Sarah Ridd Veterinary Therapist

19/07/2026

I’m writing this post because a client recently asked me about high-intensity PEMF after seeing it promoted on social media.

Owners may recognise this treatment from videos showing a large handheld coil being moved over the horse while the muscles contract, twitch or visibly “jump.” These dramatic muscle contractions are often used in advertising because they look impressive, but visible movement does not tell us whether the treatment is appropriately dosed, clinically indicated or producing the desired therapeutic response.

High-intensity PEMF has become increasingly fashionable and is sometimes offered by people without recognised veterinary rehabilitation qualifications or sufficient education in pathology, neurology, tissue healing and electrotherapy dosage. Before booking treatment, owners should ask what qualifications the practitioner holds, how the dose is selected for their horse, what outcome is being targeted and what evidence supports that particular treatment plan.

🧠 High-Intensity PEMF… Are we asking the right questions? 🐴⚡

As a Veterinary Physiotherapist with a particular interest in neurology and rehabilitation, there is something I’ve been reflecting on recently that I think is worth discussing.

This isn’t an anti-PEMF post.

It’s a post about clinical reasoning, therapeutic dosing and making informed choices.

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⚡ Not all PEMF is the same

One thing I believe is often misunderstood is that low-intensity PEMF and high-intensity PEMF are frequently discussed as though they are the same therapy.

They are not.

Although both use pulsed electromagnetic fields, that doesn’t automatically mean they produce the same biological response.

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📚 What does the evidence tell us?

Low-intensity PEMF has a much stronger body of scientific evidence supporting its use for areas such as:

✅ Bone healing

✅ Delayed tissue repair

✅ Pain modulation

Importantly, these beneficial effects are achieved through carefully prescribed cumulative doses over time.

More energy does not necessarily equal a better therapeutic response.

This principle has been taught to physiotherapists for many years through the work of Professor Tim Watson, whose research and teaching on electrotherapy emphasises that every electrophysical agent should be prescribed according to:

🔹 The tissue being treated

🔹 The stage of healing

🔹 The desired physiological response

🔹 Appropriate treatment dosage

In other words…

Electrotherapy is a prescription—not simply the application of energy.

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🧬 Why does dosage matter?

Every cell in the body communicates through electrical and biochemical signalling.

Electrotherapies don’t “heal” tissues themselves.

Instead, they aim to influence the body’s own repair mechanisms.

The biological response depends upon the dose prescribed, including:

• Treatment intensity

• Frequency

• Pulse characteristics

• Treatment duration

• Number of treatments

• Stage of tissue healing

Just as medication has an optimal dose…

Electrotherapy also has an optimal therapeutic window.

Too little may produce little effect.

Too much isn’t necessarily better.

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⚡ So where does High-Intensity PEMF fit?

High-intensity PEMF is an exciting and evolving technology.

However, the evidence base for optimal dosing, particularly regarding neurological tissues, is still developing.

For that reason, I don’t believe we should automatically assume that the biological principles demonstrated with low-intensity PEMF can simply be transferred to high-intensity systems.

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🧠 A question that has made me think…

During my own clinical practice, I’ve started asking myself an interesting neurophysiological question.

In some horses that have previously received high-intensity PEMF, I’ve observed:

🐎 Reduced pain responses

🐎 Reduced flight arc

🐎 Subtle proprioceptive deficits

🐎 Mild incoordination or ataxia

This does not prove cause and effect, and many factors could contribute to these findings.

However…

Could excessive stimulation in some horses—particularly those with underlying neurological compromise—temporarily alter sensory input or neuronal excitability?

If proprioceptive feedback becomes less precise…

Could motor timing also become less precise?

Could this explain why a horse appears more comfortable, yet demonstrates subtle neurological deficits dynamically?

At present, this remains a clinical hypothesis, not an established fact.

But I believe it is a question worthy of scientific investigation.

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🎓 Why training matters

This is where I believe education becomes incredibly important.

In the UK, physiotherapists spend years studying:

✔️ Anatomy

✔️ Physiology

✔️ Pathology

✔️ Tissue healing

✔️ Neurophysiology

✔️ Evidence-based electrotherapy

✔️ Therapeutic dosing

These principles underpin the safe use of electrotherapies such as therapeutic ultrasound, laser therapy, radiofrequency and other electrophysical agents.

