About Me: Georgina Lewis

Georgina Lewis

I qualified as an osteopath in 2014, graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University with a Master of Osteopathy degree (with distinction) and winning the Dean's prize for Excellence in Osteopathy. I started my osteopathic career working for Paul Cairns in East Yorkshire. In the Autumn of 2017 I relocated to Devon and started my own practice treating people, horses and dogs, as well as the occasional cat. I am able, and willing to consider, treating other animal species - please enquire.

Since qualifying I have undertaken postgraduate training in cranial osteopathy, osteopathic treatment of babies, animal osteopathy and kinesiology taping as well as self directed study to expand my osteopathic knowledge.

Animal Osteopathy

Once I qualified as an osteopath, I then gained a postgraduate qualification studying with world renowned animal osteopath Stuart McGregor at the Osteopathic Centre for Animals in Wantage. The course taught me how to apply osteopathic examination and treatment techniques to animals, particularly horses and dogs. The course also included modules on equine and canine anatomy, pathology, behaviour and gait.

This knowledge is supplemented by my first degree, a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science from Bristol University. This gave me a thorough grounding in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, equine anatomy, equine physiology, gait analysis and biomechanics, equine health and husbandry, parasitology, equine behaviour and nutrition.

My Interests and History

I was very lucky to grow up on a farm surrounded by dogs, cats, horses and a variety of different farm animals. Over the years we've had cattle, sheep, rare breed pigs, wild boar, and a selection of hens, ducks and geese! After graduating from my first degree I worked on the family farm including our farmers market business selling rare breed and traditional meats.

I have been around horses all my life and competed in a variety of different Pony Club competitions including Tetrathlon, where my team the Middleton Hunt Pony Club were three times national champions. I have competed in British Eventing at Novice level, and as part of my Equine Science degree I was lucky enough to spend 3 weeks work experience at the Event Yard of Ian Stark in the Scottish Borders.

My interest in sport does not stop at riding events. I was involved in all school sports, took up fencing and competed in Modern Pentathlon. I was awarded my Sporting Colours at Bristol University, having been a member of the 2001 BUSA (Universities) Championship-winning Ladies Fencing Team.

I am a keen (but not particularly fast!) runner, competing in trail running events, and love all water sports including swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding. I've also competed in Triathlons. It is therefore paradise for me to be located in the South Hams near Start Point. The dogs and I enjoy runs along the coast path (they make excellent personal trainers, always wanting to go a little further) and I love all time spent on or by the water.

How do my experiences affect my osteopathic approach to animals?

My lifelong experience with animals on the farm and my competitive background help me to understand the stresses and strains of getting a horse or dog ready for competition - the training, fitness work, preparation - and that's not even counting the stress of competition day itself!

Let osteopathy become a tool you use to help your dog or horse train and compete to its very best. It's not uncommon for owners to spend a lot of time and money on getting an animal ready for competition, only to be let down by a minor niggle affecting the horse or dog's performance on the day of competition. Osteopathy can be used to help in recovery from injury, to resolve physical strains from training, and to identify and treat minor restrictions that if left untreated could cause more serious problems in the months and years to come. How much easier would it be to prepare a horse or dog for competition if the animal was feeling at its physical best?