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General Guidance
Before the Session
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Clean and Dry: Please ensure your horse is clean, dry, and free from heavy mud or sweat. This helps with palpation and avoids discomfort.
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Cool and Relaxed: Manual therapy cannot be performed immediately after exercise. Please ensure your horse is cool and calm. Your horses heart rate needs to have retuned to normal and they should not be hot or sweaty (we call this homeostasis). If a ridden assessment is required your practitioner will allow time for your horse to return to homeostasis prior to commencing the manual therapy treatment.
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Safe Space: Sessions must be carried out in a safe, calm environment—ideally a quiet stable or sheltered yard space with good footing.
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Avoid Feed: Please do not feed your horse within 30 minutes before the session. However horses should not be hungry. where possible provide feed in ample time to allow digestion. Hay may be provided up to the time of the appointment.
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Inform the Practitioner: Let the practitioner know if your horse has had any recent veterinary treatment, illness, changes in behaviour, or ridden issues.
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Guidance - Manual Therapy
During the Session
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Stay Present: A responsible adult must be on-site throughout the session in case the horse needs support or assistance.
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Horses may express themselves in different ways during their manual therapy session. Please do not correct the horse for any adverse behaviours unless there is a safety concern. Your practitioner will monitor these behaviours and communicate any concerns with you during or after the treatment.
After the Session
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Manual therapy can cause subtle shifts in the horse’s body and nervous system. It’s important to allow them time to process and integrate the work.
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No Hard Feed for 2 Hours: Please do not feed hard feed for at least 2 hours after the session. Hay/haylage and water are fine.
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Rest and Recovery: Your horse should rest for at least 24–48 hours before returning to ridden work, depending on what’s advised during your aftercare.
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Increased Drinking and Urination: Your horse may drink more or urinate more frequently after a session—this is normal as the body detoxifies.
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Turnout: Turnout is encouraged where possible to allow gentle movement. If stabled, ensure they are relaxed and comfortable.
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Observe: Keep an eye on your horse for any signs of stiffness, fatigue, or behavioural changes. These are often temporary as the body adjusts but should be noted and shared during your next session.
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Revealing Compensations: Occasionally manual therapy can release off areas of compensation and reveal other issues such as lameness. If this is the case please contact your practitioner to discuss.
Guidance - Saddle Fitting
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Back in Balance carry a small range of new GP saddles and do not operate a used saddle sales service as standard. We can however make adjustments to existing saddles (when possible) and/or provide measurements and saddle recommendations. Assistance can be provided to source an alternative saddle if required.
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All associated costs with sourcing saddles must be covered by the owner. This includes courier and trial fees. While your practitioner/saddle fitter will aim to make accurate recommendations there are no guarantees that recommended saddles will fit as this can only be determined by trying them on and riding in them.
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If a saddle is sourced another fitting appointment will be necessary and fees payable at the standard rate. All adjustments including flocking and gullet bar changes will incur additional costs.
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During the Session
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Please ensure you have all tack and riding equipment ready and available including stirrups, pads, girths etc.
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Please ensure all riders are present if possible. If this is not feasible the 'main' rider should be available for the ridden assessment
After the Session
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Horses often change shape and follow up appointments will be necessary. Your practitioner/saddle fitter will discuss a fitting schedule with you.
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Flocked saddles will bed down and may need topping up, usually withing 4-6 weeks or 20 hours of riding.
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Shims and remedial pads may be recommended. It is vital that you do not remove or add pads without first discussing with your practitioner/saddle fitter
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If you notice any issues with your saddle please contact your practitioner/saddle fitter immediately.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. General Information
These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided by Back in Balance, including equine manual therapy, rehabilitation support and saddle fitting consultations.
By booking a session, clients agree to these terms in full.
2. Scope of Practice
The practitioner is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose medical conditions or offer veterinary treatment. If a horse presents with signs of illness, injury, or distress, veterinary referral will be recommended before any treatment or saddle fitting can proceed.
The practitioner reserves the right to refuse or postpone treatment if there are concerns for the horse's welfare or safety and charges will still be payable.
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3. Owner Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the horse’s owner or primary carer to:
Disclose all relevant health history, behavioural concerns, and recent treatments or changes.
Ensure the horse is clean, dry, and safely tied or held for the session.
Provide a safe working environment (e.g. level ground, sheltered area).
Be present or ensure a responsible adult is present for the duration of the session.
The owner agrees to follow all aftercare advice provided and understands that results vary depending on multiple factors, including management, rider input, and consistency of care.
4. Booking and Payment
Sessions must be booked in advance.
Payment is due at the time of service, unless otherwise agreed.
Accepted payment methods: cash, bank transfer. Credit cards are not accepted.
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Prices are subject to change, but confirmed bookings will be honoured at the agreed rate.
5. Cancellations and Late Arrivals
Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice may incur a cancellation fee of £50.
No-shows or repeated short-notice cancellations may result in refusal of future bookings.
If the practitioner is running late, the client will be informed as soon as possible.
If the client is late, the session may be shortened to respect other bookings.
6. Contraindications and Consent
The practitioner will assess the horse prior to every session and will not proceed if there are contraindications present (e.g. fever, suspected infection, acute lameness, or recent surgery without veterinary clearance).
In booking a session, the owner gives informed consent for non-invasive, manual therapy techniques to be applied to their horse.
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If the horse is under veterinary care then permission MUST be sought by the owner prior to any manual therapy treatments being carried out.
7. Saddle Fitting Services
Saddle fitting consultations include assessment of horse, rider, saddle(s), pads and girth.
All tack assessments are carried out with care, but no liability is accepted for pre-existing damage or wear.
Adjustments and recommendations are made based on the horse’s current presentation; follow-up appointments will be needed as the horse’s condition or work changes.
Clients are responsible for acting on any referral advice
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Saddle trial services may be used to source saddles where needed. All costs associated with sourcing saddles must be covered by the client including courier fees.
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Back in Balance does not operate a saddle sales service.
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8. Rehabilitation Support
Rehabilitation plans are created in collaboration with the owner and, where appropriate, veterinary or allied professionals. These plans are educational and supportive in nature, not prescriptive veterinary treatment.
Consistency, environment, and follow-through are the responsibility of the owner and rider.
9. Insurance and Liability
While every care is taken, Back in Balance accepts no liability for injury to horse, handler, rider, or property before, during, or after treatment or consultation. Horses remain the responsibility of their owner at all times.
Clients are advised to hold appropriate third-party liability insurance.
The choice to wear protective personal equipment remains with the owner/hander/rider however is strongly recommended.
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10. Data Protection and Confidentiality
Client and horse information is kept confidential and handled in accordance with GDPR. Case studies may be used for educational purposes with identifying details removed, unless explicit permission is granted.