High-intensity PEMF, however, is now widely available and can be purchased by individuals with very different levels of training and understanding.

Owning advanced technology is not the same as understanding its biological effects.

Technology should support clinical reasoning, not replace it.

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💬 My hope…

This isn’t about criticising any profession or any particular technology.

It’s about encouraging discussion.

As rehabilitation professionals, we should continue asking:

❓What biological response am I trying to achieve?

❓Is this the correct dose?

❓Is this the correct stage of healing?

❓Is this the right patient?

❓What evidence supports the treatment I’m prescribing?

Our patients deserve treatments that are guided not only by innovation, but by science, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.

I’d genuinely love to hear the thoughts of fellow veterinary physiotherapists, veterinary surgeons, chiropractors and rehabilitation professionals.

Healthy professional discussion is how we continue to improve standards of care for the horses entrusted to us. 🐴

08/07/2026

We’re now seeing AI-powered camera systems capable of continuously monitoring horses within their stable environment. These systems can objectively record behaviours such as:
🐴 Time spent standing versus lying down (recumbency)�💤 Sleep patterns and changes in resting behaviour
🌾 Eating and drinking habits�🚶 Activity levels and movement around the stable

One of the biggest advantages is that this monitoring takes place 24 hours a day, often identifying subtle changes that owners or professionals may not notice during routine visits.

As a veterinary physiotherapist, I see this as another valuable tool to support clinical decision-making. Changes in recumbency, reduced sleep, altered feeding behaviour or decreased activity can all provide useful information when assessing pain, recovery from injury, rehabilitation progress or general wellbeing.
AI will never replace experienced horse owners, veterinarians or therapists. However, when combined with skilled clinical assessment, it can provide objective data that helps us advocate for the horse and make more informed decisions.

🤔💭 A thought for the future…
Could similar AI technology one day support decision-making during FEI trot-ups? Not to replace veterinary expertise or ground jury assessments, but to provide an additional objective layer of information alongside experienced clinical judgement.
Technology should never replace horsemanship—but when used responsibly, it has enormous potential to enhance welfare, improve rehabilitation and ultimately give our horses an even stronger voice.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you feel about AI becoming part of everyday horse management and welfare?

24/05/2026

FREE POSTER ON HEATWAVE ADVICE

DOWNLOAD HI RES VERSION- drdavidmarlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DM_HeatwavePoster_A4_high-2.pdf

10/05/2026

Use of robots and AI in equine business!

OMG!! The horse world has its own version of a robot grader, it make sense as I have a robotic hoover and mop all in one 🦿🧹
With AI now available soon to everyone to monitor your horses welfare in their stable and even their paddocks 🤖⛑️. You may laugh but yes AI to monitor your horses facial pain grimace pain 😰 scores and movement patterns - to indicate possible colic as an example. It’s already been rolled out at some equine hospitals even in the southeast of England 🏥. You may ask how can AI possibly monitor your horses facial pain and movement patterns - well it started with a need to improve the animal welfare in the meat industry. Do you think in the next 10yrs when you’re looking for a yard you won’t be looking for British Horse Society approved. But instead AI monitoring to ensure early indicators are picked up when staff knowledge is not consistent, noticing small signs that something is wrong with your horse. A simple notification to the stable manager will alert them to check on a horse, as the AI over the a period of a week has noticed a pattern of behaviour of reduced feeding, box walking and rolling. I think there is never replacement for human experience, though reducing human biases and pattern recognition can surely have a positive impact on our horses welfare.

15/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhkApST8N/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/04/2026

👇🏻Why I use raised pole work 🐎
More then you may think let me explain
⸻

🔶 Motor control

As the limb approaches and clears the pole:

– The horse cannot rely on its usual, often inefficient, movement pattern
– It has to reorganise the timing and sequencing of the stride
– There is increased demand on proprioceptive feedback and motor planning

This is why poles are so effective —
they don’t just strengthen, they retrain movement.

