Soft tissue injuries are all too common, especially in athletic horses. Running, jumping, turning, stopping, and even collection can stress the body’s soft tissues, which include ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Ranging from inflammation, bruises, and strains to tears and ruptures, soft tissue injuries can sideline horses for weeks to months and even years, depending on their severity. Others can force a horse into retirement. To help our readers better understand soft tissue injuries, we combed our content library to find our top resources on the topic.

ARTICLE: Treating Equine Soft Tissue Injuries  A veterinarian describes conventional and alternative therapies for helping tendons and ligaments heal. READ MORE 

ARTICLE: Tendon and Ligament Injuries in Older Horses  Geriatric horses often suffer tendon and ligament injuries for reasons unique to their age group. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Detecting Soft-Tissue Injuries in the Hoof: Ultrasound vs. MRI  Ultrasound is a useful screening tool for assessing some deep digital flexor tendon lesions, but it could cause veterinarians to underestimate navicular bursa and collateral sesamoidean ligament lesions. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Diagnosing and Treating Equine Muscle Injuries  While not frequently diagnosed, equine muscle injuries can cause pain, lameness, and poor performance in horses. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Tips for Returning Horses to Work After Soft-Tissue Injury  Tailored rehab plans and frequent veterinary checks are just two pieces of the rehabilitation puzzle. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Tips for Rehabbing Soft Tissue Injuries in Horses  Successful treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis and good knowledge of the therapeutic options available. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Tips for Managing Suspensory Disease  Suspensory ligament disease, a leading cause of poor performance in horses, can be challenging to manage. READ MORE

ARTICLE: DDFT Injury, MRI, and Medical Treatments   An accurate diagnosis with MRI can play a significant role in a horse’s long-term return to activity after DDFT injury. READ MORE

ARTICLE: Equine Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath Injuries  Digital flexor tendon sheath pathology can be difficult to diagnose and treat successfully. Here’s a look at Dr. Florent David’s approach, which he presented at the 2019 NEAEP Symposium. READ MORE

SPONSORED CONTENT: Birth-Tissue-Derived Biologics for Equine Medicine  Birth-tissue-derived products rely on an array of mediators produced by amniotic cells that, acting in concert, may provide a range of beneficial clinical effects for healing tissues. READ MORE