Equine Therapy Centre Opens (19/11/2009)
A Joint venture with The College of West Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University sees the opening of a state-of-the-art spa centre for the treatment and fitness of horses as part of the new equine studies degree. The official opening on the 18th November was performed by Sharon Hunt, an Olympic bronze medallist in equine eventing together with her horse Tanker’s Town. The opening ceremony involved a ribbon cutting to formerly open the Therapy Centre together with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
The new centre houses a range of equipment to tackle horse injuries and restore overall fitness and muscle tone including an aqua treadmill, solarium and equine hydrotherapy spa. Alison Barber, Cambridge Campus Director said, ‘This technologically advanced facility will promote and assist with the recovery, rehabilitation and fitness of horses, enabling our students to explore both the science and the practical application of the latest techniques in the equine world.’ 
Tackling injuries is one of the highest priorities of horse owners; equine rehabilitation is a recurring theme within the modules of the new equine studies degree programme. ‘The equine students will not simply observe the equipment in action, but graduate with a comprehensive understanding of and expertise in operating the state-of-the-art equipment in the unit’, says Professor Michael Cole, the Head of the Department of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University.
Dr Marian Bond, who developed the curriculum said, ‘Horses are athletes, and, as such are exposed to many of the same strains and injuries that plague human athletes, and respond to therapies commonly applied to human patients. Hydrotherapy spa has a long history as a successful treatment for injury and inflammation and the provision of an Aqua Treadmill will allow students to gain expertise in the operation of this sophisticated piece of equipment. With it they will learn the techniques to re-educate gait, balance and proprioception, improve strength, flexibility and stamina and restore a normal range of movement in a range of horses.’
Olympic bronze medallist Sharon Hunt is excited by the provisions being made ‘The College of West Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University are developing a fantastic new facility which is badly needed in this area. I have to travel miles to be able to use this type of equipment which I would use routinely to keep my event horses in top condition.’
While the Centre has been developed primarily for the education of the equine students, and their clients will be mainly yard horses rather than injured equine athletes, there is a vision for the Centre. ‘In time, it is hoped that the Centre can be opened for squad training and performance testing for regional or national squads interested in maximising their performance in international competitions,’ said Alison Barber. ‘We are also keen to establish relationships with local vets to enable the centre to be used for post surgical, after injury and return to training care.’
