Careers in the Thoroughbred Industry: Physiotherapist

Kate Hesse has been a chartered physiotherapist for humans for 30 years, and a veterinary physiotherapist for horses for 28 of those, including 20 years as John Gosden’s veterinary physiotherapist, working with well-known horses such as Enable, Mishriff, and Nashwa.

When she’s not with racehorses, Kate works in human private practice, Physioteq at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre, and is a Major in the British Army Reserve. In 13 years in the military, she has twice been mobilised into full-time service, including an operational deployment on Op Shader in the Middle East in 2023 as Officer Commanding of the Light Surgical Group, and a stint at Permanent Joint Headquarters in London in 2021-2022 during the Covid pandemic.

Kate is incredibly well-qualified for her roles with a master’s degree in veterinary physiotherapy from the Royal Veterinary College, a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from Australia, and a postgraduate certificate in preventive cardiology from Imperial College London.

How did you get into the role?

I spent my weekends as a child on my grandparents’ farm in country Victoria, Australia, messing around with horses, so that’s where the passion was ignited.

After leaving school, I took a gap year in 1990 to travel around Australia, then on my return received an offer to study veterinary medicine in Perth, but turned it down in preference to a four-year physiotherapy degree in Melbourne. I undertook the physio degree with the goal of eventually moving into veterinary physiotherapy. In the third year of university, I failed a subject and I had to wait an entire semester to repeat it, but there was a silver lining – a precious opportunity - time. I took a job in the Australian Outback, the Kimberleys, working as a jillaroo (cowgirl) on a remote million-acre cattle station. It was really hard - a baptism of fire at the tender age of 21, but one of the defining experiences of my life. My horse handling skills were catapulted to the next level. They had to be to survive in that job.

After completing my degree, I lived in Germany for a couple of years in the 90s and worked as a civilian physiotherapy contractor with British Forces all over the north of the country. Between contracts, I completed an equine physio course in Bavaria.

I returned to Australia for a few years before permanently moving back to Europe in 2002 where shortly afterwards I began working in Newmarket, initially in association with Rossdale and Partners.

Kate now splits her time between racehorses in Newmarket, human musculoskeletal physiotherapy in Cambridge, and the Army in Aldershot.

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of the job is the bond I form with horses and satisfaction of seeing the difference my treatment makes to them – how they feel and move. I view myself as a small cog in the big wheel of racing, but it’s immensely rewarding. I’m a team player through and through.

What does your standard day look like?

I split my week into two days of racehorses, two days human physio at Physioteq (which includes working with the Cambridge University Boat Club women's team), and one day of Army Reserve.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

This must have been a tough question for Kate to answer as she even worked the sole appointed physiotherapist for Veterinary Services at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. But with a focus on her career in racing, it is getting to work with Enable.

Enable is now a household name but I got to work with her before she was famous, beginning in April 2017 leading up to her first Group 1 win in the Oaks, before we knew just how special she was. It was a privilege to work with her right through her stunning career, until her swansong in the Arc in 2020.

What’s the one tip for anyone who wants to be a veterinary physiotherapist?

Other than the obvious - that you need to love horses and be competent at handling them, I would say don’t take shortcuts with your education and training. Focus on human physiotherapy first, on being the best you can be. This lays solid foundations upon which your veterinary physiotherapy career can be built. Establish an extensive knowledge base, and gain wide-ranging experience treating and managing musculoskeletal injuries in people. This earns you the highest level of respect in this field – from vets, trainers, and owners. It’s a superpower in a very competitive market where career longevity is an ultramarathon. Strive for excellence!

Extra resources 

Please note that unfortunately, Kate Hesse cannot offer work experience. 

Watch the video here 

Find out even more about Kate Hesse via her website here. 

Interested in how to become a Veterinary Physiotherapist take a closer look here.