Equine Rehabilitation Services

Equine Horse Therapy Treatment & Rehab Services

Our clients include disciplines like hunters,  jumpers, dressage and pleasure horses. The philosophy of Hof Norwegen is to devise and execute the best program for your horse, constantly evaluating and adapting it to meet your horse’s current rehabilitation needs.  While other facilities may have similar equipment, it is imperative to have the knowledge, background, and experience to use it properly, maximizing the benefit for your horse.  Overdoing or underperforming in a rehabilitation program can be detrimental to your horse.

Dr.Martin Hinrichsen is an official veterian of the FEI. He is a member of the Society for equine medicine (Gesellschaft für Pferdemedizin), International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and the American Association of Equine Practioners (AAEP). Martin is one of the tournament veterians for the CHIO Aachen and the team veterian of the german Eventing Equip.

Hof Norwegen offers modern and state of the art therapy treatment and rehabilitation services for your sport horse. Our program is customized to your horse’s individual needs under the direct supervision of acclaimed FEI veterinarian, Dr. Martin Hinrichsen and the Bargteheide Equine Hospital - Germany, Together we take care of your horse after medical intervention or athletic injuries.

You will have the comfort of knowing your horse is under the care and supervision of an experienced staff. It´s a priviledge for us to communicate with you and your veterinarian to keep both of you apprised of your horse’s progress.

Dr. M. Hinrichsen
FEI Veterinarian

Walker Treadmills for training and equine therapy treatment

New treatments for tendons / ligament can recruit cells for better healing than scar tissue.  A controlled, closely monitored rehab program can help fibers align and decrease cross-linkage! People do rehab  as well and the do not just sit and rest. Why do you think your horse rehab better and faster while it's placed in the box for weeks?

Proper rehabilitation is imperative for numerous reasons. Tendons and ligaments have collagen fibers that are aligned parallel to each other. When the tendon or ligament is relaxed, these fibers are in a wavy configuration, called a “crimp pattern”. These fibers straighten out when the tendon or ligament is stretched. After injury, proper rehabilitation helps the healing fibers repair in the proper crimp pattern to avoid some fibers being stretched while others are in a relaxed configuration as this can lead to re-injury. Additionally, without treatment and a proper rehabilitation program, a lesion can fill in with scar tissue, which is not elastic. Therefore, fibers above and below must then stretch further, often leading to a new injury. Recent studies have shown that inactivity can actually cause enzymes to be released that cause degeneration of ligaments and tendons.

More and more Treadmills are used for training as well as for the equine horse therapy treatment & rehabilitation of dressage horses, show jumpers and drawing horses after medical intervention or athletic injuries of the horses. For this reason we at the Hof Norwegen are using the HORSE-GYM-2000 treadmill, a new generation of innovative high-tech treadmills which has been launched onto the market shortly.

A special feature is the technique of the treadmill floor. It allows the horses to steadily and evenly walk on a floor that is similiar to a naturally grown grass floor as known in woods. The walking surfaces match the horses movements. This special technology of the HORSE-GYM-2000 treadmill allows a quick supportive, maximum relaxation and rehabilitation by which a reasonable build up of muscles in particular of the horse´s backs is obtained. The treatmill is under fully automatic supervision for safety of your horse.

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The benefits of a treadmill for horses include:

• Targeted promotion of muscle formation at the back and hindquarters
• Training with maximal suppleness
• Improving the Condition
• Enhancing the performance for sport use
• Obtaining complete relaxation
• Supporting the healing process after medical intervention or athletic injuries
• Supporting the recovery process after illness and injury

Equine Horse Therapy Treatment & Rehab adds Chiropractic Services

Chiropractic care for horses has become more and more important over the Years. Today the horse rehab would not be that successfull without  the horse chiropractic services. Recent legal changes, specially for the United States, now require that a Veterinarian be in attendance during the treatment. Therefor the therapy treatment and chiropractic services during the horses rehabilitation are be done also by the FEI veterinarian, Dr. Martin Hinrichsen and Markus brother, Christoph Waterhues. Combined with our traditional care and acupuncture services, the addition of chiropractic treatment to EquiSport Therapy & Rehab will not only comply with the law, it will also offer:

• Re-educate gait, balance and proprioception
• Improve strength and flexability
• Restore normal range of movement
• Increase athletisism
• Improve stamina
• Enhanced ability to deal with difficult lameness’s
• Chiropractic wellness care

Physical Therapy/ Physiotherapy

Veterinary physiotherapy involves assessment and treatment of musculo-skeletal and neurological conditions. A chartered veterinary physiotherapist will study for three to four years to become a ‘human’ physiotherapist and then work for at least two years in the human field before undergoing further training with animals. This initial human training is invaluable as it is here that skills in biomechanical assessment and treatment techniques are developed.
A Physiotherapy assessment will take up to 1 _ hours. A full history is taken followed by a physical examination. This will involve observation of standing posture and symmetry, seeing the horse moving in straight lines, on the lunge and often ridden. Movement abnormalities are noted. Range of movement of neck, back, fore and hind limbs are assessed and a palpatory examination will reveal areas of tension, tenderness and lack of mobility. Following the assessment process where problems are identified, a treatment and rehabilitation plan is formulated.

Rehab Following Injury

Rehabilitation is the use of active exercise to facilitate restoration of normal function. The aims of rehabilitation are to:

• Re-educate gait, balance and proprioception
• Improve strength and flexability
• Restore normal range of movement
• Increase athletisism
• Improve stamina

At the Hof Norwegen we have excellent facilities to take in patients for an intensive course of Physiotherapy alongside an active rehabilitation programme. By combining the skills of a Chartered Physiotherapist with expertise in handling and schooling, both from the ground and under saddle, we can cater for:

• Treatment and rehabilitation following injury
• Schooling and behavioural problems
• Post surgical rehabilitation

Hof Norwegen can accommodate up to twenty horses and has a large pasada menage, round pen and horse walker. The Physiotherapy treatment room is fully equipped with electrotherapy modalities including laser, ultrasound, muscle stimulator, H-Wave and solarium.

Good is not enough

Many of our patients are post-surgical or medical cases that either require advanced medical knowledge to ensure a successful outcome, or are too time-intensive for proper care at the horse’s normal facility. Case examples range from joint arthroscopy to a horse recovering from colic surgery. All care is provided in a quiet, controlled, and fully supervised environment. With a 24-hour caretaker on premises, care can be provided at a level unattainable at most commercial facilities.

Furthermore our services include solarium infrared light therapy, cold/hot dry compression, electromagnetic pulse, pulsed magnetic filed system therapy, hand walking trails, automated horse walking system, large and quiet surroundings grass or sand paddocks and much more.

Markus Waterhues - We care about horses!

For further information or any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Markus Waterhues or the FEI veterinarian Dr. Martin Hinrichsen immediately.