Breed: Irish Sports pony
Joie is a 13.2, 10yr Irish Sport Pony gelding.
On July 10th 2015, in Devon, Joie was turned out with Thorn and another gelding, Ted. On the other side of some electric tape was our mare, Dazey. The horses managed to get through the tape and were all together. I noticed this had happened but the horses were all being sensible. I went into the field to remove the Arc from Thorn who was wearing it at the time. At this moment Joie and Dazey suddenly started a fight. Neither backed down and I was powerless to stop it. When it did stop, Joie pulled away and was obviously hurt. As I lead him out I discovered he had been cut twice on his off hind, the lower wound, at the splint bone, half way between hock and fetlock, was actually a ruptured artery.
The vet came and he had stitches to the stifle area and also to the ruptured artery. He had x-rays that showed a broken splint bone leaving a floating piece.
He had to be x-tied for 2 days, bandaged and had to have antibiotics for the wounds and box rest was advised. I put the Arc on him from day one.
His wounds healed really quickly and the swelling was down in two days.
He was bandaged from stifle to fetlock and this was changed every 3 days. This came off on August 3rd. He was allowed hand grazing for 5-15 mins a day as his rehab progressed. He was barely lame, but a bit stiff, from the onset of the injury.
From August 7th, stitches were out and the bandage removed. More x-rays concluded that the bone was knitting and not causing any concern and he was brought back to gentle walking in hand, then ridden, just 15 mins a day. On 16th August he came off the Arc.
On the 26th August he had a check from the vet, he was not lame and all wounds had healed.
We returned with him to London after the school holidays and he came back into full work. Visits from both Physio and chiropractor showed no lingering problems.
By the end of October 2015, Joie was back doing pony club rallies, jumping to 85cm and doing arena eventing. My daughter then gave up riding in May 2016 and he was loaned for 6 months and then this October he was sold to a new family. He remains sound and happy. A tiny lump around 50p size remains where the splint bone was broken and a few white hairs. The stifle wound has left no scar.
More recently I used the Arc on my new horse after he suffered a bump in my horse-box, whilst travelling and the swelling reduced overnight and did not return.
I have used it on myself for a bad shoulder and it has relieved symptoms too.
I do often recommend it but don’t ever want to suggest that I think it will work for all ailments and some people are rather sceptical and can have negative comments to make so I am cautious with what it should be used for…I neither want to damage my status, your reputation or any horses health where the Arc may not be the best rehabilitation aid?
However all that being said, it has worked for us! I think it is a great piece of kit. I’m glad we had it recommended to us and have Ann to thank for that.