Information Regarding the Tendons and Ligaments of Horses

In horses, tendon and ligament injuries occur frequently; in fact 43% of National Hunt Racehorses in training develop tendonitis at some stage. When galloping, tendons have been shown to be subjected to the maximum amount of stress they can survive and so could theoretically rupture at every stride. Exercise and fattening regimes are important to strengthen tendons and this should be built up over time.

The most commonly affected is the superficial digital flexor tendon which runs down the back of the distal limb just below the skin. If your horse develops any heat or swelling around the tendon area it is important to get advice from your vet immediately and to stop working the horse until the vet has given you the OK. Any heat or swelling is an indication of a problem.

Tendons can become injured from excessive loading and there are other factors which can lead to these such as poor foot balance, uneven surfaces, fatigue, excessive heat and trauma. Trauma is common due to the anatomical locations of the tendons and the close proximity to the surface. Rupture of the flexor tendons can be caused by over reach and if this is likely it is important to consider tendon boots; however these can also cause the tendons to become excessively hot and can also cause problems. There are many types of boots on the market which claim to increase airflow around the leg and therefore reduce the effects of over-heating.

If your horse gets an injury to a tendon then the vet can scan it to find out the extent of the damage. It is important to follow a strict rehabilitation period, which will usually start with box rest and measures to reduce the inflammation such as cold hosing and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. During box rest you could consider massage or physiotherapy to keep the horse supple and try to prevent stiffness, particularly if the box rest is for a long period. The length of time the horse will need on box rest depends greatly on the severity of the injury. The vet will scan the tendon periodically and advise when the horse can begin work again.

Following box rest it is important to control the exercise and turnout to avoid re-injury. Many horses will be over excited at the prospect of being able to race around the field again so your vet may advise a sedative for the first few times to keep them calm. You may also need to walk the horse out in hand to restrict the exercise to a walk and for a limited time.

The most controversial method of repair or prevention of tendon injury is firing (therapeutic thermocautery) or blistering (chemical cautery). Applying heat or chemical to the tendon to cause damage and therefore encourage scar tissue formation. This is still popular in some disciplines such as National Hunt Racing but there is little evidence for its success. In fact research has shown that damaged tissue can never be as strong as undamaged tendons so it would be unadvisable to use this as a method of prevention.

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