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Two- thirds back to the track and a busy Cheltenham Festival Week at The Centre

 March 2005

Sixty six per cent of the racehorses that have used the ECB Equine Spa for lower leg injuries at The Centre for Natural Equine Therapy have returned to their racing careers.

Injuries varied from severe tendon lesions, to wounds and bone fractures; and the cold saline water hydrotherapy offered the performance horses (and often their trainers!) much needed release from inflammation and heat. Previous to Spa therapy, owners were often limited to turning their horses away for long periods of time, but now with improved recovery times and recovery quality, a tendon injury for example, may not mean the end of winning hopes.

Jeremy Swan MRCVS, a partner at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic who works with The Centre explains that, “I have seen many horses with tendon injuries that have responded remarkably well to the spa, it has the ability to reduce the acute inflammatory phase rapidly and this is an important part in starting the healing process.”

Jeremy scanning at The Centre

Sarah Branston, Director of The Centre has worked closely with many of the trainers, not only in rehabilitation, but also with pre-training and preventative advice, “When injured racehorses visit us here, each is put on a personal programme of Spa therapy and exercise, with many maintaining their race fitness during their stay.

Of the two-thirds that returned to racing, three quarters have since won or been placed in the top four. This reinforces the theory that with the neat healing of the tendon fibres and the minimal scar tissue that the Spa promotes, a more productive career post injury is obtainable ”.

Tom Paddington winning at Newbury - one of The Centre's first success stories

The Gloucestershire based Centre began offering cold water hydrotherapy rehabilitation to the racing community in 2001, and since then over 100 racehorses have been residents with many others opting for visiting Spa treatments. There is also a steady stream of trainers’ sending horses on regular “spa breaks” to utilise the benefits of Spa treatments as a preventative measure.

With The Centres’ location, at the heart of National Hunt racing territory (only 12 miles from Cheltenham), the Festival week is proving a busy time with many owners and trainers calling in to see their horses and the Irish equine Spa advocate, Ned Kelly who visiting the Spa both the morning of, and immediately after his run in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Class A, Grade 1).

Ned Kelly in the Spa with Sarah Branston, Director of The Centre

But it is not just racehorses that are benefiting from The Centre. Top class dressage horses such as Escapado who was resident before the Athens Olympics with a bruised sole, are regular visitors.

“Without the Spa, we probably wouldn’t have got to the Olympics.”

Mrs Luard, owner of Escapado, British Dressage Horse of the Year 2004.

Ecapado with Carl Hester at the Athens Olympics

With facilities including an Olympic size school and a 5 ½ furlong gallop, The Centre offers one of the most comprehensive hydrotherapy rehabilitation yards in Europe.

The new 60 x 40m Boundaries Arena

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