What Is an Equine Physical Therapist?
Equine physical therapy is an emerging field that involves rehabilitating injured horses. Therapists use a variety of treatments to facilitate healing in their equine patients and must have a thorough understanding of the horse's muscular and skeletal systems.
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The Work
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An equine physical therapist helps injured horses recover through techniques like massage and exercise. They may also employ therapies like ultrasound, hot and cold pack treatments and electromagnetic therapy.
Training
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Equine physical therapists must have a thorough understanding of the horse's muscular and skeletal systems. There are two paths of training to pursue this career. One is to become a licensed physical therapist and look for a certification course in equine rehabilitation. The other course of action is to become a veterinarian or veterinary technician, and then take classes in physical therapy.
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Where Equine Physical Therapists Work
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Equine physical therapists work at veterinary clinics or animal hospitals. They often work as independent freelancers, providing services to many facilities.
Goals of Equine Therapy
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Equine physical therapists use their techniques to improve function, reduce disability, alleviate discomfort and prevent further injury. Many of the treatments used in rehabilitation can also be used to prevent injury and improve performance in highly competitive equine athletes.
Wages
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Because equine physical therapy is a fairly new, rapidly growing field, salary figures can be hard to come by. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists generally made an average of $72,000 a year in 2008.
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