Specialised Sport Horse Services

We have a dedicated team of four specialist sport horse clinicians who work with horses and ponies competing at any level across all equestrian disciplines. In addition to diagnosing and treating existing injuries, our clinicians can work with owners and trainers to help optimise their horse's fitness and ensure any potential problems are detected early.

Sport and Exercise Medicine

Sport and exercise medicine is a branch of equine medicine and orthopaedics that deals with exercise-related injuries and provides support to the equine athlete competing in all equestrian disciplines. It is particularly concerned with:

• Optimising physical fitness
• Preventing and early detection of injury
• Monitoring healing
• Formulating rehabilitation programmes

Most sports injuries are usually musculoskeletal in origin (i.e. bone, muscle, tendons and ligaments). However, sports medicine can also include some chronic medical causes of poor performance in horses, such as cardiac, airway and gastrointestinal conditions.

Although we see a large number of elite competition horses, any horse or pony competing or exercising at any level can sustain these types of injuries and our extensive range of diagnostic techniques, treatment and therapies are available to all.

Our Sport Horse Team

Andy Bathe is a clinical director and is our senior Sport Horse Clinician. He has many years’ experience as a team vet in showjumping, eventing and dressage, so he knows what it takes to keep horses competing at a high level. He is involved in surgery, as well as lameness and poor performance cases.

Sarah Boys Smith is also a clinical director and a highly experienced member of our team. She specialises in lameness and poor performance cases, as well as surgery, and is renowned for her patient approach in the diagnosis of problem cases.

Dr Rachel Murray joined us in 2019 from the Animal Health Trust. She has led many studies investigating sport horse injuries, training and poor performance. She is regarded as a leading authority on equine MRI.

Mariana Castro Martins is another clinical director and has a background in showjumping. She enjoys working with riders and trainers to help optimise the performance of their horses throughout their competitive career. She has a special interest in regenerative medicine and advanced diagnostics.

We utilise a team approach, integrating with other colleagues specialising in imaging, surgery, dentistry, medicine, ophthalmology and dermatology, as required. 

Specialised Ambulatory Service for Sport Horses

We also offer a comprehensive ambulatory service specialising in orthopaedics and optimising performance, including mobile radiography, ultrasound and shockwave therapy.

This mobile service for all types of sport horses complements the specialist diagnostic services available at our hospital, which include MRI, CT, bone scanning, echocardiography and overground endoscopy; as well as our extensive surgical facilities.

For more information about any of our sport horse services or to refer a case, contact Rossdales Diagnostic Centre on 01638 577754.