IT'S not rocket science. If you sit at a desk all day, staring at a computer screen and tapping away at a keyboard, its pretty much odds on favourite that you'll develop aching shoulders and a sore back. Now, being human beings able to sort things ourselves, we can devise exercises and stretches to fend off those aches and pains. We can get up and move about or have a hot bath, and if it gets really bad, we can take ourselves off to a physiotherapist and have a good massage.

Horses can also develop muscular problems, but unlike us, they can't sort them out themselves. What they can do is display behavioural problems, throw their rider, start refusing jumps, or just be generally 'off' - all of which may well be put down to other more sinister problems. Of course, they are not sitting at computer screens, but like us, most lead lives far removed from that if they lived in the wild. They can spend long hours cooped up in stables or travel for hours in a waggon, instead of spending their days being constantly active. They can have ill-fitting saddles strapped to their backs, with perhaps an overweight rider flopping up and down on it. They may be put into the latest severe bit and restrictive reins, designed to put their heads and necks in more 'attractive' positions. Then, they may well race, jump obstacles higher and bigger than they'd do given the option, or schooled for long periods of time in circles, making precise and controlled movements. They may also be asked to carry out such work without first limbering up, or cooling down properly. They may simply be an older horse, or a very big horse, with a selection of old animal's aches, or recovering from an operation or condition. We simply wouldn't do such things without expecting to develop pains - and really, it should come as no surprise that horses can do too. I have a friend who has her veteran horse regularly massaged, and she swears by it - and indeed, he is one of the fittest looking 27 year olds you will come across. Equine veterinary nurse, Sarah Heaton, from Silsden, trained as an equine physiotherapist after receiving treatment herself following a car accident.

Sarah, 33, has spent more than 20 years working with horses, including several in mixed veterinary practice. She was head nurse at an orthopaedic hospital in Cheshire and spent several years teaching at Myerscough College. Now, she teaches part time at Craven College and looks after the horses at its equine department at Skipton Auction Mart.

It was while she was teaching full time that she started to miss what her students were actually going out and doing themselves, and following her car accident, she decided to strike out for herself. She is now gradually building up her clients after starting up her own business in February - and travels all across Yorkshire and Lancashire to treat horses.

Sarah, who has her own ex-racehorse, Starbux, and a 15 year old Jack Russell, Ted, who accompanies her everywhere, is a member of the International Association of Animal Therapists and a member of the Good Vet Guide. Before she even sees a horse, the owner will have had to have received the okay from their vet, and every treatment is followed with a detailed report.

She carries out a variety of treatments, on top of standard massage, such as ultrasound and Kinesiology taping - as used by human athletes.

The taping - in its curious and colourful patterns - can be used to treat pain and ligament and tendon problems, as well as correct posture - in fact, exactly the same as in humans.

Sarah carries out equine - and canine - MOTS, where she will assess the horse, or dog, and treat any problem areas with massage, 'passive stretching' or other mechanical techniques.

She has recently been asked to go along to Somerford Park active rider camps, Cheshire. where she will give ten minute massages, she is also sponsoring horse shows at Eldwick and Silsden to spread the message.

Stretching for a horse is achieved with a tempting treat, such as a carrot, and is very effective, with the horse bending and stretching to reach the tempting treat just out of its reach.

"People generally come to me because their horse is not going forward or performing very well, they might have started refusing to jump. Some symptoms are typical of certain conditions," says Sarah, who has treated horses with conditions including Sacroiliac pain and kissing spines - both of which are increasingly heard of.

She finds some horses take to massage more than others, and surroundings will also make a difference.

"Some really don't like it at all to start with and can kick and bite, but after some red-light therapy, they get used to it and then I can build up the tolerance."

A horse really enjoying a massage will display happy signs - including licking and chewing, flickering eyes and yawning.

Different disciplines will also create different problem areas - with show jumpers its all about muscles at the back legs and rump, while racehorses its all shoulders.

Clients report their horses as being 'more forward going'' following treatment and generally feeling well. One even achieved her best ever score in a dressage test just two days after her first physio session.

Owners also report their horses being more supple and more able to carry out bending work.

"People tell me they really notice the difference and saying their horses are the best they've ever felt, which is really satisfying," she says.

To find out more about Sarah, visit her website at shvphysio.co.uk or her Facebook Page: Sarah Heaton Veterinary Physiotherapy.