🐎 Rehabilitation of Tendon Injuries in Horses: Vet-Supported Recovery in 2025 🧠🩺

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Tendon injuries are among the most frustrating—and unfortunately, most common—setbacks in performance horses. Whether your horse competes in jumping, racing, reining, or dressage, the demands placed on the lower limbs can easily lead to tendon strain or rupture. In 2025, advances in diagnostics and structured rehabilitation give us a better chance at full recovery—but only if time, patience, and science are followed. 🧬🐴

🧠 What Are Tendon Injuries?

Tendons are the thick, fibrous cords that connect muscles to bones. In horses, the most commonly injured tendons include:

• 🔹 Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
• 🔹 Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)
• 🔹 Check ligaments and accessory tendons

Injuries typically occur in the lower limb due to high concussive forces and overextension. These injuries range from mild strains to complete fiber rupture and often involve hemorrhaging, inflammation, and weakening of the tendon’s structure. 🦵💥

🔍 Diagnosis: Why Ultrasound Is Essential

Dr Duncan Houston emphasizes that an ultrasound exam within the first 48 hours of injury is critical. This initial imaging provides a baseline to assess:

• 📉 Severity of the lesion
• 💧 Presence of bleeding or fluid buildup
• 🧬 Location and size of fiber disruption

Without this data, it's impossible to develop a personalized recovery timeline or determine whether surgical intervention is needed. 🩻📋

🔪 When Surgery Is Considered

In some cases, especially when bleeding occurs within the tendon core, tendon splitting may be recommended. This involves:

• 🔪 Making a small incision to release trapped blood or fluid
• 💉 Promoting improved healing and oxygenation of tissues

An ultrasound will help your vet decide whether this option could benefit your horse. Surgery is not always necessary but can accelerate healing in specific scenarios. 🏥

📆 Why Time Matters: The 6-Month Rule

While your horse might appear sound after 30 days of stall rest, returning to work too soon is a major mistake. According to leading sports medicine vets, tendons need a minimum of 6 months to repair. 🛑

During this time:

• 🛏️ Stall confinement is critical to prevent reinjury
• 🚶 Controlled hand walking (1–3x/day) prevents stiffness and adhesions
• 📸 Repeat ultrasound every 30–60 days ensures healing progress

There is no fast fix—no supplement or injection will replace rest and structured rehab. ⏳

📋 Structured Rehabilitation Plan

A good tendon rehab plan includes:

1. 📆 First 60–90 days: Strict stall rest with hand walking
2. 📸 Recheck with ultrasound at 30-day intervals
3. 🔁 Increase walk time gradually based on healing progress
4. 🏃‍♂️ After 3–4 months: Introduce trot work on straight lines (if approved)
5. 🐎 Return to canter or full training only after confirmed healing (usually 6–12 months)

Always tailor this to your horse’s injury and temperament. Patience is key. 🧘‍♂️

🧬 Modern Therapies: PRP, Stem Cells, and More

In 2025, regenerative therapies are increasingly used to enhance healing:

• 🧪 Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Concentrates healing factors from the horse’s own blood
• 🧬 Stem cells: May help regenerate damaged tendon fibers
• 💉 IRAP: Anti-inflammatory protein therapy to reduce scar tissue

These are often injected directly into the tendon lesion under ultrasound guidance. They do not replace rest but may improve the quality of healing. 🔬

⚠️ Why Monitoring Is Critical

Without rechecks and imaging, owners often overestimate healing based on how the horse appears or feels. This leads to re-injury—often worse than the original. ⛔

Tendons heal with scar tissue, which is less elastic and more prone to tearing if overloaded too soon. 📉

📲 Ask A Vet for Rehab Support

If your horse is recovering from a tendon injury, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet App for custom rehab guidance, video consultations, and diet recommendations. 📱🧠

Dr Duncan Houston and the team offer personalized timelines and can help interpret your ultrasound images and recovery benchmarks. 🐴💬

🏁 Final Thoughts

Tendon injuries are serious but not career-ending if handled correctly. In 2025, horses have better chances than ever at full recovery—but only with early diagnosis, disciplined rest, and structured reconditioning. 🩺💪

Don’t rush. Trust the process. Your horse’s future depends on what you do in the first 6 months. For support, education, or rehab coaching, visit AskAVet.com today 🐎🧠