Endurance Horse Overcomes Injury To Dominate Endurance World Thanks To Treatment At The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center
Ocala, FL (July 18, 2012) – An 8-year-old Arabian gelding is continuing his winning Endurance career – a career that was almost cut short by a devastating injury – thanks to treatment at The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. Lisanne Dorion, of Morning Glory Farm in Morriston, Florida, owns SH Sur Trad, known as Flash, and is thrilled to “have her horse back” thanks to The Sanctuary, a state-of-the-art center dedicated to the healing and conditioning of equine athletes.
“Flash had a ruptured peroneus tertius, the muscle that runs down the front of the gaskin between the stifle and the hock, in 2010 and while he was clear of the acute phase of the injury when I went to The Sanctuary, the rehab process was going in fits and starts because of so many secondary effects of the long road to recovery,” Dorion said. “He had severely atrophied glutes, overdeveloped hamstrings, lack of core strength, so many things that were keeping him from getting better.”
Dorion is happy to report that after Flash’s treatment at The Sanctuary, Flash has joined the long list of Sanctuary success stories. “We used the Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill during his therapy at The Sanctuary and I am happy to say that his career is back and he is better than ever.”
Dorion said Flash was bred for endurance, but his future success came to a halt when he was injured. “I was told that it was a career-ending injury,” she said. Proving that you can’t keep a good horse down, Flash defied the odds with the help of The Sanctuary. “A little over two years after the injury Flash competed in one of the most difficult endurance rides in the country and he was the second FEI horse in the 50 miler. I know The Sanctuary played an important role in this young horse’s life. The next question I can’t wait to answer is how far can this horse go in the world of Endurance.”
Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary, said the entire staff is thrilled that Flash has recovered and is competing again. “We get very attached to these horses, and the owners, when they are going through rehab at The Sanctuary. So when they have success, we feel like we are right there riding along with them. We are so happy for Flash and Lisanne and can’t wait to see what Flash will do in the future.”
Dorion said she was so pleased with the Aqua Pacer that she started using the treatment on two of her other horses. “It is a fantastic compliment to other cardio conditioning and for soft tissue development,” she said, adding that she would recommend The Sanctuary to all horses in need of rehab as well as to those looking to ‘prehab,’ or prevent injuries. “The staff at The Sanctuary works with you to come up with modalities and treatments that fit you and your horse. If your goal is to obtain the best outcome for your equine, then a trip to The Sanctuary is a must.”
The Aqua Pacer is an above-ground underwater treadmill with a revolutionary design that allows for much safer, more effective exercise than comparable machines. The Aqua Pacer provides 40-60% buoyancy while giving the horse an easier range of motion than traditional exercise. The mild impact of the underwater treadmill stimulates additional bone and cartilage growth while allowing for a low-impact, full-body exercise with natural resistance that is lighter on legs and joints.
“The Aqua Pacer is a much safer alternative to post-surgical hand-walking, with reduced risk of recurring injury, better healing and a speedier return to normal activity. The lack of concussion and controlled movement makes it an excellent intermediate step before proceeding to full weight-bearing exercise. It is the perfect exercise when low impact conditioning is needed,” McDuffee said, adding that the goal of The Sanctuary is to have every horse in their care return to the top of their game.
In addition to the Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill, The Sanctuary also features: a Cold Saltwater Leg Spa; an Equine Vibration Plate, an Equine Swimming Pool – a 110 foot long, 14 foot deep inline pool with therapeutic water; a 5/8 mile race track; two Eurocisers with therapeutic tracking surface – one under cover and one outdoors; Solariums; Temperature-controlled veterinary inspection areas with semi-surgical lighting, and rubberized surfaces in most areas.
Photos: A Sanctuary Success Story: Flash, owned by Lisanne Dorion, is once again competing, and winning, in the world of Endurance after successful treatment at The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. (Photo courtesy of Nick Goldsmith Photography)
For more information contact:
Tom Grabe
The Sanctuary Equine Sports
Therapy & Rehabilitation Center
1-352-369-HEAL (4325)
