Soft tissue injuries involving ligaments and tendons have long been recognized as an important source of lameness in horses. Injuries involving these delicate structures are an important cause of lost performance time and a major source of economic losses. To add insult to injury, after losing valuable training days and performance dates, paying veterinary fees, and hours of TLC, there is a high rate of recurrence.

This article describes the common types of injuries athletic horses incur, explains why these injuries are problematic, and reviews the treatment options currently available for returning athletic horses to their intended function