Sprains in Horses

To facilitate ease of movement, a horse's tendons must be flexible enough to stretch and contract within a range of one to three inches. When a tendon exceeds this linear stress capacity, a tendon injury such as a sprain, strain or rupture can occur. Although all three of these injuries share similar characteristics, each has distinct characteristics that determine the type of treatment and recovery. A veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate course of action.

  1. Definition

    • The severity of a horse sprain depends on the number of ruptured tendon fibers.

      A horse sprain is a mechanical disruption of fibrous tissue, such as the ligament or joint capsule, caused by overstress. In most cases, swelling is evident shortly after the injury and the immediate area will feel warm to the touch. Sprains can range from mild to moderate, depending on the number of ruptured tendon fibers.

    Diagnosis

    • A horse will react immediately to a sprain and will be noticeably lame when walking a straight line and when turning; when a minor, slight sprain has occurred, lameness may not be evident. To ascertain if tissue damage is present along an affected tendon, use a palpation technique to feel for heat and swelling. Place your thumb and forefingers around the tendon behind the elbow on the front limb, then move your hand down to the area just above the knee. When trying to detect a sprain on the rear limb, start behind the stifle and move your hand to just behind the hocks. Follow these procedures while feeling the back area of your horse's limbs to the coronary band around the hoof.

    Treatment

    • Horses with sprains should be put in a paddock where their movement is somewhat restricted. Mild sprains can heal within 24 to 48 hours. Keeping the horse from a demanding workout or training schedule is essential for the healing process; physical activity should be kept to a minimum until there are no signs of palpable swelling or heat in the injured area.

      To ensure that your horse has completely healed, heavy training or workout routines with your horse should not be undertaken until a full week after all symptoms have disappeared.

    Re-injury

    • A horse can recover from a sprain with time, patience and a modified workout routine.

      A study conducted by the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, England, determined that the likelihood of re-injury is affected by the nature of the original injury, the healing process and post-injury usage of the affected limb. Re-injury can occur if a horse engages in a level of movement and workout inappropriate for a particular stage of healing. For successful healing, enough movement should be allowed so that the injury has good circulation but the movement should not put undue stress on the injury.