Evidence-based approaches to managing and rehabilitating tendon injuries in sport and working horses.
Tendon rehabilitation is a critical welfare challenge for athletic horses, as the extended recovery period required for quality healing creates significant welfare costs from prolonged confinement and exercise restriction. The financial pressure on owners to return horses to work before complete healing is a major driver of re-injury, which causes additional suffering and often ends careers. Evidence-based rehabilitation protocols that balance appropriate loading with controlled progression have dramatically improved outcomes, but require owner commitment to extended timelines and regular veterinary monitoring.