Returning horses to work after joint injury or surgery requires carefully graduated exercise programmes. Appropriate rehabilitation prevents re-injury and maintains long-term joint welfare.
Joint and soft tissue injuries cause pain that is not always externally visible. Horses stoically continue working despite discomfort, relying entirely on their handlers to provide appropriate rest and graduated rehabilitation. Premature return to work — driven by economic pressure or competitive goals — causes re-injury, prolonged recovery, and potentially career-ending damage. Adequate rehabilitation requires time investment and veterinary guidance that owners sometimes seek to abbreviate. The welfare case for full rehabilitation is also the economic case — horses that are properly rehabilitated return to soundness more reliably than those pushed too quickly. Physiotherapy integrated into rehabilitation improves outcomes for both welfare and performance.