Tendonitis develops when the fibres that a tendon is composed of are strained or torn, either through being overstressed or from trauma. As the horse’s body attempts to heal the injury, it causes swelling and heat – the classic signs of inflammation.
This condition is a common problem for competitive horses, said Dr. Aimie Doyle, professor in Large Animal Surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College. Working at speed is a major risk factor. For racehorses, the incidence of tendonitis is reported to be about 43 per cent, but dressage, jumping and eventing horses also have high rates of injuries to tendons. Dr. Doyle noted that western performance horses may be at increased risk for tendonitis depending on their specific activity. For instance, activities with quick starts and stops such as cutting or reining would be at higher risk than those without, such as barrel racing or calf roping, where more chronic ligament injuries or osteoarthritis tend to be more common. “Any veterinarian working with equine athletes will see this injury with some degree of frequency,” she said.
Tendonitis is a serious condition. It can cause severe pain and lameness for the horse. Even worse, more than 60 per cent of horses that develop the condition will re-injure themselves within a year, either in the same spot or a different tendon. That’s why a focus on prevention makes good sense.