Tendon and ligament injuries are among the most career-ending and welfare-compromising conditions in sport and working horses. Prevention through appropriate training, footing management, and conditioning offers significant welfare gains.
Tendon injuries cause significant acute and chronic welfare harm in working horses. The acute injury phase involves severe pain and often complete inability to weight-bear; the prolonged rehabilitation period involves restricted movement and isolation that cause psychological welfare compromise for social animals who naturally move in groups. The welfare case for prevention is compelling: well-conditioned horses with appropriate workload progression, good footing, and regular monitoring are substantially less likely to suffer career-ending tendon injuries. Economic pressure in racing and competition drives training decisions that compromise tendons — asking horses to work when fatigued, on poor footing, or at intensities that exceed their conditioning level. Welfare-centered training management treats tendon protection as a priority, not just a concern when injury has already occurred.