| Every time the horses hoof comes into contact with | | | | The horse should be removed from work to prevent |
| the ground, the tendon is required to stretch. At speed | | | | any additional, potentially damaging, overloading of the |
| or over jumps this is increased up to 8cm, (Nankervis | | | | limb. Healing rates for tendon injuries will vary |
| 2002). The tenocytes within the extra cellular matrix | | | | dependant on severity. |
| run parallel to one another. The ability to aid cell | | | | A survey carried out by Hertsch et al claimed that |
| realignment will aid the functional capabilities of the | | | | 78% of all horses treated returned to work within 4 - 6 |
| tendon after injury. | | | | months. This trial did not record lesion size or severity. |
| Tendon elasticity and its ability to function as an energy | | | | The need for this continual rehabilitation of tendons is |
| efficient spring, is vital for optimum performance in the | | | | crucial for the horse and their ability to return to racing. |
| National Hunt racehorse. Tendonitis can be caused by | | | | Tendons require rest to remodel but exercise in order |
| a trauma or by the repetitive overloading, for example | | | | to retain their elastic qualities. |
| a galloping horse, of the flexor tendons in the caudal | | | | Despite treatment, tendon repair is prolonged in horses |
| aspect of the distal limb. Inflammation can be acute or | | | | and the composition, structure and function of the |
| chronic, both resulting in the horse not being sound for | | | | mature repair tissue may never equal that of an |
| exercise. Signs of tendonitis include swelling, pain, and | | | | uninjured tendon, (Heinninger; 1994). The potential for |
| lameness. The ability to offer immediate first aid can | | | | re-injury is much greater once a tendon injury has |
| influence the prognosis for future performance, as | | | | been sustained, (Heinninger; 1994) which can, if the |
| tendonitis is a potentially serious career compromising | | | | management and approach to future performance is |
| disease, (Palmer et al; 1994) first aid should be offered | | | | not sympathetic to this, cause major compromise to |
| immediately to enhance the rate and quality of repair ( | | | | the future career of the National Hunt racehorse. |