Breed: Irish Sports

The first time we came across the ArcEquine was when it was recommended to us by Ann Lodygowski from Devon after our 16.2 Irish Sport Horse Thorn, was written off by Rossdales in Newmarket.

We bought the horse privately, in May 2014. He was then 10yrs old with a history of eventing to BE novice level with success.

He was bought for my 15yr old daughter to event.

After he came to us he won the first competition, showjumping on grass, in June. Two days later i lunged him on surface and he was lame on the off-fore on a right hand circle but not on a left circle.

I was going to Devon for the summer so got my vet there to check him over in July. They lunged him on hard and soft and suspected that the front lameness came from hind suspensory and sacroiliac issues. They suggested he go to them for scanning.

Scans of suspensories showed minor left hand deterioration but slightly worse right (off hind) deterioration. They suggested injections and also to have his sacroiliac done as they said, in the long term, to have them both done at the same time would reduce the rehabilitation.

Whilst attempting to medicate his back, they did a pre-anaesthetic, which tracked down his off hind. He lost sensation, resulting in panic. As he was standing in the stocks they decided to fully anaethetise him to reduce the risk of serious injury. He was lifted to a recovery bay, where he was monitored and recovered enough 2 days later to have his back medicated.

We spent from July to October rehabilitating him and bringing him back to ridden work. However, on a circle (right), he still maintained the right fore lameness.

Back in London, I asked my London vet to examine him. He suggested an MRI with Rossdales. They discovered torn lateral collateral ligaments in the off fore. Their suggestion was that he had no ridden future and should be destroyed or turned away permanently. I returned him to Devon and turned him away.

Ann Lodygowski mentioned the Arc when I approached her to ask about any supplements or treatments he may benefit from whilst at grass.

We started using the Arc in October 14. He was on the unit until January when I then relocated him back to London because the gel had caused an inflammation on his leg (we had not been aware that we were supposed to do alternate legs daily, so the gel had caused him to get a sore).

We had another vet workover and he was still slightly lame so we medicated his coffin joint.

We brought him back to full work, but after a xc clinic he was quite lame so I decided not to jump him any more and only did flat work. My daughter did not have the time to be able to rehab him and fit her studies in and be able to get out competing fully, before she got to her A levels… I decided to loan him to a hacking home (October 15) and instructed them to continue with the Arc, gentle work and no circles or jumping for at least a year.

From spring this year he has been declared sound by the physio treating him at his loan home. They have had no further issues. She has now purchased Thorn and owns him outright. She has done a bit of polework and small grid jumping and he remains sound. We are hopeful of him continuing to remain so and be able to aim at some unaffiliated jumping in the next couple of months.