Sarah Cruickshank

Sarah Cruickshank is Director & Principal Physiotherapist at Vetphysio Limited & VSA Physio (Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa), & is one of the leading veterinary physiotherapists in New Zealand.

Sarah founded Vetphysio Ltd in early 2009, being the first full time veterinary physiotherapy business in NZ... & this has grown from strength to strength, with a mobile & clinic based equine service covering greater Auckland & the Waikato, & a small animal clinic based from The Strand Veterinarian in Parnell, Auckland City.

In 2016, Sarah set up VSA Physio as part of the Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa Sylvia Park hospital, with outpatient & inpatient physiotherapy, rehabilitation & hydrotherapy services, & this has grown to physiotherapy services to also include the Auckland West hospitals, & now at VSA Christchurch.

Other Achievements;

• Accredited physiotherapist for horse & rider with Vittoria Panizzon (ITA) at two Olympic Games (Beijing 2008 & London 2012)

• Official Event Physiotherapist at Blenheim International Horse Trials (UK) (2007)

• Worked with elite clients (both rider & equine physio);

  • Badminton, Burghley, Blenheim, Weston Park, Gatcombe Park, Chepstow Horse Trials, UK

  • NZ Eventing Physiotherapist in 2019 & travelled with the team to the Adelaide International 3 Day Event, Australia

  • NZ Eventing Physiotherapist at Puhinui 3DE, Taupo

  • NZ National Championships (Eventing, Dressage & Show Jumping) & the Horse of The Year Show annually (2009-2020)

• Travelled to Australia multiple times to treat Group 1 winning racehorses, such as Silent Achiever, during their Australian campaigns

• Team Physio for the Paw Blacks (NZ Dog Agility Team) competing at the Australian Agility Nationals (2016)

• Attended & spoken as guest lecturer at a number of international conferences

Sarah's qualifications include;

• Master's of Science Veterinary Physiotherapy (MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy) with Distinction - Royal Veterinary College of London (2007)

  • Sarah was the first New Zealander to qualify as a Vet Physio & graduated top of her class.

  • Sarah was awarded joint first place & the project prize for her thesis on the musculoskeletal structure & function of the thoracic limb of the racing camel.

• Bachelor of Health Science (BHScPhysio) - Auckland University of Technology, NZ (2003)

• Member CSP (UK),

• Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT Category A - Overseas) (UK),

• HCPC (UK)

• FEI Permitted Therapist

• Founding Member & Chair NZAVPA,

• Founding Member & Secretary Australian & New Zealand Animal & Veterinary Physiotherapy Association (ANZAVPA)

• Member SEPNZ

• Member IAVRPT

• Clinical Educator for PGDip/MSc level international veterinary physiotherapy students

• Member of Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ)

• NZ Physiotherapy Board registered (NZPB)

www.vetphysio.co.nz www.vsahospital.co.nz