Equine Muscular Therapy NZ offers treatments focusing on muscular and biomechanical aspects of the horse. Our mission is to facilitate performance enhancement and greater wellbeing in our beloved horses.
Animal physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of a range of physical conditions, promoting healing and aiding return to full function following injury or surgery.
Regardless of what their discipline is, horses are athletes and much like their human counterparts they deserve to be seen to by a qualified practitioner. We work along side veterinary and equine professionals to ensure that every horse has the best level of care possible.
For injury or post-operative cases we can work with you to provide a full rehabilitation plan to get your horse back up and running.
Reasons your horse may need physiotherapy:
Your horse has started exhibiting signs of pain or discomfort when ridden or in the paddock
They have recently had surgery
Your performance as a team has plateaued or has declined despite frequent work
A sudden change in character or behaviour in your horse
They are showing signs of arthritis or slowing down with old age
Your horse is returning to work after an extended holiday
Your horse is competing frequently and you want to make sure they are performing at their best
Sessions may include use of:
Soft and deep tissue massage
Stretches and Joint Mobilisation
Phototherapy
Myofascial Decompression Therapy (Cupping)
Kinesiology taping
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
Exercise Prescription*
*Exercise prescription is an important aspect of our job at Equine Muscular Therapy NZ. As such we will routinely leave exercises and/or stretches to be carried out in between sessions. Exercises are tailored to every horse. We offer an in depth exercise program as part of our Physio Fit Package.
Initial session
$130.00
Duration: 1 hour
During the initial session we will take a detailed history and discuss with you any concerns or aims you may have. A full body examination will be carried out and we will begin the treatment of any issues or points of interest.
Follow up session
$110.00
Duration: 45 min - 1 hour
Follow up sessions will continue on from the initial session working on specific issues. These sessions will vary case by case. Follow up sessions must be within 8 weeks of previous session.
Performance Package
$520
Perfect for those serious about getting their horse up and running (or galloping as the case may be!). This package includes:
• A once a month physio session for 4 consecutive months.
• A personalised exercise program. This program is intended to be integrated into your regular riding schedule. We will discuss with you your goals and create the program following the first physio session.
(Payment plans available for this package)
Travel Charges
0 - 50km Free of Charge
50 - 100km $10
100+ km $20
Travel costs can be split between clients at the same location.
We are located near Pukekohe and frequently travel all over the Waikato and South Auckland regions. We also have a list of regular locations we travel to outside of this area. Check out our Facebook or Instagram pages for the dates of these trips. Dates updated monthly.
About Us
River grew up on a beef farm on the coast between Raglan and Kawhia in the Waikato, New Zealand. At the age of 5 her parents started their horse adventure business Wildcoast Ruapuke Horse Adventures where River learned to ride and spent all of her summers working with the horses.
Her life of riding began on a naughty Welsh mountain pony called Diddy who her mother had also ridden as a child. He lived to the ripe old age of 40. River is still part of the core team at Wildcoast and takes any chance to go out for a ride.
In 2017 River graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Behaviour. After taking a year off to travel she then began her Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy from the College of Animal Physiotherapy in England in 2018. A trip or two to the UK later, she qualified in January 2021. River is constantly upskilling so that she can provide the best possible care for your horses.
Contact us
Contact us
River Knuiman
027 856 9608
hello@equinemusculartherapy.co.nz