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FEATURE ARTICLE
Veterinary Physiotherapy - working with the animal athlete Sarah Cruickshank, Veterinary Physiotherapist Director & Physiotherapist Vetphysio Ltd & VSA Physio (Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa) MSc (Vet Physio, Distinction, RVC London), BHSc (Physio, AUT) Board registered Physiotherapist NZ & UK (HCPC), MPNZ, MCSP ACPAT Category A (Overseas), Chair & founder NZAVPA Graduated AUT BHSc Physiotherapy 2004 Graduated RVC MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy 2007 I was so young when I announced that I was going to be a Vet, no one seems to remember how old I was - certainly under 5, all through my childhood I was determined that that would be my career path. Apart from a brief
moment when I wavered at age 4 - I came home from kindy in 1984 having made ‘gold metals’ after watching Mark Todd and Charisma win Olympic gold in LA, and I proudly announced I was going to be Charisma when I grew up. But the Veterinarian dream persisted. I set up Vet clinics in the basement under our house; practiced suturing my soft toys and was obsessed with animals, in particular dogs and horses. I was also obsessed with Land Rovers and announced that I was going to be a Vet in Africa and drive a Land Rover. Interesting convictions for a little girl growing up in central Auckland! It took years for me to persuade my parents to relent and allow me to have a pony, (apparently I was the equivalent of water torture - drip, drip, drip…) and I have been heavily involved with equestrian sport ever since. When I was 13 I had a life changing moment, my new eventing horse had a sore back, bucked me off and the Vet’s prognosis was 6 weeks off and some pain relief. I was devastated. It was the beginning of the competition season and 6 weeks off is NOT what you want to hear. A friend suggested an ‘equine physio’ she had heard of, and to my Mother’s amusement
we tried it. My highly strung horse, who hated men, and was highly suspicious of any human in overalls smelling of disinfectant loved her, and I remember thinking my horse loves this - I want to do this! She gave me a set of exercises to do, recommended I have the saddle checked and I was back in the saddle in under 2 weeks and had a long term partnership with this special horse for 21 years. This experience was pivotal, I promptly announced that I was going to be an Equine Physio, and drove my school careers advisor crazy for the next few years of high school as she was unable to help me find a suitable pathway. Unfortunately, when I interrogated the lady that had come to see my horse, it turned out she had worked for a physio in the UK (one of the ‘gurus’ who was one of the first physiotherapists to shift their skills to animals), but sadly she wasn’t actually a qualified physio. Frustrated, I embarked on a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy & Physiology at Otago University, still desperate to find a career pathway into equine physio. In my second year, my Father contacted Bristol University regarding an equine course, and they explained that the Royal Veterinary College was launching a world first - a Masters of Science in Veterinary Physiotherapy. So I promptly charged my phone card (yes this was the late 90’s), and called London. The degree sounded amazing, and I could apply from NZ. I could hardly contain my excitement. But then at the end of the conversation - the game changer. You had to be a ‘human’ physiotherapist first. So back to the drawing board, I had to complete my BSc before applying to the Otago Physio program, so I took my chances with AUT and thankfully was accepted. I embarked on a further 4 years in addition to the two I had already completed, and although I had moments of frustration where I just wanted to get straight into the animal physio, I did enjoy the degree. The RVC insisted on 2 years clinical experience, so as soon as I had my CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >>
