Tendon injuries are among the most common and career-limiting conditions in performance horses. Evidence-based conditioning and management significantly reduce injury risk and welfare impact.
A tendon injury is a welfare watershed for a performance horse: acute pain at injury, followed by a prolonged recovery period of 12-18 months or more that involves severe activity restriction. The initial injury causes acute lameness and significant pain. The recovery period brings its own welfare challenges in the form of box rest and gradual rehabilitation. Preventive strategies — appropriate conditioning programs, monitoring for early signs of tendon stress, high-quality all-weather surfaces, and avoiding heavy workloads in fatigued horses — can significantly reduce incidence. Surface quality and appropriate training load management are among the most impactful preventive measures.