A little preparation before a yard visit makes a real difference to how much can be assessed properly in the time available. None of it is complicated, but it's easy to overlook if you haven't had a physiotherapy visit before.
What's needed on the day
- A dry, level area to assess the horse in-hand: a school or a flat section of yard works well
- A straight run of roughly 30 metres, for walking and trotting up in-hand
- A clean, dry horse, since mud and a wet coat make palpation far less informative
- If a ridden assessment is planned, the horse tacked up and a rider available
Why a dry, clean horse matters
Palpation, feeling for areas of tension, heat or restricted movement, relies on being able to properly feel the muscle and skin response underneath. A muddy or wet coat blunts that significantly, and can mean re-booking the more detailed part of the assessment for another day. A quick brush-over beforehand is usually all that's needed.
For yard block bookings
Where several horses at the same yard are being seen in one visit, having each horse ready (headcollar on, ideally already brought in) in the time slot allocated keeps the day running to schedule for everyone booked in. A rough running order sent ahead of time helps, especially on larger yards.
One last thing
If anything has changed since booking, such as a new injury, a vet visit or a change in medication, it's worth mentioning when confirming the appointment rather than waiting until the day. It rarely changes whether the visit goes ahead, but it does change what's useful to focus on once we're there.