Treatment Options for Tendon Injuries in Horses

Rest

The most important thing to do in the event of a tendon injury is to rest immediately (box rest)! Further injury can only be avoided in the acute phase by relieving the strain on the tendon.

Cooling

Cooling with water, ice or cooling ointments also prevents further injury in the acute phase: the cold alleviates pain, reduces swelling and prevents further bleeding into the injured tissue. Using cooling gels and ointments under compression bandages is a particularly effective method of achieving a deep cooling effect. The bandage helps the active ingredients penetrate deep into the tissue instead of evaporating into the environment. Cooling therapy boots can also be a useful aid during the acute phase.

Heat

Once the acute phase has passed, it is important to promote blood circulation in the horse’s leg. Heat is particularly effective for this purpose and can be administered in various ways. One option is to use warming compresses made from bandages and ointments/pastes. These are heated in a hot water bath and then applied to the damaged tendon.

Therapy Boots

Warming therapy boots and bandages can also stimulate blood circulation through deep heat. Boots with ceramic fibres that absorb body heat and reflect it back as infrared heat are a good option here. Magnetic therapy is also often used for tendon injuries to support the self-healing process.

We’ve summarised which therapy boots are suitable for tendon injuries in horses for you in a PDF. You can find more info in our guide on therapy boots.

Compression bandages for horses are a good way to make it easier and faster to get rid of toxins and prevent swelling from coming back. The compression can help improve the flow of lymphatic fluid, which is especially important when the horse is on box rest.

Massages & Physiotherapy

Massages are beneficial for horses and can also be an alternative to conventional treatments for tendon injuries. Carefully stroking and rubbing the horse’s legs stimulates lymphatic fluid and blood circulation and facilitates the removal of toxins. This is an important aspect during box rest.

Careful stretching, as instructed by the vet/equine physiotherapist, is also important during the recovery phase. Prolonged box rest can cause the horse’s muscles to shorten and tense up, leading to painful compensatory postures. Stretching and loosening the neck and back muscles relieves tension and keeps the tissue supple.