Lucy Makepeace Equine Osteopathic & Rehabilitation Practitioner.

07/09/2026

6 years ago today I embarked on my Osteopathy journey to up skill my already busy clinical practice of many years.
So many good friends and colleagues along the way and across the globe 🙌

My true passion is assessment and rehabilitation and I will continue to take this as far as I can.

‘You see things that others don’t’ is a comment I’ve received from leading Equine Vets.

Keep raising your own bar and compete against yourself only to be better than you were yesterday. 💪

06/09/2026

I’ve recently come across a case where, in my professional opinion, a horse should have been referred to a vet for further investigation, but instead had continued to receive treatment from another therapist.

It’s situations like this that reinforce something I feel very strongly about, knowing when to treat is just as important as knowing when NOT to treat.

As a therapist, we ALL have a responsibility to recognise when something falls outside our scope, when the clinical picture doesn’t make sense, and when veterinary investigation is the appropriate next step.

As an owner, it is completely reasonable for you to ask if the therapist is appropriately qualified for this problem and would they be happy to refer the horse to a Vet if required.

Good therapists and professionals don't need to have all the answers all of the time, however good therapists will know who to refer to and be able to communicate with them if needed.

They need to be able to recognise their limitations, ask the right questions, and collaborate with veterinary professionals when needed.

For me, true clinical excellence isn't about proving that I can treat everything, It’s about doing what is right for the horse, even when that means saying, “This needs a vet.”

The horse comes first. Always

30/08/2026

Although in its very very early stages of research, this is so interesting and fingers crossed could, although a lot of work to be done, eventually lead to something really promising 🙏

🦴 Could osteoarthritis one day be treated at its source, rather than simply managed?

🔬Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have identified a potential new approach that could change how this progressive joint disease is treated in the future. 🐶

🐴The early findings are promising, particularly given how commonly osteoarthritis affects older horses and dogs. However, the research remains at a preclinical stage, and any treatment is still some way from becoming available.

So, what have scientists discovered, and could it eventually lead to therapies capable of slowing or even reversing the disease process?

Read the full story on Animalweb ➡️ https://askanimalweb.com/rvc-research-identifies-potential-new-approach-to-treating-osteoarthritis/

29/08/2026

We must move beyond just saying something is restricted or a certain muscle is tight.
I want to know ‘why’ is this area restricted,? what is the horse compensating for? What does it mean for functionality and longevity?

We MUST consider that if a pathology is present, where is the pain? How is this affecting movement by creating compensatory patterns? Do we have correct strength and stability and ultimately can the horse achieve what we are asking of it in the most effective way ? 🤷‍♀️

28/08/2026

A post from the heart tonight after a full on day.
People often think I have a dream job, I mean in my eyes, I absolutely do. I love everyday and I truly love all your horses.
Some people have the perception that it's easy driving round the county, rocking up at a yard and talking horse to someone. What some people don't understand is everything that goes on away from the yard.

*Speaking and liasing with vets for consent to treat and also an update of clinical findings on challenging rehabilitation cases that we are involved in (my absolute favourite thing!)
*Speaking and liasing with other professionals to try and find the best solution as a team for your horse
*Clinical reports to be completed every night for every horse I have seen that day
*Clinical reports emailed to clients and vets if requested
*In depth research on clinical cases as I have the privilege of seeing a lot of these currently and although I have covered a lot, I always want to ensure I'm as up to date as I can be to aim to answer your many questions
*Ensuring that I meet and understand clients expectations so that you are as informed as you need to be for the long term treatment and management plan. If you dont understand, then I've not done my job properly
Many of my fellow practitioners will be the same as me and work over and above the normal 9 to 5 job, however we do it for the absolute love of your horses. Always striving for the best for you and them within the parameters that we have.
I think I'm lucky, as I have the best clients in the County and beyond, all striving and aiming for the highest possible standard of care for their horses, so thank you and have a wonderful Bank Holiday 🫶🫶

27/08/2026

Thinking of the special horses today, the ones that teach us the most.
The ones that require 'out of the box' thinking.
The ones that didn't ask to be failed by humans.
The ones that really require true empathy to really understand what they are trying to tell us.
The ones that have been through unimaginable pain, but still trust humans and still do their best in their environment...
To all the special horses that are no longer with us, and to all the ones that are still here, teaching us and striving us to do, and be the best human they could ask for and for giving me the drive to always be an advocate for them. Here's to the special horses. ❤

26/08/2026

Those that have known me well over many years, do I step way out my comfort zone and put myself forwards for something and put myself out there for my career 🫣????

25/08/2026

Sometimes when I come to assess your horse for their appointment, my clinical based assessment may highlight to me a potential problem that would require a vet assessment and no treatment from myself.

Now, I may have thoughts on what may or may not be the problem, however I am not qualified to diagnose and neither is any other bodywork, massage therapist, physio etc and I’m hearing that more and more therapists are ‘diagnosing’ what is wrong!!!

Your horse does not need to be lame for me to refer back to your vet. Ultimately we aim to find a problem and fix it as part of a team before the horse starts to show any significant discomfort.

So please understand if I request a referral back to your vet, it is due to me having your horses comfort and welfare as my top priority and it is the correct and appropriate course of action even if it has been treated by someone else who says it’s fine 🙏

22/08/2026

Rehabilitation is not simply treating a tight or sore area or maybe giving an exercise sheet. It is a progressive clinical process that connects the Veterinary Diagnosis with the whole horse, its biomechanics, current ability and potential future.