Tendon injuries are common in sport horses and cause significant welfare suffering through pain, prolonged rehabilitation, and high recurrence rates that threaten horses' future soundness and working lives.
Acute tendon injury causes pain from the inflammatory response and structural disruption that may be severe enough to cause three-legged lameness. The welfare of horses with tendon injuries extends over the entire prolonged rehabilitation period — often more than a year of controlled exercise restriction that is psychologically frustrating for active horses. The high recurrence rate associated with rushed or inadequate rehabilitation means many horses cycle through repeated injuries with associated pain and progressive tendon degeneration. Owners and trainers must resist the temptation to return to work before ultrasonographic evidence of adequate healing. The horse's welfare requires prioritising sound rehabilitation over training schedules or competitive pressures.