Maeve Sheridan | ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapist

ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapist providing specialist physiotherapy care for horse and rider

 
 

 Services

IMG_5506.JPG

Equine Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can help your horse by relieving pain, increasing mobility, promoting healing and can help to achieve and maintain optimal performance levels. Often horses only display subtle signs of pain or discomfort such as a change in behaviour, a change in performance, stiffness or a change in their normal movement pattern.

IMG_5508.JPG

Rider Physiotherapy

As the horse and rider is a partnership, any stiffness or pain in the rider will have an affect on how the horse moves and vice versa. Maeve is an expert at assessing where the issue lies in the partnership and treating this to ensure the optimum performance from both horse and rider.

IMG_5497.JPG

Activate Your Seat

A physio designed and led exercise programme specifically for horse riders. There is little point in having a strong core if it sits on a foundation of weak hips and pelvis! This exercise programme, working into the resistance of the bungi, targets the seat muscles leading to a more secure, supple and stronger seat and ultimately a more independent seat.

As a Chartered Physiotherapist, I adhere to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's regulations and standards of practice and have professional and public liability insurance. 

 

What I Do

Maeve Sheridan is an ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapist based in Edinburgh, providing specialist horse and rider physiotherapy assessment and treatment in central Scotland.

Animals, like people, respond to physiotherapy. The purpose of physiotherapy is to restore and maintain mobility, function, independence and performance.

Physiotherapy treatments used by Maeve include:

  • Exercises – to improve strength, stability, flexibility and balance, both during the treatment sessions and an individually tailored exercise programme to be done at home.

  • Manual therapy – may include soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilisation, massage and myofascial release techniques.

  • Electrotherapy - may include electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and pulsed magnetic therapy.

  • Advice – on how to manage and improve the condition and adaptations to the home environment to help your horse.

IMG_5441.JPG
IMG_5497.JPG

Activate Your Seat

A physiotherapy designed and led exercise programme specifically for horse riders.

A rider's job is to absorb the natural movement of the horse, and to give aids through their seat to control and enhance this movement. The rider's pelvis and hips are the interface between the partnership yet most rider specific exercise programmes seem to only target the abdominals. There is little point in having a strong core if it sits on a foundation of weak hips and pelvis!

This exercise programme, working into the resistance of the bungi, targets the muscles of the seat leading to a stronger, more supple and more secure seat, and ultimately a more independent seat.

Customer testimonials

Testimonials

“Maeve's knowledge and understanding of horse anatomy, physiology and function is excellent. She uses this in the practical setting to carefully and thoroughly evaluate and treat the horse in front of her. Maeve and I work closely together on several competition yards. This involves regular examinations, gait assessments, targeted treatments and discussions between all members of the support team and the trainers. Working together as a team, we can help our clients and their horses perform to the best of their abilities. I personally value Maeve's opinion on difficult cases, and being able to discuss in depth our concerns together only helps our patients.“

- Hugh Somerville, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Equine Surgery - Orthopaedics.

“Maeve Sheridan is a true professional dedicated to a team approach working with vets and trainers to get the absolute best from horses performing poorly.”

- Sarah Taylor BVM&S, MSc, PhD, Cert ES (Orth), Dipl ECVS, MRCVS, RCVS and ECVS Specialist in Equine Surgery

“Maeve has been a part of my team for many years and I have noticed a marked improvement in myself and all my horses after they are checked and treated. Maeve works closely with my vet and farrier to ensure all my horses are comfortable and working at their optimal performance levels, she is an essential part of the team.”

- Wills Oakden Eventing

“I have been doing the Activate Your Seat exercise programme designed by Maeve for the last few months and have noticed a marked improvement in my strength and position in the saddle. I feel my seat is stronger, more supple and more balanced from doing this exercise programme regularly.”

- Wills Oakden Eventing

Working with Maeve has helped me maximise my performance too, by helping me be able to be as straight and balanced as I can even when there's no specific injury to be treated, just a little niggle or perhaps a feeling I'm not quite sitting as straight as I could be.”


- Helen Bowman, dressage rider trainer and judge, West Lothian

“I have had on-going problems with my back for several years. Over time I found I could ride less and less effectively and the poor movement in my body had a negative effect on my horse's comfort and blocked his movement. Within a few sessions I already felt a marked improvement. I am hugely indebted to Maeve for helping me enjoy my sport once again.”

- Jade Allison, Edinburgh

“Brilliant service from Maeve. Hugely knowledgeable about horse anatomy and physiology. My horse loved her treatment and going better than ever afterwards.”

- Pauline Corio and Mini

“The Activate Your Seat exercise programme done in the butt bungi is a fantastic way to exercise at home. Maeve reminded me how to breathe properly and shifted me away from the "braced core" I'd learned with other forms of exercise I had tried. All of this has had a great effect on my riding. Although I'm getting older and creakier, my position is much more supple and much more stable since using this exercise programme regularly.”

- Lara Bayley-Kerr

“I have tried all manner of things to improve the stability of my (wonky) pelvis and strengthen my (feeble) seat and Maeve's Activate Your Seat exercise programme in the butt bungi resistance band has been by far and away the most effective, worth every penny!”

- Sarah Johnsen

“Maeve's approach is awesome! Her magic fingers did a brilliant job of seeing off my very long established back pain, but she's also given me the tools to be much more in control of what's happening with my body. Maeve has also reminded me about how to breathe properly and shifted me away from the 'braced core' I'd learned in other forms of exercise I'd tried. All of it has had a great effect on my riding. About a year ago I could tell my doctor was dubious about whether I should continue riding. Ha! Onwards and upwards!”

- Lara Bayley-Kerr

 

 Questions often asked

FAQs

If there is a question that you have that is answered below, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

 

The equine assessment involves discussion with the owner regarding the horse's history, routine and any specific issues. Then Maeve will assess the horse's posture, comformation and muscle tone before moving onto a movement assessment. Movement assessment will involve walk and trot in a straight line and tight circles at walk. On occasion it will be neccessary to see the horse lunged and/or ridden. Then Maeve will carry out a full palpatory assessment looking for changes in muscle tone, pain reactions, joint range of movement, etc. Problem areas are then identified and a treatment plan is made, treatment will be carried out, and appropriate exercises and advice will be given.

Maeve is registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the Heath and Care Professions Council (HCPC), is a Category A member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) and is a member of the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practicioners (RAMP). These member bodies ensure regulated practice and up to date continued professional development. Maeve has full professional and public liability insurance coverage to assess and treat horses and riders and to take students for placement days.
Veterinary physiotherapy is covered by most insurance companies.

This is a standard legal requirement for all veterinary physiotherapists and musculoskeletal practicioners and anyone treating your horse without veterinary consent is breaking the law. Maeve has a close working relationship with all equine vets and farriers in her area, and this collaborative multidisciplinary approach benefits the horse and the owner.

As a Chartered Physiotherapist who specialises in the assessment and treatment of horse and rider, Maeve has developed an assessment screening process to reveal a rider's imbalances and cheats. Through a series of functional movement tests, breathing assessment and strength and stability tests, Maeve can highlight where any weaknesses, tightness or restrictions are and then uses a sequenced series of neuromuscular activation treatments to make instant, measurable changes to muscle length, strength and function. Each rider will then receive a personal, tailored exercise programme.

Payment can be by cash, cheque or bank transfer. All payments are due on the day of the appointment.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or change your appointment. Cancellations with less than 48 hours of notice may be charged for the full appointment.