Claire Ford Veterinary Physiotherapy

Claire Ford Veterinary Physiotherapy Specialising in racehorses and performance horses.

Canine physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
📍 Brackley

RAMP, IRVAP, indiba practitiner and FEI permitted therapist

Why does arthritis require ongoing management?Osteoarthritis is a progressive, long-term condition, so management should...
10/08/2026

Why does arthritis require ongoing management?

Osteoarthritis is a progressive, long-term condition, so management should focus on maintaining function rather than simply responding to flare-ups.

Regular rehabilitation allows us to monitor mobility, maintain muscle strength, review exercise and adapt treatment as your dog’s needs change.

Working alongside your veterinary team, our aim is to support mobility, comfort and quality of life for as long as possible.

Mid-season maintenance for polo ponies.With polo in full swing and the ground so hard, the demands on our ponies are hig...
09/08/2026

Mid-season maintenance for polo ponies.

With polo in full swing and the ground so hard, the demands on our ponies are high.

Regular maintenance can help support recovery, mobility and tissue health, keeping them comfortable and performing at their best throughout the season.

We’re using Indiba Radiofrequency as part of our maintenance programmes to support our polo ponies through the busiest part of the season.

08/08/2026

Arthritis doesn’t always announce itself. 📣

Sometimes the changes are small

đŸŸ Taking longer to get up

đŸŸSlowing down on walks

đŸŸ Simply doing a little less than they used to

Recognising these changes early, and working alongside your vet, can help put the right management in place to support your dog’s mobility and quality of life for longer.

📍Brackley

07/08/2026

The INDIBA effect!

Our content may have been a little dog-heavy recently, but the horses haven’t been forgotten, we’re still out treating plenty of equine patients behind the scenes.

INDIBA radiofrequency therapy is a valuable tool within our equine physiotherapy toolkit, supporting recovery, reducing muscle tension, improving mobility, and helping horses feel their best.

From competition horses to racehorses and leisure horses, every patient receives a tailored approach to support their individual needs.

06/08/2026

đŸŸ Pre-Operative Rehabilitation – Daphney

Pre-operative rehabilitation isn’t just about preparing a patient for surgery—it helps optimise their recovery afterwards.

Daphney was referred prior to TPLO surgery with a right cranial cruciate ligament rupture, significant muscle atrophy and reduced function of the right hindlimb. Over 5 weeks, treatment focused on reducing swelling, improving joint range of motion, restoring muscle mass and encouraging more symmetrical weight-bearing.

The results:
‱ Right hindlimb muscle mass increased by 3 cm
‱ Limb asymmetry reduced from 6 cm to 3 cm
‱ Improved strength and limb function before surgery

Improving muscle mass and function before surgery means patients have a stronger foundation for post-operative rehabilitation, reducing the amount of strength that needs to be regained after surgery and helping to optimise recovery.

Daphney is now ready for TPLO surgery, and we look forward to supporting her throughout her post-operative rehabilitation.

15.1hh 3yo Bay Gelding –By Glencarrig Tempest out of a Thoroughbred mare. Connemara X Thoroughbred Handsome 3-year-old b...
04/08/2026

15.1hh 3yo Bay Gelding –By Glencarrig Tempest out of a Thoroughbred mare. Connemara X Thoroughbred

Handsome 3-year-old bay gelding, standing approximately 15.1hh.

This lovely young horse has a fantastic mix of athleticism, quality and a sensible outlook.

A really exciting prospect with the potential to excel in a variety of disciplines. He is well put together, has a lovely attitude and is ready to start his education, and is already so willing and quick to learn

He is about to start his education, so his price reflects his current stage. His price will increase as he progresses.

Reggie, loads and travels well on both 3.5 tonn and 7.5tonn lorries travels like a dream. Good for the farrier and vet and is up to date with all vaccinations.

A lovely opportunity to purchase a quality young horse at the start of his journey.

5đŸ„•đŸ„•đŸ„•

Genuine enquiries welcome. Open for viewings and open to any vet inspection.

01/08/2026

Did you catch this latest article in Horse & Hound?

We were thrilled that our past president Jo Paul was able to highlight the importance of understanding what really matters when it comes to choosing a musculoskeletal practitioner.

Not only is it important for us to ensure our registrants practice to our gold standard guidelines, it’s incredibly important for us to raise awareness of where owners can find practitioners who are qualified, insured and committed to their education.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, be sure to check it out!

31/07/2026

Thought this article would be interesting to share! A recent survey of equine veterinarians has found that many clinicians are becoming more cautious about the routine use of intra-articular corticosteroids, particularly in highly mobile joints. This is something we have been aware of for a long time (and why as well as corticosteroids, we offer a range of orthobiological therapies, including PRP, IRAP, Pro-Stride APS, Alpha2EQ and Lipogems).

Corticosteroids remain an extremely valuable treatment for many horses and continue to have an important place in managing joint disease. However, the survey highlights a broader shift towards individualised treatment decisions - which is something we have always advocated for! Rather than 'blanket medication' of multiple joints just for the sake of it, we should always ask, “What is the most appropriate medication for this particular joint, in this particular horse, at this particular stage of disease?”

Ideally, we should be aiming for the minimum level and frequency of medication to keep the horse comfortable, and considering the huge part that management changes, trimming/shoeing, nutrition, fitness and rehab programmes can have in maintaining optimal joint health.

Also, it’s easy to think of joint health/medication as a problem only for competition horses, but that’s simply not the case. Whether your horse competes, hacks a few times a week, or spends most of their time enjoying retirement in the field, comfortable joints are essential for good quality of life. It may be that other options such as oral pain medication are more appropriate than IA injections, but good mobility is vital for all horses. We are pleased that the survey reflects increasingly incorporating regenerative or orthobiologic options, and considering the individual horse's needs rather than applying the same medication to every case.

Read the article here: https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/treatments-medications/survey-reveals-changing-sentiments-toward-ia-corticosteroids-among-equine-veterinarians/

What are your thoughts? Have you noticed more discussion around regenerative therapies over the past few years?

30/07/2026

Racehorses and performance horses make up a large part of our workload, but one question we’re often asked is whether we also see leisure horses.

The answer is yes! One of our very regular clients is actually this lovely donkey, Gemima. đŸ„č

She’s a firm favourite, and we always look forward to seeing her (we think she enjoys our visits too!).





Address

Northampton

Telephone

07545498183

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Claire Ford Veterinary 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 Claire Ford Veterinary Physiotherapy:

Shortcuts

Share

Category