Strained Tendons in Horses

When a horse strains a tendon, it is a very serious injury that can cripple it for life if not treated properly. You cannot know too much when it comes to informing yourself about the injury of a strained tendon. In order to treat the horse for the best possible outcome, knowledge is key.

  1. Function

    • The tendons in a horse's leg are very much like steel cables, keeping all the parts working together as a whole and locking the muscles and bones into a steady, working force. Running lengthwise along the bone, the tendons form the connective tissue between the muscles and the bone itself. When the leg endures pressure, the tendons stretch and also absorb the force of the blow as the hoof impacts the ground. When a tendon is strained-or "bows"-it loses functionality, as well as causing intense pain.

    Types

    • There are a wide variety of strained tendon injuries in horses. A mild strain can be caused from a misstep, or a bad landing from a jump. A true bowed tendon most often occurs in racehorses. The worst, a torn tendon, can happen from a trauma or other severe accident. The prognosis for tendon injuries can be everything from a few weeks off work to permanent lameness-depending on the severity of the injury.

    Identification

    • The most obvious sign of a strained tendon is immediate and acute lameness. The horse will favor the leg and may not be able to put any weight on the affected leg at all. There is usually no bleeding or outward sign of injury, but swelling will become intense, and there will be heat in the joints around the injury. The only way to correctly identify the injury and its severity is to have a veterinarian examine and X-ray the horse.

    Time Frame

    • When treating a strained tendon, healing time can range from a few weeks, to years, to never. Tendons are tricky and do not respond in the same fashion as either bone or flesh. Some horses may make fast recoveries where the tendon heals completely, some may heal and then reinjure the same tendon as soon as it is used heavily again. In the case of a strained tendon, erring on the side of caution is the best practice for a horse. The most common treatment is complete rest. Pasture turnout after the initial healing is a must. Time, rest and patience, along with water therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs, can help heal the injury.

    Misconceptions

    • A common misconception about a strained tendon is that once the horse is healed, it is better than ever. Even healed, the tendon will have been "stretched" and will be prone to re-injury. It will be necessary to wrap the leg and brace it with liniments, protective bandages and other preventative measures to maintain soundness. When you have a horse who has injured a tendon, never take the horse's soundness for granted.