Mum changes her life by becoming veterinary physiotherapist

Jade Walsh, 35, grew up in Baildon and Wrose, and has always loved animals, competing ponies with her sister until she was 17-years-old.

As an adult, Jade joined the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, first in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps supporting dogs and later working with the Queen's horses.

While pregnant with her daughter Mila in 2017, Jade started training to achieve her dream of becoming a veterinary physiotherapist.

Jade has spoken of how her life has changed (Image: Submitted)

But in 2019, Jade found herself a single mum and moved back to Wilsden to be close to family support while she figured out how to support herself and then one-year-old Mila.

She said: "I grew up with animals and my whole life has been devoted to helping them. 

"I had always dreamed of being a veterinary physiotherapist, but I needed to do something to establish myself while training , so I set up my dog grooming business in the garage of my home."

Jade converted her Wilsden garage slowly to a cosy and well-equipped grooming treatment room - and the business took off, with dog owners travelling from around Yorkshire to access her high-quality services.

And in 2021, Jade decided to take the plunge and continue to follow her dream, completing her veterinary physiotherapy studies after training with leading practitioner Wendy Vaughan.

Jade said: "Wendy, who taught me, is very experienced and knows all the answers. 

"I had some experience of working for myself because of dog grooming, but it is daunting when you qualify.

"Even after I qualified Wendy has been on hand to help and support me which has been amazing."

Jade's new start took an unexpected turn, however, when she broke her ankle in a riding accident just 12 months after completing her training.

"I had always thought I would work with horses mainly once I had finished my studies, but due to the injury I started with dogs as I could see them from home and wouldn't have to travel," she said.

"Dogs also helped me through a very challenging time in my life - they show so much gratitude when you help them too. 

Dogs helped Jade through a difficult time in her life (Image: Submitted)

"I now have two shops opposite each other now, one for grooming, one for physio.

"I have clients visit both shops - if they feel their dog is unhappy while grooming I will check for pain and our amazing dog groomer also knows how to check too. The companies very much work together and work well for clients too.

"With dogs you work with vets and owners and there are a lot more orthopaedic conditions which I find so rewarding and mentally challenging.

"I think everything happens for a reason and in a way having that accident set me on the right path," she added.

Jade's Body Restore Physiotherapy and Fresh Paws businesses are now booming, and she is thrilled with the amount of flexibility that it gives her to have adventures with Mila, who shares her love of animals.

Speaking about the transformation in her relationship with work, Jade said: "I just feel so grateful. 

"I always knew I was going to work with animals, but this has given me a dream salary and the ability to be flexible and see Mila grow up.

"I can take almost all of the school holidays off and we can have adventures and travel.

"I want her to see by my example that work is not only about the nine to five.

"It's about having a passion for the work you do.

"Mila has grown up with animals and is so interested in what I do. 

"She used to get in the bath with the dogs when she was really tiny.

"Now she’s so knowledgeable at six-years-old and she knows the anatomy of the dog and says that she wants to be a vet.

"We were at Bolton Abbey once and she went over to a family whose dog  was limping.

"She had elbow dysplasia - and now they have become a client.

"It's been amazing to bond with her over animals and it's a shared passion."