Horse Tendon Injury Management and Return to Work

Tendon injuries are common in performance horses and require extended rehabilitation that presents ongoing welfare challenges throughout the recovery period.

Key Facts

Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are the most common tendon injury in racehorses
Tendon injuries involve pain at the time of injury and during the inflammatory healing phase
Complete healing requires 12-24 months of controlled rehabilitation
Box rest during the acute phase causes significant behavioural stress in active horses
Controlled exercise through the rehabilitation programme maintains tendon fibre alignment
Re-injury rates are high - up to 50-80% of horses with SDFT injuries in some studies
Ultrasound monitoring guides rehabilitation progression and identifies re-injury risk
Platelet-rich plasma and stem cell treatments show promise for improved healing outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Tendon injuries cause acute pain and require extended rehabilitation that creates ongoing welfare challenges. The sudden restriction from active work to box rest causes frustration and stress in horses adapted to regular exercise. Extended confinement can trigger stable vices and anxiety. Pain management during the acute phase, graduated turnout as healing progresses, and provision of social contact throughout rehabilitation address these welfare needs. Honest prognosis discussion with owners prevents premature return to work that risks re-injury.

What You Can Do

Follow veterinary rehabilitation protocols strictly rather than returning to work before the ultrasound confirms healing
Provide appropriate pain management throughout the acute injury and rehabilitation phases
Use Kohnke's approach of gradual turnout introduction to reduce box-rest stress
Maintain social contact during rehabilitation through shared turnout with quiet companions
Consider the horse's quality of life honestly if repeated re-injury prevents pain-free work