HORSE owners in the two counties are being urged to have their animals checked to ensure they are not suffering from painful postural disorders.

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy claim many horse owners are subjecting their animals to pain because they lack the basic knowledge in equine care and handling.

Jo Spear, who is a member of the association, said: "Poor postural management for horses is a real worry. Our members are seeing thousands of horses subjected to unnecessary but reversible painful posture disorders caused by certain environmental factors such as being confined to a stable.

"We want to help owners develop a greater awareness of the problems horses can encounter if they adopt bad posture so they can be avoided. Whether your horse is a professional athlete or a companion ridden for pleasure, you need to consider its lifestyle."

Taking a horse out of its natural environment can have a huge impact on its digestive, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems, explained Ms Spear, who has ridden since she was a child and owns two horses. As with people, eating more and exercising less can lead to weight gain that may affect posture, she added.

Problems that can arise from poor posture include muscle spasm and tension, ligament strain, joint pain, poor saddle fitting and the development of incorrect musculature which can lead to altered gait and lower limb injuries.

"For healthy muscles, joints and bones, good posture is the key," added Ms Spear.

"Whether your horse is kept in a stable or outdoors, both feeding and riding can influence posture."

Keeping good posture means discouraging the development of a dipped back. To find out whether your horse is adopting bad posture, look and see if there's excessive curving of the back or a large hanging abdomen, or the horse keeps holding its head high.

The first thing you must do if your horse displays any of the above symptoms is to contact a local member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy to carry out a postural check.

Regularly carry out the exercises shown to you by an ACPAT member - typical ones would include abdominal and back stretching and strengthening carried out in a stable or during ridden work - and eliminate the possible culprits listed in the panel above. But the first thing you need to do is check your horse.