Hartpury Equine Therapy Centre

With the Aqua Equine Treadmill, the horse can exercise in a controlled environment using the muscles without undue stress or injury. The water reduces concussive forces allowing the safe strengthening of muscles and tendons. Whilst the water does provide a degree of buoyancy and support around the limbs, the horse has to work hard against the increased resistance. The cold water on the lower limbs provides a massaging and cooling effect excellent for horses recovering from tendon problems.

The Sato high speed treadmill has a top speed of 35mph or 16 metres/second, and can be used on a daily basis for the controlled exercise of resident therapy cases and for the training and testing of racehorses referred for treadmill endoscopy. We get great results with tendonitis and desmitis cases as we can provide a truly progressive work programme by precise control of the rate at which the speed, distance and incline is introduced. 

Our facilities offer an abundance of ground schooling and horse assessment opportunities. The main Hartpury Arena features a 70m x 40m riding surface, while a further three indoor arenas (60m x 25m, 60m x 21m, and 25m x 35m) are ideal for ground schooling or lunging. The international outdoor arena is 80m x 60m with an adjacent 60m x 30m warm-up arena, complementing a covered 60m x 30m arena adjoined by a 22m-diameter round pen. All arenas have Andrews Bowen surfaces.

Electrotherapy, directing small currents of electricity through the skin for medical treatment, has been widely used in human sports medicine and rehabilitation to treat injuries and optimize performance. Various modalities have made their way into sport horse medicine and rehabilitation. Electrotherapies are built around energy sources that range from acoustics to vibrations. We can deliver interferential, neurostimulation and ultrasound according to the programme designed by your therapy team.