Hilton Berry Animal Physiotherapy

Home
United Kingdom
Bexhill
Hilton Berry Animal Physiotherapy

Jemima Hilton-Berry
Animal Physiotherapist covering Sussex and Kent
Treating Equines and Canines for all things musculoskeletal!

I am a fully qualified and insured Animal Physiotherapist based in Bexhill, East Sussex, covering the areas of Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire. I treat all animals, large and small, and a wide range of conditions from arthritis and other joint diseases, to fractures, tendon and ligament damage, soft tissue injury, skin conditions and wounds to name a few. For further info or to book a treatment for your animal, please feel free to message or call me.

17/06/2026

👀 What is this horse telling me?

One of the most important parts of Physiotherapy isn't just the techniques we use, it's listening to the horse.

During treatment I'm constantly watching for subtle changes such as:
💚 Blinking
💚 Softening through the body
💚 Licking and chewing
💚 Changes in posture
💚 Yawning

These small responses can tell us a lot about how a horse is feeling and responding to the treatment.

Horses communicate an incredibly subtle ways, sometimes we just need to know what we're looking for 🤗

12/06/2026

The relaxation 🧘🏼‍♀️😴🥰

09/06/2026

🧐 Anatomy challenge!

A: HAMSTRINGS!

These muscles help generate power and propel the horse forwards.

Signs of reduced hindlimb engagement may include:

👎🏼 Lack of impulsion ("push" from behind)

👎🏼 Shortened stride

👎🏼 Difficulty with transitions, particularly upwards

👎🏼 Struggling to maintain collection

👎🏼 Reduced jumping power

👎🏼 Toe dragging/scuffing

👎🏼 Uneven muscle development

Of course, these signs don't automatically mean there's a problem with the hamstrings themselves, but they can indicate that the horse isn't using their hind end as effectively as they could be.

The hindquarters are the horses engine 💪🏼

08/06/2026

🧐 Anatomy challenge!

Q: Can you name the muscle group I've circled in this photo?

💡Hint... They're found in the hindlimb of the horse (and dog!) and are often referred to as part of the horse's engine 👀

That's all you're getting for now 😉

👇🏼 Drop your guess in the comments below!

🤓 I'll reveal the answer tomorrow, along with why this muscle group is so important for your horse's way of going, so make sure you check back to find out if you were correct!

❓ BONUS QUESTION ❓

What signs might you notice if a horse is struggling to use their hind limbs effectively?

01/06/2026

🕐 The other 23 hours matter too...

We often focus on the hour we spend riding our horses, but what about the other 23 hours?

The way a horse stands, eats, rests, and moves throughout the day has a huge impact on their body.

Naturally, horses evolved to graze with their heads down for many hours of every day encouraging regular movement through the neck, back, and fascia system.

But with modern management, horses spend long periods of time eating from haynets, standing in stables, and holding the same posture.

The body is being loaded differently.

This doesn't mean that these things are wrong, but it's worth considering how management influences comfort, flexibility and movement.

Sometimes the biggest influence on a horse's body isn't the hour of work they're doing, it's everything they're doing outside of it 🙌🏼🐎

27/05/2026

Happy 18th Birthday to gorgeous prince Henry 🎈🥳🎁🎂

The best boy who has become Alba's best friend in the whole world ❤️

Thank you so much and for trusting us with your very special baby 🥰

26/05/2026

Physiotherapy can benefit horses (and dogs) at every stage of life 🐎

🍼 Foals and young stock
Physio can help monitor development, address early asymmetries, and support healthy movement patterns as they grow.

🏇🏼 Adult and competition horses
Whether competing or enjoying regular ridden work, physio can help maintain flexibility, support performance, reduce muscle tension, and identify small issues before they become bigger problems.

👵🏼 Veteran and retired horses
Older horses can benefit hugely from physiotherapy to help maintain mobility, manage stiffness, support comfort, and keep them moving as well as possible for longer.

Every horse is different and treatment is always tailored to the individual, their workload and their needs.

💚 Physiotherapy is about more than injury rehabilitation. It's about supporting long-term comfort, movement, and well-being at every age 💚

Get in touch to find out more about physio for your animal 📱(07851357764)

18/05/2026

Arthritis 👀

Although common, arthritis isn't just a normal part of "getting older"

In both dogs and horses, arthritis can affect comfort, movement, and quality of life.

Common signs may include:

😫 Stiffness especially after rest

😫 Reduced performance or reluctance to work

😫 Difficulty with transitions or jumping

😫 Slowing down on walks

😫 Changes in behaviour or mood

Because arthritis causes changes within the joints, animals often start to compensate elsewhere in the body, leading to muscle tension, weakness and reduce mobility over time.

This is where physiotherapy can really help 👐🏼

Physio can help:

🤗 Maintain mobility and muscle strength

🤗 Reduce tension and discomfort

🤗 Improve flexibility and joint function

🤗 Support balance and posture

🤗 Keep animals comfortable and active for longer

Treatment is always tailored to the individual and may include hands-on therapy, exercises, rehabilitation plans, and electrotherapies where appropriate.

Early support can make a big difference in helping animals stay happy, comfortable, and moving well 💚

Get in touch if you'd like advice about how best to support your animal 📱

15/05/2026

Let's talk FASCIA 🤓

Everything in the body is connected via FASCIA - a continuous network of connective tissue that surrounds and links muscles, bones and organs, almost like a web 🕸️

This means:

➡️ Tension in one area can affect another
➡️ Movement restrictions don't always show where the problem starts
➡️ The body works as a whole, not in isolated parts

This is why physio doesn't just focus on one spot; we look at the whole picture 🐎🐕

Drop me a message to see how I could help relieve these compensation patterns in your horse (or dog) 📱 07851357764

14/05/2026

No two horses (or dogs) are the same 👀

That's why every physio session should be tailored to the individual animal.

In this video, I'm experimenting with different massage techniques to see what this pony responds best to, because what works for one might not suit another.

You can see she displays a clear, NEGATIVE reaction (ears back, biting, turning away, fidgeting etc) to:

❌ Effleurage - long, sweeping strokes
❌ Friction - circular or cross-fibre motions
❌ Tapotement (percussion) - tapping, drumming or beating

Followed by a very obvious, POSITIVE reaction (head and neck relaxes, slow blinking, lip twitching, licking etc) to:

✅ Acupressure/myofascial release - slow, sustained pressure

By adapting my treatment in this way I can improve relaxation by working with the horse and therefore get better results 🤗

That's where the real value of physiotherapy lies; not just in the techniques, but how they are applied 💚

Address

Bexhill
TN402AY

Website

http://hiltonberryanimalphysiotherapy.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hilton Berry Animal Physiotherapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Hilton Berry Animal Physiotherapy:

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Bexhill?