gait asymmetry, muscle strains or spasms, repetitive areas of soreness, etc and can advise when further investigation and treatments are required by referring to a Veterinarian, Equine Dental Technician, Master Saddler, Bit and Bridle Fitter, Farrier, Coach or Nutritionist. It is vital to have a competent team of professionals to maintain optimum health for your horses and ponies. Donna can also assist with therapy programmes for rehabilitation and follow up treatment timescales.
The techniques Donna applies have multifunctional benefits, providing a complete head to toe, nose to tail, holistic assessment and treatment. Treatments are mostly hands-on, however Donna also has a number of effective modalities available to use to enhance effectiveness and longevity of treatments; PMFT, Photizo Photobiomodulation (Red Light Therapy), Equilibrium Massage pad, Kinesiology Tape, ArcEquine, Epiony Heat pad and Thermal Wand, Sure Foot Equine Stability pads. Donna can also provide Thermal Image reports.
Equine Osteopathy is based on the core principles of Osteopathy:
The body is a unit of mind, body and spirit - all systems are interconnected.
Interrelationship between structure and function.
The body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing.
The rule of artery is supreme, relating to circulation.
Osteopathy is a very complete form of manual therapy with a focus on total body health, finding the cause of pain and dysfunction rather than concentrating on treating the symptoms. By optimising the health of the musculoskeletal framework, health in all other body systems can be restored. The aim is to restore function, movement and balance through the joints, muscles, fascia, skeleton and internal organs.
