F&I Training Day at Moulton College
This day of training was planned with the concept of being interesting and informative with combined theory and practical management sessions. The focus touched on fittening and training the athlete, both as a horse and rider, and the correct usage of 2 medical technologies that enhances recovery from injury for horse and rider with the use of pain free, non-invasive techniques. The day was set in the Equine Unit of Moulton College and luckily, the weather, albeit a bit brisk and breezy was kind enough on the day.
The first speaker was Sophie Gent, the MD and owner of Sync Thermology who has been providing thermography screening services to veterinary practices and their clients since 2009. They have developed into a UK national service and are currently expanding throughout Europe.
Sophie provided a thorough explanation and presentation that highlighted the difference between hot and cold areas within an image and that the cold or darker colour regions can be more indicative of problematic concerns and not necessarily the “hot spots”. Thermography is a useful tool for diagnostics but must be used in perspective in combination with other Veterinary equipment as such. It is equally very important that the results are created and analysed by a Vet who is trained and specialises in producing these interpretations.
Liz and Charles Clare then presented on MRT – Magnetic Resonance Therapy, an innovative procedure that acts precisely on specific parts of the body, dealing with the generation of body signals that stimulate regeneration. MBST® comprises a highly sophisticated treatment unit that generates electromagnetic fields. It works by using 3 different electro-magnetic fields to place potential energy in the hydrogen protons of the affected area. This potential energy is released by the protons and using the larmour frequency, this can ensure that this is then absorbed by surrounding tissue. In relation to the Thermography, this treatment is a pain free technology that works predominantly on any joint damaged areas.
The day then took us on a short walk over to the Sports Therapy & Injury Rehabilitation Centre where Lee Howarth gave us a tour of the facilities and discussed the current sports treatments that are carried out in the centre and how this could also give an increased advantage to equine athletes as well.
This centre is one of the first of its kind in the UK and strives to be acknowledged by its patients, suppliers and regulators as the leader in neuromuscular rehabilitation. The Centre comprises of:
- Whole body Cryotherapy chamber
- Six thermal infrared saunas
- Water therapy pool
- Hydrotherapy pool
- 25m swimming pool with movable floor
After lunch, Pippa Hattan and Jessica York started the afternoon with a short introduction to equine hydrotherapy, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of swimming, aqua treadmill, and cold water spa treatments. Jessica is currently working towards her PhD in the Effects of the
Aqua Treadmill on the Movement of the Horse and so the biomechanics of the horse was discussed, along with the effects that swimming has on the equine cardio vascular and respiratory systems in reality. It seems that there is little published evidence or research on such topics, but is results driven and this is an area that Jessica and Pippa are looking closely at gaining a more in-depth insight into.
A practical demonstration followed using two very different models; Delilah, a Welsh Section D cob mare and D’Or Win, an Ex-race Thoroughbred gelding, each showing a very different way of going on the treadmill and swimming style. Dermott, a valued college team horse then joined in and allowed the opportunity to a few members of the group to gain a feel of swimming a horse.
The feedback from the day was very positive and there will be other opportunities to repeat the day with more guest speakers if requested.
Event date – Tuesday March 31st 2015