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Legalities Of Equine Massage Therapy
The Veterinary Act 1966
Treatment of animals within the United Kingdom is governed under
the ‘Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966’, of whose primary intent
is to make
provisions for the management of the veterinary profession. The
Act makes provision to prevent non-veterinary surgeons from
practising ‘veterinary surgery’, which it defines as
the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine which
without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing, shall be
taken to include:
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The diagnosis of disease
in animals derived from tests performed on animals for
diagnostic purposes are only performed by a veterinary
surgeon
-
The diagnosis of injuries
to animals including tests performed on animals for
diagnostic purposes are only performed by a veterinary
surgeon
-
The giving of advice based
upon such a diagnosis is only provided by a veterinary
surgeon
-
The medical or surgical
treatment of animals is only performed by a veterinary
surgeon
-
The performance of
surgical operations upon animals is only performed by a
veterinary surgeon
Encompassed within the
‘Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966’, is the ‘Exemption Order
1962’, which
provides an exemption to the general restriction on
practising veterinary surgery by allowing animals to be
treated by physiotherapy provided by non-veterinary
surgeons, provided the animal has first been seen by a
veterinary surgeon who has diagnosed the condition and
decided that it should be treated by physiotherapy under the
veterinary surgeon’s direction. ‘Physiotherapy’ in the
context of the Exemptions Order includes all kinds of
manipulative therapy, including equine massage therapy.
The good reputation of ‘Equine
Holistic Training’ as well as the ‘Code Of
Conduct’ operated and upheld by the N.A.R.E.M.T. recognises,
respects and adheres to the above orders, acts and executions
of professionalism with integrity, care and respect.
Students within Equine Holistic Training are reminded of the need for
horses to first be seen and diagnosed by a veterinary
surgeon who has decided that the horse should be treated by
equine massage therapy under that veterinary surgeon’s
direction. Every member of the N.A.R.E.M.T. operates under the
‘Code Of
Conduct’ ensuring their treatment does not impinge upon, or
into veterinary practice. |
