About Me:
Born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2015 to attend the physical therapy program at Belmont University. I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2018 and soon after completed the Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner program at UT Knoxville. I am also a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and spent some time teaching adaptive riding lessons prior to becoming a physical therapist.
Since graduating from physical therapy school, I have pursued additional education in equine bodywork, barefoot hoofcare and composite shoeing, equine nutrition, and positive reinforcement training in an effort to provide the most holistic care possible for my clients.
I currently live in Dickson, Tennessee with my husband and our 4 horses, 4 cats, 2 dogs, and some chickens.
Why Physical Therapy ?
Physical therapy is the standard of care following injury, surgery, and neurological disease in human medicine. I believe the same should be true for horses!
Physical therapy combines bodywork, modalities, and targeted exercises to reduce pain and restore function to get you back to doing the things you love!
In addition to facilitating recovery from injuries, physical therapy can prevent future injuries, decrease pain without the need for medications or injections, and remove the need for costly and invasive surgical procedures. I will work with you and your veterinarian to develop a plan tailored to your goals and your horse’s specific needs.
Physical therapy can also help solve many common equine behavioral problems. Issues spanning from biting to bucking and rearing are often rooted in pain and physical dysfunction. With a thorough assessment, we can find and target the root of the problem.
Because I was trained in human medicine first, I am uniquely qualified to assess and treat equestrians, too! I understand the unique fitness needs of equestrians and the intricacies of the interactions between horse and rider. I can help you improve your seat and the clarity of your aids, or get you back in the saddle after an injury. I apply my tools as a therapist to help you improve your riding technique and identify ways in which you might be blocking your horse from his full potential. Unfortunately, we are often the underlying cause of our horses’ asymmetries, and vice-versa!
If physical therapy sounds like the right choice for you and your horse, please contact me today!
