It's normal for horses to come out a little stiff, especially after hard work or time off, but when does "just a little stiff" become something more serious? Here is how owners, trainers, and riders can understand the difference between normal muscles fatigue and early signs of tendon or ligament strain.
What Normal Soreness Looks Like
Mild soreness after intense work or a long haul isn't unusual, especially in performance horses. This kind of muscle fatigue usually presents as:
- Slight stiffness that improves with movement
- Mild sensitivity over large muscle groups (like back or hindquarters)
- Overall evenness, both sides feel the same
- No heat or swelling in the limbs
- A horse that still wants to move forward
If your horse is simply body sore, they usually loosen up within a few minutes and return to normal within 1-2 days with rest and light activity.
Red Flags That Point to Soft Tissue Strain
Soft tissue injuries, especially in tendons and ligaments, can start as subtle lameness. And because they don't always cause immediate, obvious lameness, early signs are often overlooked.
Watch for:
-
Heat or puffiness in the lower limb, especially around the tendons
-
Localized sensitivity–your horse reacts or flinches when you palpate a certain spot
- Intermittent or inconsistent lameness
- A stride that feels "stuck" or "short"
-
Reluctance to move forward or pick up a certain lead, as well as missing lead changes suddenly
-
One leg feeling or looking different than the other
These are signs that a tendon or ligament could be under strain, especially if the horse is coming back into work, has recently increased their workload, or has a history of previous soft tissue injury.
Why Early Action Matters
Soft tissue injuries will not improve with "just a few days off." In fact, ignoring the early signs of strain can allow micro-damage to turn into a full blown injury.
Early intervention can mean the difference between a few weeks of rest and a full season on the sidelines.
Even if you're not sure, it's worth treating early signs of strain with the same seriousness as an obvious injury.
What to Do if You're Not Sure
If you're questioning whether it's soreness or something else, take these steps:
-
Monitor daily. Look for changes in swelling, heat, stride, and lameness.
-
Use cold therapy as a preventative tool for inflammation.
-
Back off workload for a few days and see how your horse responds.
-
Call your vet if symptoms persist or escalate, ultrasound can detect damage long before external symptoms.
And most importantly, consider supporting your horse's soft tissue from the inside out.
How Tendonall Helps
Whether your horse is showing mild signs of strain or is just working hard, Tendonall offers proactive support where wraps and rest can't reach.
Formulated by veterinary professionals, Tendonall helps strengthen tendons and ligaments, promote healthy collagen structure, support repair and recovery, and reduce the risk of small issues becoming big injuries
It's an ideal tool for horses in hard work, those coming back from time off, or those showing early signs of soft tissue fatigue.
Is It Soreness or the Start of a Soft Tissue Injury? How to Tell the Difference
It's normal for horses to come out a little stiff, especially after hard work or time off, but when does "just a little stiff" become something more serious? Here is how owners, trainers, and riders can understand the difference between normal muscles fatigue and early signs of tendon or ligament strain.
What Normal Soreness Looks Like
Mild soreness after intense work or a long haul isn't unusual, especially in performance horses. This kind of muscle fatigue usually presents as:
If your horse is simply body sore, they usually loosen up within a few minutes and return to normal within 1-2 days with rest and light activity.
Red Flags That Point to Soft Tissue Strain
Soft tissue injuries, especially in tendons and ligaments, can start as subtle lameness. And because they don't always cause immediate, obvious lameness, early signs are often overlooked.
Watch for:
These are signs that a tendon or ligament could be under strain, especially if the horse is coming back into work, has recently increased their workload, or has a history of previous soft tissue injury.
Why Early Action Matters
Soft tissue injuries will not improve with "just a few days off." In fact, ignoring the early signs of strain can allow micro-damage to turn into a full blown injury.
Early intervention can mean the difference between a few weeks of rest and a full season on the sidelines.
Even if you're not sure, it's worth treating early signs of strain with the same seriousness as an obvious injury.
What to Do if You're Not Sure
If you're questioning whether it's soreness or something else, take these steps:
And most importantly, consider supporting your horse's soft tissue from the inside out.
How Tendonall Helps
Whether your horse is showing mild signs of strain or is just working hard, Tendonall offers proactive support where wraps and rest can't reach.
Formulated by veterinary professionals, Tendonall helps strengthen tendons and ligaments, promote healthy collagen structure, support repair and recovery, and reduce the risk of small issues becoming big injuries
It's an ideal tool for horses in hard work, those coming back from time off, or those showing early signs of soft tissue fatigue.