Julia Mottram meets Super Flynn

Flynn’s first meeting with Julia Mottram

Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist

 I am extremely lucky to have Julia Mottram sponsoring me and Flynn. Julia represents the veterinary division within Keystone Physiotherapy, enabling them to provide all round physiotherapy care. Keystone Physio specialises in equine, canine and human patients they provide domiciliary visits, so they can treat owner and animal in a familiar surrounding. By doing this it enables Julia to develop an understanding of your needs and helps to develop a bespoke exercise plan. Julia understands that there is a holistic relationship between horse and rider and because Julia is qualified in both equine and human, she is able to assess me and Flynn. This will mean we will get an all-round assessment that will bring out the best in us both working together.

I am so excited to see how we can work together and hopefully get the best out of me and my position riding Flynn. I have known Julia for about 3 years, I was lucky enough to meet her before my injury when she had started treating my horse Oubles. She uses to come every 6-8 weeks and treat Oubels. Equine physiotherapy can be defined as the use of physical techniques for the treatment on soft tissues and movement by manual therapy. Physiotherapy is a complimentary therapy, not an alternative to veterinary care, but can be particular helpful in preventing injury by reducing muscle tightness and increasing flexibility and strength.

 Apparently dressage horses can present with the biggest problems, due to the repetitive compressed movements which result in what are effectively repetitive strain injuries.  Flynn is only 7 and has only once before had an equine therapy, so hopefully it will be something he will enjoy. He isn’t a pure dressage horse, as he has competed with Beth Hobbs (his owner) at BD Eventing, Side-saddle and dressage. So by him having a regular treatment as mentioned above will  hopefully help to keep him injury free.

So on Monday 11^th September, Julia came out to meet Flynn, before treating any horse, Julia must get consent to treat from the registered vet. This was established and in she goes!!! Julia treated Flynn in the stable, Flynn wasn’t sure at first and was a bit fidgety, but as the session went on he seemed to relax into it. Julia talked a lot about what she was doing and why, and she was able to explain the importance of the treatment. (I wish I could remember everything) We have  been given some home -work in the form of stretches, which I can do with carrots. I am to sit near to his girth, facing the same direction as the horse. By using the carrots as bait, this will encourage the horse to stretch down to the level of the knee or chest to help with flexion of the neck. The horse should bend evenly through the head and neck to both sides. I am sure Flynn will be good at this as he loves carrots ….

Flynn had the next day off and is now being regularly exercised again by Beth and the team at Loan Oak... We are now waiting patiently for a date for the next session with Julia, as this one will be a mounted session, so she can assess me, my core balance and how we work together. I am excited to see how this partnership will develop and I glad we Have such and amazing equine physio helping us towards our dream of riding Para Dressage.keystonephysiotherapy.co.uk As always thanks so much to Beth Hobbs my amazing trainer, friend and inspiration.