Horse Tendon Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

Tendon injuries are among the most significant causes of suffering and career-ending injury in performance horses and require careful management.

Key Facts

The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is most commonly injured in jumping and racing horses
Tendon injuries result from overload, fatigue, and accumulated microtrauma rather than typically a single acute event
Re-injury rates are high — up to 65% in racehorses — due to incomplete fibre regeneration and altered biomechanics
Platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and controlled exercise rehabilitation are current standard treatment approaches
Ultrasound monitoring during rehabilitation allows objective assessment of healing and safe return to work timelines

Welfare Considerations

Tendon injuries cause acute and chronic pain and represent one of the most feared complications in performance horse management. Inadequate rehabilitation — returning to work too soon or at too high an intensity — leads to re-injury that compounds suffering. Horses forced back to competition before genuine healing are at high risk of catastrophic failure. Conservative, evidence-based rehabilitation protocols are a welfare imperative.

What You Can Do

Follow evidence-based rehabilitation programs under veterinary and physiotherapy guidance after tendon injury
Use ultrasound monitoring at regular intervals to guide return-to-work decisions objectively
Reduce training loads appropriately during periods of heavy competition or wet, deep going that increases tendon strain
Invest in proper warm-up and cool-down routines that support soft tissue health over a career