Superficial digital flexor tendon injuries are common and serious in horses, requiring prolonged, structured rehabilitation to achieve the best welfare and performance outcomes.
Tendon injuries cause significant acute pain and prolonged lameness. The rehabilitation phase - months of restricted activity and controlled exercise - requires management that prevents suffering from isolation and boredom while protecting healing tissue. Horses in box rest without stimulation suffer psychological welfare costs. Balancing physical healing requirements with psychological welfare needs - through appropriate companion access, enrichment, and carefully graduated exercise - is the welfare-positive approach to tendon rehabilitation.