Professional Development
ABOUT LEAH
Leah is a Sports and Equine Therapist based in Bedfordshire UK, working with horses and riders from all disciplines. A keen low level event rider and horse owner, Leah is passionate about performance regardless of level or discipline.
Leah's career as a Sports Therapist started in 1994, specialising in performance optimisation and soft tissue manipulation, working with professional and non-professional sports people alike in both the clinic and competition settings.
Over the years Leah has gained an enormous wealth of experience involving a wide range of sports.
Working for many years with international level competitors in both team sports, such as basketball, and on a more focussed, one-to-one basis, with world ranking athletes in sports varying from world superbike motorsport to trampolining.
To achieve optimum results for the clients in her care, Leah draws on her plethora of skills and qualifications. These range from medical acupuncture, kinesiology taping and various electrotherapy modalities to sports nutrition, exercise prescription and sports massage.
Alongside her hands-on work, Leah has previously lectured for many years in sports massage and soft tissue injury treatment and rehabilitation to BTEC ND II standard, as well as guest lecturing at the University of Hertfordshire to postgraduate Healthcare Professionals.
After a lifetime’s passion for horses, in 2010 Leah decided to transfer her human skills to equine to work with the ultimate athlete - the horse. Leah trained with the world renowned Chartered Physiotherapist, Mary Bromily to achieve an internationally recognised ITEC qualification in Equine Sports Massage.
Leah now mainly works with horses, but has a healthy belief in treating the rider too as she feels they are two parts of a whole, with the rider and tack being majorly influential over the physical performance of the horse.
As a keen horsewoman herself, Leah is fully aware of the stresses and strains the sport puts on the rider's body, and the importance of building physicality both in and out of the saddle to achieve optimum results.
Leah is passionate about continuing her professional development, attending many hours of lectures and courses annually as well as taking time to shadow other professionals within the equine sphere.
You will more often than not find her on a rare evening off with her nose wedged well and truly into the latest research articles of cutting edge reports.
2020 CPD
Lumber spine, decision making, care and management of injury - James Langdon (Human)
Equine Exercise Rehabilitation
WHO Prevent Covid Procedures
WHO Standard precautions: Hand Hygiene
Prevent Covid
Exercise Rehabilitation (Human)
Back Pain and Red Flags (Human)
Stroke Rehabilitation (Human)
Achilles Tendinopathy (Human)
Lateral Hip Pain, Assessment and Management (Human)
Taping for Musculoskeletal Conditions (Human)
Rehabilitating Knee Ligament Injuries (Human)
Exploring the Psychological Aspects of Sport Injury (Human)
2019 CPD
Rider Symmetry, Assessment and Treatment - Andy Thomas (Human and Equine)
Horse, Saddle, Rider Asymmetry - Sue Dyson (Human and Equine)
COPA 2019 - Europe's Leading Event for Rehabilitation Professionals (Human)
Equine Performance Conference - Bishops Burton (Human and Equine)
Scar Therapy - Sharon Wheeler (Human)
Therapy Expo - (Human)
2018 CPD
Equine Performance Conference (Human and Equine)
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Lectures on injury and rehabilitation, performance horse nutrition, rider biomechanics and equine
behaviour among others
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Practical demonstrations in coaching and therapy
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Opportunity to catch up on the latest industry relevant research
COPA 2018 - Europe's Leading Event For Rehabilitation Professionals (Human)
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A lecture series presenting current research developments in sports medicine and rehabilitation
Latest Tack and Training Aids (Equine)
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Review what’s new in the world of tack
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Review different types of bridles, bits and their use
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Discuss the different types of training aids and their use
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Discuss different types of saddle, pads and girths suitability for the horse & rider and type of work
undertaken.
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Consider the welfare implications of tack and its use
Optimising Equestrian Performance (Equine)
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Research colloquium and Biomechanics Demonstration
Taping for Musculoskeletal Conditions (Human)
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Skills refresher
First Aid Course (Human)
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FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) – Equestrian Specific Supplement
PREVIOUS CPD
Rocktape Equine
SMS Introductory Saddle Fitting Course
Equine Nutrition
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
ITEC Diploma Equine Sports Massage
IIST Diploma Sports Therapy
Medical Acupuncture
ITEC Sports Massage
ITEC Anatomy, Physiology & Massage
IIHHT Aromatherapy
Reflexology
Indian Head Massage
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Equine Sports Massage Association
Sports Therapy Association
FEI
Leah has been nominated by an FEI registered Vet and completed the relevant examinations to be approved by the FEI to attend to horses at all national and international FEI events.
INSURANCE
Full insurance cover is maintained for both human and equine practice.
A Copy of current certification can be produced upon request.
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION
Any client personal data that is stored is for the core purposes of this business solely and will not be shared.
VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT
To comply with this Act, Veterinary consent is sought and obtained prior to any Equine treatment commences, other than routine visits.