Ask three things: where did you train and what qualification do you hold, are you fully insured, and will you work with my vet? Equine and physical therapies are loosely regulated in Ireland, so a recognised qualification, insurance and a vet-aligned approach are what set a professional physiotherapist apart.
In Ireland, almost anyone can call themselves an "equine physio", because the title is not protected for animal work. That is why it makes sense to ask a few questions before letting someone treat your horse.
Why it pays to check
Para-veterinary physical therapies are not tightly regulated in Ireland. There is no single licence that guarantees competence, which means the title alone tells you very little. The good news is that a few straightforward questions quickly separate the properly trained from the rest.
What the titles actually mean
Part of the confusion is the titles themselves. "Physiotherapist" and "Chartered Physiotherapist" are protected in law, but only for treating people. Add "equine", "animal" or "veterinary" in front and that protection disappears, so the title alone is no guarantee of training. It helps to know who does what:
- Veterinary or animal physiotherapist: trained to postgraduate level (PgDip or MSc) in veterinary physiotherapy. Assesses movement and treats with manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation. This is Grace's tier.
- Equine sports massage therapist: usually a shorter course focused on soft-tissue massage and maintenance. Valuable for comfort, but not the same breadth of assessment, rehabilitation or treatment.
- "Physical therapist": a loose, often informal label. It may sit behind a real qualification, or it may not, so it is worth asking what is behind it.
- Equine chiropractor: focuses on spine and pelvis manipulation. Best practice is for them to be on a recognised animal register and to work with your vet.
None of these is "bad". They are different jobs with different training, and for an injury or a real problem you want a qualified equine physiotherapist, working alongside your vet.
Recognised qualifications and registers
To verify someone, look for a postgraduate qualification in veterinary physiotherapy and membership of a recognised body: in Ireland, IRVAP (the Irish Register of Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists), and more widely NAVP, ACPAT or RAMP. Membership signals real training, insurance, and a commitment to working under veterinary referral.
The questions worth asking
1. Where did you train, and what qualification do you hold?
Look for formal, recognised training: a postgraduate diploma or degree in veterinary or animal physiotherapy, ideally built on a relevant science background. A weekend course is not the same as a postgraduate qualification.
2. Are you fully insured?
Professional indemnity insurance is a basic mark of a serious practitioner, and it protects you and your horse if something goes wrong.
3. Will you work with my vet?
A good physiotherapist welcomes vet involvement and will liaise on diagnosis and rehabilitation. Anyone reluctant to involve your vet is a warning sign.
Grace's credentials
For full transparency, here are Grace's: a postgraduate qualification in Veterinary Physiotherapy from ARU Writtle University in England, one of the recognised routes into the profession, built on a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science. She is fully insured, and she works alongside your vet as a matter of course. The science background is not a detail; it is what underpins an evidence-based, individual plan for your horse rather than a one-size treatment.
A note on titles: Grace is a qualified equine physiotherapist by training. In Ireland the words "vet" and "veterinary surgeon" are protected for licensed veterinarians, so she does not present herself as a vet. The qualification describes how she trained; the care is physiotherapy.
Questions about qualifications?
Ask Grace anything. Good practitioners are glad to be asked.