Thought physiotherapy is only for human patients? Think again. You may find equine physiotherapists working at rehabilitation centres or vet clinics but most of them will open their own practices and work in stables and racing yards.
It is a very specialised field and, therefore, the opportunity to build your business is great. At the same time, you must get to know the horse industry first (which can be a challenge!)
To practise as an equine physiotherapist, you need a four-year honours degree from a recognised university.
Recognised worldwide, Equine-Librium Veterinary Physiotherapy College & Clinic in Plettenberg Bay is currently the only institution in South Africa that offers a professional four-year BSc degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy.
You will be required to do practical field experience and internship for at least a year. Working with an experienced physiotherapist, vet or chiropractor while you study gives you hands-on knowledge and puts you ahead of the class. (If you ever need help with your studies, they are more than happy to help you out).
It will also give you valuable lessons on how to run a business and get to know people in the industry. (Sometimes, this can count towards your internship, as long as there are records).
Equine physiotherapists must register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCA).
Tanya Gee, the owner of TG Equine Sports Therapy in Walkerville, is a registered equine physiotherapist, who treats horses with trauma and accident injuries, certain conditions where there could be neurological or respiratory problems or even developmental issues. She mostly works at clients’ stable yards.
For Tanya it is satisfying to see horses benefit from the treatment and to relieve the pain of a suffering animal.
The highlight of her career was working with a very bad-tempered horse that didn’t enjoy life, simply because he was in so much pain. After six months of treatment, Tanya’s patient went on to win major races (and stopped trying to bite the grooms!).
She has also saved a few horses from being put down. After a lot of physio, they went on to retire in loving homes.
When talking about the biggest challenges in her career, Tanya says dealing with owners or battling for payment can sometimes be hard, while arguing about the correct course of treatment (with everyone being a Google professional) can also be frustrating.
Working in the racing industry as a woman brings its own challenges but if you work hard and make people take you seriously, you will do well in this particular industry.
A typical day for Tanya usually starts around 9:00 when she travels out to clients. She works at one or two stable yards a day, depending on how many horses she is working with. “I would never do more than 15 horses in one day. I like to do a lot of hands-on work and it gets tiring.”
The treatment of a horse can last anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the horse’s requirements, Tanya says. She usually finishes with the horses at around 15:00 and heads home to write up reports, notes or invoices for every horse.
Sometimes, she will also fly down to Cape Town or Durban to work on horses for the day (and ends up flying back that same day!). “Luckily, I have my weekends off (unless there is an emergency) but I do work over most holidays, like Christmas.” Tanya has had a very unconventional career path. She started at the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA), where she discovered her love for horses; their abilities really fascinated her.
“We had a class called Equine Studies where I learnt about horses from the inside out. This really got me interested. I then started working as an assistant to a racing trainer. I worked with the vets, chiropractors and physiotherapists in his yard. I really enjoyed working with these profes- sionals and decided to quit my job to study.”
“I would never have made it through my studies if it weren’t for some very kind trainers who let me practise on their horses. That reminded me why I loved this chosen profession; studying and having your head in books all day can get a bit much.”
To be an equine physiotherapist, you must love horses (and animals) and have an interest in fixing an animal for their welfare and not just making money. You must also be responsible as you will more than likely be running your own business.
Tanya did her equine studies in the UK and has completed various other courses. She grew up in Gauteng and has loved animals from a young age. She wanted to become a vet since she was four years old.
At the age of 12, she started riding horses. By the time she got to high school, the Jockey Academy had approached her and tried to persuade her to become a jockey because she had the right frame.
She went to boarding school at the Jockey Academy in Durban from Grade 10, worked in racing yards for a little while and then went on to study.
After her studies, she worked in the racing industry but later branched out into other disciplines.
If you are interested in this career, you will need Physical Science and Maths as subjects, while Life Sciences is also recommended. Tanya says Economics also helped her with the business side of her practice.
Read more on the Equine Librium Veterinary Physiotherapy College & Clinic on www.equine-librium.co.za.
