Horse Tendon Injury Rehabilitation

Tendon injuries are common, serious, and welfare-relevant in performance horses; long, disciplined rehabilitation maximises recovery and prevents reinjury.

Key Facts

The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is most commonly injured in racehorses and showjumpers.
Tendon injuries cause heat, swelling, and pain in the palmar pastern region.
Tendon tissue heals slowly through scar tissue that is mechanically inferior to the original tendon.
Controlled exercise programmes using hand walking progressing to ridden work over 6-18 months optimise fibre alignment.
Ultrasound monitoring guides return-to-work decisions by assessing lesion healing objectively.

Welfare Considerations

Acute tendon injuries cause significant pain — affected horses are lame and unwilling to weight-bear. The extended rehabilitation period (up to 18 months) involves prolonged box rest punctuated by controlled exercise, which is stressful for horses that are highly motivated to move. Pain management with NSAIDs is appropriate in the acute phase. Rehabilitation welfare requires balancing therapeutic exercise with the horse's physical and psychological needs during extended confinement. Horses on box rest require cognitive enrichment, social contact, and turnout alternatives (a paddock walk) to reduce frustration. Premature return to work before adequate healing is confirmed by ultrasound is the primary cause of reinjury.

What You Can Do

Follow a vet-supervised rehabilitation programme for any horse diagnosed with tendon injury.
Provide daily in-hand grazing and visual social contact for horses on box rest rehabilitation.
Schedule serial ultrasound examinations to objectively guide return-to-work progression.
Resist pressure to return an injured horse to work before healing is confirmed — reinjury sets recovery back significantly.