From Tragedy to Triumph: Jonquil’s Journey Back to the Saddle
Jonquille’s Story
“I’m a 26-year-old riding instructor and horse trainer, and unfortunately, a horse fell on me a couple of years ago. I broke my femur, severed my artery. It was a really nasty accident, and I was bedridden for several months.
Got back on my feet again, but I wasn’t able to go back to my job because I need both legs to be able to ride horses. I’m very active to be able to look after a horse, carry things, lift things. You need to be very strong, and it’s hard physical work. So it was very difficult for me to do that. In fact, I had to go and work back in an office for nine months.”
Challenges Post-Injury
“It was only from Apos® that I managed to go back to my profession. I did wonder if I would get back there. The pain was unreal.
It hurt when I walked for a long period of time and it hurt when I lay down for a long period of time.
Sleeping was really, really difficult. I’d sleep for an hour, and I’d be up. I’d move around. Sometimes sleeping sitting up would be more comfortable. Lying on the floor with my knees up—it really, uh, really impacted my life, and I was very, very depressed because I didn’t think I’d get back to what I loved, which was being with the horses.”
Discovering Apos®
“I discovered Apos® nine months after my injury, and as soon as I put them on, there was a smile. There’s the freedom, the liberation—that’s the best way to describe Apos®.
I’m now back to my competing. I was partway through an eventing season when I had the accident and was riding four or five horses every day and competing in one-day events. Now I’m back to my competing. I’m out every week again, riding four to five, if not more, horses every day, which is great.”
Life After Apos®
“And I’ve also been able to go back skiing—something I haven’t done for quite a while. But thanks to Apos®, I’m now back up and running. I’m out with my friends. I’m able to dance again, something else I couldn’t do.
Like I said, I’m competing with the horses—back to my normal life. I wear them all the time. They’re so easy to use.”
