“”After just one treatment the swelling in his leg was reduced and Zion was back to his old self…”"

My name is Sandy Goard and I live in beautiful Sixpenny Handley, between Blandford and Salisbury. I have been treating my animal patients throughout the Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire region for the past 12 years.

I am fully insured and a member of  IRVAP, the Institute of Animal and Veterinary Physiotherapists, RAMP, the Professional Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners and CHA, the Canine Hydrotherapy Associaition. I hold a post-graduate diploma from the College of Animal Physiotherapy achieved following 3 years of study and a Level 5 diploma in advanced canine hydrotherapy.

I am the in-house physiotherapist at Dorset Aqua Dogs Hydrotherapy and Phrysiotherapy Centre and work with numerous vets throughout the area.

Being an  experienced BHS riding instructor, owner and competitor gives me additional perspectives into injury healing, rehabilitation and performance. I was also a lifetime member of the (now sadly disbanded)  TTT where I spent many hours training with and observing the wonderful instructors that taught there. My other interests include yoga and the Alexander technique. These have helped give me an understanding of how important as riders, our own strength, fitness and body awareness is and how it affects our horses’ way of going.

I believe we are always learning especially when it comes to our animals! So I regularly  attend lectures, demonstrations and CPD days to further my knowledge and remain up to date with the latest research.

Keeping an animal healthy, fit and sound needs an holistic approach. For horses this includes input from your vet, farrier, saddler and dentist. With good nutrition and training as well as physiotherapeutic treatment these elements all come together to help our animals be pain-free and perform to their full potential.