Dr Vav Simon DC AMC MMCA MCC is Clinical Director of the Natural Therapy Centre for Animals in Ryde.

She started to treat animals professionally over 30 years ago, she has been on the Island for the last 15 years. She has taught on chiropractic courses, and been examiner for the qualification tests.

"It is easy to identify a problem when an accident results in impaired performance due to injuries. But sometimes, subtle problems can cause a change in performance which owners find difficult to pinpoint," she said.

"For example, the effect of a pinched nerve or a slightly misaligned bone can cause the horse not to track up properly and can cause intermittent pain. He will then become unwilling to work at his best. Sometimes the horse will show his owner through changes in behaviour - the less lucky owner may be shown more clearly by the horse who bucks," she said.

Vav pieces together clues from foot balance and conformation, muscle tone and movement, as well as skeletal palpation and reflex testing to find the problem. She will often check the saddle and even watch the rider and horse together, as repetitive behaviours can cause chiropractic problems.

Once the problem is identified, Vav's treatment is fast and gentle, using only her hands.

Her aim is to re-align the bones to straighten the skeleton, which will stop the nerve pinching, remove pain and help muscles work efficiently.

Working closely with farriers and vets, the holistic approach creates a balanced horse who is happy to work at his best.

Vav provides advice on herbs, homeopathy and muscle treatments. She also provides access to a range of herbal remedies and works with an independent visiting specialist vet who uses hi-tech methods for more complex soft tissue injuries.

Many owners prefer to use natural methods of healthcare where possible, and there are lots of success stories to be found here on the Island. For more information see www.ntc-animals.co.uk