WHEN Deb Jaeger left school she had dreams of teaching people how to ride. But, after discovering that she had a unique talent to help horses recover from injuries, she opened the Arkle Equine Therapy Centre, where horses are lovingly restored to their former fitness.

The centre, at Hope End Stables, near Ledbury, consists of a purpose-built yard providing high quality care for rehabilitation, convalescence, post-operative care, foaling and full- or part-livery. Deb offers a variety of treatments, including an equine hydrotherapy spa, solarium and massage. There is a chiropractic, dentist and remedial farrier too.

Most horse trainers and owners value the beneficial effects of running water over a horse's legs as well as the use of whirlpools and salt water as the first line in treatment. The water has an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing pain and injury,

But it has taken decades for Deb's dream to come true. She has sold her home and invested her life savings in the centre. She knows that the spa treatments give horses relief from a range of ailments, including tendon and ligament injuries. It heals open wounds and infections, accelerates the healing of lower limb fractures and splints and soothes bruised soles. She has many letters of thanks pinned to the stable walls from grateful owners.

But it has taken Deb many, many years of hard work to reach this stage.

From the age of eight, she begged her father to pay for riding lessons and spent every weekend and holiday at the local riding school.

By the time she was 11 years old, Deb had her own pony, competed at shows and was an ardent member of her local Pony Club which, she says, was an enormous source of knowledge that she still uses today.

On leaving school and despite protests from her parents, Deb studied as a working pupil and got her BHSA1 assistant instructor qualification.

"After working as an instructor for a while I decided I wanted to teach horses rather than people," explained Deb.

As her own old pony grew older and more arthritic, Deb instinctively started to massage him and used herbs and natural remedies to make him more comfortable.

Friends asked her to help their horses and her first big success was a lovely hunter who had slipped going down a field, damaging some ligaments.

"The horse was 14 years old and the owner was recommended to put him down," recalled Deb. "She asked me to help and, after four weeks' rest and massage five times a day, and a course of Devils Claw which is an old natural remedy, he could trot in a straight line. After six months he was in full work."

Thanks to this success, Deb avidly read everything she could about treating horses and continued to use natural remedies and massage.

Deb's future changed forever when her horse sprained his check ligament and was treated at the Natural Equine Therapy Centre at Bourton-on-the-Water, in the Cotswolds.

It was, however, some time before Deb could find the resources and the time to launch her own venture.

"I was so committed I sold my home and used all my life savings to get Arkle Equine Therapy Centre off the ground," said Deb. "I have wonderful support from professionals, including my vets and farrier. The treatments we offer here may still be regarded as 'alternative' but they all give excellent results and I have many case histories to prove this.

"More and more vets are referring horses to us and realise the benefits of spa treatments. A horse with a bruised foot came for a spa every day and was completely sound after 10 days."

The equine therapy spa helps working horses stay sound and is the most proven long-term effective treatment for tendon and ligament injuries, infections, lower limb fractures and bruised soles. It aids recuperation after illness and lower limb operations.

To contact the Arkle Therapy Centre, call 01531 636366.