An eastern European father, a Yorkshire childhood, 6th form at a boy's school, events officer for Young Farmers, student physiotherapist at Manchester Royal Infirmary during the Yorkshire Ripper years, intrepid pioneer of sidesaddle hunting, commander-in-chief to a notorious political husband - these are just some of the themes that make this new book so compelling. But what really makes this story so remarkable is the author herself, and the focus and determination with which she drew on her experiences to influence her unique and transformative career as one of the county's leading equine physiotherapy specialists. Mirroring the way Katie and her husband tackle life, this book challenges the `rules' to create something refreshingly new. Instead of taking the easy option of writing a book about the evolution of modern equine physiotherapy, Katie has found a bewitching way to envelop it within her own story - her autobiography - as an irresistible means for growing wider interest in this fascinating topic. So, Katie's readers will typically come from two camps - lovers of biography who will relish the page-turning way that she relates her escapades and life-forming experiences; and equestrians (professional and amateur alike) who will eagerly absorb every detail and colour as she describes her experience of breeding, showing, training, hunting and, of course, healing horses. Thus, whilst this is a `horsey' book, the ultimate test will be the number of readers from the biography camp who thoroughly enjoy their dip into the equine world with Katie as guide. And in this book that is a given. The book is so well thought out that by the time the horse novice reaches the treatment descriptions, they will feel that they have known horses all their life. There is a serious vein in the book too. As an expert in her field, Katie has seen the very best and the very worst of equine care. And being a true Yorkshire lass, she calls a spade a spade and may shock some people with some of her astute observations. The hope is that this will also inspire a more responsible and realistic approach to horse ownership and particularly to equine health and injuries. With some beautiful real-life equine photography and a never-before shared insight to a rare but invaluable mode of treatment, all explained in professional but accessible language, this book is a fantastic read for horse lovers and newbies alike. And as with all of the best biographies, by the end you will feel you have known Katie all of your life - and will celebrate that too!

Many horses will, at some point during their lives, suffer hoof problems which, in extreme cases, can cause permanent lameness. So why should outstandingly healthy, hardworking feet be a relative rarity? Performance Hoof, Performance Horse explores the idea that, given the right conditions, healthy hooves are not difficult to maintain and neither do they need much in the way of human intervention, and that the unshod or 'barefoot' horse can be tough, strong and sure-footed. The book offers practical advice on how best to work with a horse with compromised feet in terms of nutrition, surfaces and exercise in order to restore its hooves to optimum condition. Topics covered include: assessing hooves and hoof balance; the pros and cons of trimming; fixing problem feet and, finally, developing stronger hooves.

The breadth and depth of expertise essential for equine veterinary nursing today is provided in this definitive textbook. Thoroughly revised and updated in its second edition, and now fully illustrated in colour. This book covers the content of the ever-expanding equine nursing syllabus, while still succinctly covering all the basics that veterinary nurses specialising in other species need to know. The key subjects included are: basic equine management, medical and surgical equine nursing, nutrition, reproduction and foal care, emergency first aid, and the theory underpinning these and other important topics.

"Equine Veterinary Nursing Second Edition "is presented in a clear and user-friendly manner, appropriate for all those involved in equine nursing. A practical approach is used throughout and procedures are illustrated with a large number of line diagrams and clinical photographs. It is an essential manual for all student and qualified equine veterinary nurses and all those involved in the care of horses.

KEY FEATURESIncludes a new chapter on the equine nurse's professional responsibilitiesMajor revisions to the chapters on diagnostic imaging and surgical nursing to reflect advances in technology and techniquesAll information on health and safety management updated in keeping with new regulationsAuthors include both vets and experienced equine nursesEndorsed by the British Equine Veterinary Association

"With the increasing demands of equine practice has come the need for well trained and competent equine nurses. There have been significant improvements in and expansion of the equine Veterinary Nurse training syllabus over the past few years to meet these demands. This new and updated edition of "Equine Veterinary Nursing" covers all aspects of the new syllabus with well written and illustrated chapters from a wide range of knowledgable and experienced authors. The British Equine Veterinary Association is pleased to endorse this text as a 'must have' for all trainee equine veterinary nurses and their training practices." - Deidre M Carson BVSc(Syd) MRCVSImmediate Past President, BEVA