Readwood Equine Rehabilitation and Livery

✨ New for 2026 ✨
Andrew has very cleverly adapted the ‘dry’ treadmill, and it is now also a weigh bridge.

Now any visitor can see how much their horse weighs with the ease of just walking onto the treadmill. The horses know no different, with no step up, or stepping off the sides possible, it’s very inviting. Especially useful for those coming for a weight loss stay!

Why is our water treadmill different?

💦 The water level is set deeper than you might have seen else where. As you can see in the picture below, Fred is 16.2HH and the water level is set for him mid shoulder level.

💦 Have you ever tried walking in water? The resistance created by the deeper water makes it really good, consistent exercise. Time on the water treadmill will considerably raise your horse’s heart rate. Great for fitness and weight loss.

💦 The water level can be raised or lowered to meet the needs of every horse. Whether that is just for size or a special requirement, as Caesar is shown below working in knee high water at the vets request.

💦 The treadmill is in the ground, often making it less scary putting larger horses in, the horse itself finds it less intimidating and they are at a safer level once they are in.

💦 The water level is usually set at a compromise between deep enough for maximum buoyancy and low enough so the horse can still get its head down and work with a rounded back.

💦 The buoyancy is great for injury recovery, as a horse can exercise effectively and limbs can experience a full range of motion whilst putting minimal weight through them. Brilliant for tendon/ligament recovery- not to mention the cold water therapy!

💦 Anther reason the deep water is beneficial is because of the overall shape it encourages the horse to make. Water buoyancy raises the thorax and abdomen, further enabling the horse to work with a nice rounded shape and open up the vertebral spaces- great for spinal injury/surgery recovery.

💦 As the treadmill is set in the ground it makes assessing the movement horses are making easier to analyse. Biased movements and stronger ‘sides’ become obvious to spot. We can add boots to help strengthen a particular leg, as the boot makes the hydrodynamics less efficient, therefore making said leg work harder.

💦 The ramp down to the treadmill allows the horses to keep walking onto the treadmill as it starts, they keep walking seamlessly, so no standing still anticipating what is going to happen next.

Hi everybody, this picture made us think that it was about time I introduced myself…
Everybody knows Andrew but you might see a little more of me (Kate) now.
Recently being able to commit more time to the family business in between being an Equine vet, means that I might be around a lot more when you visit the water treadmill.

Hopefully I can bring some vet qualities to Andrew’s already extensive knowledge. I also might be able to keep our social media updated, so everyone can see the hard work we put into these horses and some of the amazing results we see.

It will be lovely meeting everybody I haven’t already met.

Today marks 20 years since the water treadmill arrived at Readwood from America, the first of its kind in the UK we believe.
It’s a wonderful thought as to how many horses have visited us over the years. How many injures we have helped repair, weight loss journeys we have been a part of, fitness plans we have created and how many horses we have helped overcome their fear of puddles!

A big THANKYOU to all of our customers past and present, and here’s to the next 20 years of Readwood rehabilitation!

Afternoon treadmill sessions now available.
Message this page or contact Andrew 07974003726.

We also have a “dry” treadmill that can be set to an incline available for sessions- caters for all shapes and sizes 🐄🙈

Job opportunity- Stable hand/groom

Readwood equine rehabilitation and livery yard has an opportunity available for the right individual to join our team. Due to unforeseen circumstances a stable hand position has opened.

Applicants must be hard working, confident in handling horses and have good people skills, as well as having an eye for detail.

The role is Monday-Saturday, 8am-11am, this would suit an individual with other commitments or someone seeking a part time role. We are looking for someone who can muck out to an exceptional standard as well as keeping the yard and stables tidy. We would love someone to join our team and grow within the business, leading up to working with the rehab patients and exercising horses.

Please contact Rachael with any queries or applications. 07974161992

**To all our customers**

Due to the recent reported cases of equine flu in the area, please ensure your horse is not displaying any symptoms before arrival.

These include:
High temperature, cough, nasal discharge, depression, and loss of appetite.

Thank you for your understanding.

The Horse Gym Treadmill can be raised, so the horse can work on an incline. In this photo the treadmill is set at an incline of (4), maximum being (10)