Tendonitis

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon. It can be acute or chronic, with varying degrees of tendon fibril disruption.
Tendonitis usually appears after fast exercise and is associated with overextension and poor conditioning, fatigue, poor racetrack conditions, and persistent training when inflammatory problems in the tendon already exist.

Symptoms

Common in

Treatment

Initial treatment in the 10-14 days after an injury usually involves:
Box rest, ice application or cold hosing two to three times daily and/or application of kaolin poultice, bandaging to immobilise the limb, anti-inflammatories aid in the reduction of swelling and provide pain relief.
Cases also have been treated with shock wave therapy, intralesional injection of fat-derived stromal cells or cultured bone marrow−derived mesenchymal stem cells, or platelet-rich plasma products. The levels of evidence for these modalities are variable.
Controlled exercise is the most important aspect of recuperation and treatment. Your vet will provide you an individual plan to help your horse which will likely start with hand-walking whilst on box rest with gradual increases over a period of 6-9 months.

Prevention

It is essential to train on good quality terrain in order to maintain your horse’s tendons and ligaments. Regular exercise with a good warm-up beforehand is also a good way of reducing risks.
Make sure you feel your horse’s legs and particularly the tendons regularly, especially during intensive training or unusual exercise. If you have any doubts, ask your vet for advice.