Appealing Stella's racing career was almost over before it began. The mare was set to enter her first race in Miami when she was diagnosed with a fractured coffin bone. Cindy Nassal of Stonecliff Farm Thoroughbreds, owner of Stella, enlisted the forces of The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center to get the mare back on track.
Swimming rehab therapy for horses
Appealing Stella’s racing career was almost over before it began when she was diagnosed with a fractured coffin bone, but her owner enlisted the forces of The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center to get her back on track.
© 2013 by The Sanctuary
"Her time at The Sanctuary is what got her on the road to recovery," says Nassal. "We'd sent her to Miami to train with Jane Cibelli and she was ready to go, until she kicked the wall of her stall and fractured a coffin bone. The prognosis was a major fracture and in addition to a bar shoe and at least six months rest, the veterinarians suggested nerving the foot to remove all feeling in it."
Nassal turned to The Sanctuary in Ocala, knowing its reputation as one of the finest equine athlete rehabilitation centers in the world that offered multiple modalities that could help the mare's body heal, including Electromagnetic Pulse Therapy to encourage knitting of the fractured bone and Coldwater Leg Spa to rebuild her soundness from the ground up.
Ten months later, Nassal's mare was back at the track and finishing in the money. At Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes on September 21, carrying 117-lbs. under jockey Elvis Trujillo, Appealing Stella placed in just over 1:16:41 behind My Pal Chrisy.
“The Sanctuary delivered the therapies she needed to recover. Now Stella is competing against horses valued at half a million dollars and holding her own. It's wonderful to see her run,” said Nassal. Appealing Stella's career statistics now boast 17 starts with five wins and earnings of over $185,000.
General manager at The Sanctuary, Brenda McDuffee stated, “The Sanctuary is proud of the success it has earned over the years helping to rehab horses. Just like human athletes, our horses deserve to be in the best condition so that they can train to the top of their game.”
In addition to Electromagnetic Therapy, The Sanctuary offers an Above-Ground Aqua Treadmill, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Laster Therapy, The Transpirator II and Solarium Therapy. Learn more about its range of services at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.
Tom Grabe()
The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center