⸻

🔶 Thoracic sling

To lift and place the limb accurately:

– The thoracic sling (serratus ventralis, pectorals) must control the trunk between the forelimbs
– You’ll often see improved withers lift and reduced collapse through the shoulder
– The limb is no longer just pushing — it is supporting and stabilising

⸻

🔶 Pelvic sling & hindlimb contribution

Through the stride:

– The hindlimb has to flex more and step through more deliberately
– There is increased demand on gluteals, hamstrings and abdominal support
– The pelvis becomes more controlled rather than trailing

This is where you start to see improved engagement and step quality, not just activity.

⸻

🔶 Epaxial stability

With the increased limb flexion and altered timing:

– The epaxial muscles (longissimus, multifidus) must stabilise the spine
– Rather than bracing, they work to control movement between segments
– This supports a more functional thoracolumbar posture

⸻

🔶 Limb loading & joint mechanics

This is clearly visible in the photos:

– Increased joint flexion to clear the pole
– A more controlled flight arc
– More deliberate foot placement on landing

Which leads to:

– Smoother load acceptance
– Reduced abrupt loading
– More even distribution of forces through the limb

⸻

🔶 Why this matters

Without this type of stimulus, many horses will:

– Default to habitual, often compensatory, movement patterns
– Reduce joint articulation
– Load asymmetrically without it being obvious

Poles introduce just enough challenge to change the strategy of movement.

⸻

🔁 Progression

Once this is established, a belly thoraband can be added to:

– Increase abdominal activation
– Support thoracolumbar lift
– Reinforce postural stability

⸻

🔶 Take-home

This isn’t about getting a bigger step.

It’s about improving:

– Motor control
– Stability through the slings
– Quality of limb loading

That’s what underpins soundness and performance.

⸻

If you’re unsure what you should be seeing in your own horse, feel free to get in touch.

07/04/2026

👇🏻Why I use raised pole work 🐎
More then you may think let me explain
⸻

🔶 Motor control

As the limb approaches and clears the pole:

– The horse cannot rely on its usual, often inefficient, movement pattern
– It has to reorganise the timing and sequencing of the stride
– There is increased demand on proprioceptive feedback and motor planning

This is why poles are so effective —
they don’t just strengthen, they retrain movement.

⸻

🔶 Thoracic sling

To lift and place the limb accurately:

– The thoracic sling (serratus ventralis, pectorals) must control the trunk between the forelimbs
– You’ll often see improved withers lift and reduced collapse through the shoulder
– The limb is no longer just pushing — it is supporting and stabilising

⸻

🔶 Pelvic sling & hindlimb contribution

Through the stride:

– The hindlimb has to flex more and step through more deliberately
– There is increased demand on gluteals, hamstrings and abdominal support
– The pelvis becomes more controlled rather than trailing

This is where you start to see improved engagement and step quality, not just activity.

⸻

🔶 Epaxial stability

With the increased limb flexion and altered timing:

– The epaxial muscles (longissimus, multifidus) must stabilise the spine
– Rather than bracing, they work to control movement between segments
– This supports a more functional thoracolumbar posture

⸻

🔶 Limb loading & joint mechanics

This is clearly visible in the photos:

– Increased joint flexion to clear the pole
– A more controlled flight arc
– More deliberate foot placement on landing

Which leads to:

– Smoother load acceptance
– Reduced abrupt loading
– More even distribution of forces through the limb

⸻

🔶 Why this matters

Without this type of stimulus, many horses will:

– Default to habitual, often compensatory, movement patterns
– Reduce joint articulation
– Load asymmetrically without it being obvious

Poles introduce just enough challenge to change the strategy of movement.

⸻

🔁 Progression

Once this is established, a belly thoraband can be added to:

– Increase abdominal activation
– Support thoracolumbar lift
– Reinforce postural stability

⸻

🔶 Take-home

This isn’t about getting a bigger step.

It’s about improving:

– Motor control
– Stability through the slings
– Quality of limb loading

That’s what underpins soundness and performance.

⸻

If you’re unsure what you should be seeing in your own horse, feel free to get in touch.

03/04/2026

Providing local Veterinary Physiotherapy to you pets, to put that spring back into their step.

02/04/2026

Providing local Veterinary Physiotherapy - to your pets helping put that spring back into their step.

31/03/2026