When a horse shows a subtle front-end lameness, most of the attention immediately goes to the lower limb: the foot, fetlock, suspensory, or superficial flexor tendon. But not all forelimb discomfort starts below the knee. One of the most commonly missed sources of reduced reach, shortened stride, and front-end tension is supraspinatus tendon strain, a soft tissue injury high in the shoulder.
Because supraspinatus tendon injuries are deep, well-protected by bone and muscle, they rarely show swelling or heat. And because they don’t produce the classic “tendon bow” appearance or easily block out with nerve blocks, they can linger for weeks or months without being identified. Horses with this injury don’t always look lame, they simply move differently. That subtlety is exactly why the condition is overlooked.
What the Supraspinatus Actually Does
The supraspinatus sits at the top of the shoulder blade and helps extend and stabilize the shoulder joint during movement. Every time the horse lifts the forelimb, reaches forward, or absorbs impact during landing, this muscle-tendon unit helps control the motion. When it becomes strained, the horse loses freedom in the shoulder, usually on one side more than the other.
The result isn’t always dramatic lameness, it’s reduced expression: a shorter step, a flatter gait, a horse that seems unwilling to elevate through the shoulders. Trainers may call it “sticky,” “tight,” or “not stepping through.” Riders may feel it as a horse that “just doesn’t feel the same in front.”
How Supraspinatus Strain Happens
Unlike sudden injuries in the lower limb, supraspinatus strain is usually the result of repeated stress at the shoulder over time. Horses working on the forehand, jumping ahead of their strength level, landing repeatedly off uneven distances, or working with insufficient topline or core stability are most at risk. When the shoulder compensates for lack of postural support behind, the supraspinatus quietly takes the strain.
Occasionally, the injury occurs as a single event: a slip, a misstep, a pull-back accident, or an awkward landing. But more often, it builds slowly, long before the horse looks “off.”
What It Looks Like in Real Life
Owners frequently describe it as “not lame, but not right.” Horses with supraspinatus strain rarely present with dramatic pain. They present with specific changes. They shorten the reach of the affected forelimb, they are hesitant to stretch forward, transitions may become uneven, jump takeoffs are flat, the horse loses shoulder freedom and straightness. Because the horse is trying to avoid loading the shoulder deeply, they may also lean more on one rein, travel with a slight body drift, or struggle to maintain balance in lateral work. These signs are small, but consistent.
Diagnosis Requires Intention, Not Guesswork
Because supraspinatus strain doesn’t present like a lower limb injury, it can be easy to chase symptoms instead of the cause. A thorough veterinary exam is important, especially one that includes shoulder palpation, flexion, movement assessment, and ultrasound of the shoulder region.
Owners shouldn’t feel discouraged if the injury took time to identify. This is one of the most commonly overlooked soft tissue issues in the sport horse world.
Rehab Focuses on Strength, Balance, and Progressive Load
The good news: supraspinatus strain responds well to thoughtful, structured recovery.
The goal is to restore shoulder stability and allow gradual return to full reach and expression. That means starting with controlled straight-line work, rebuilding symmetry, improving engagement behind, and gradually reintroducing exercises that ask the horse to lift and carry through the shoulder.
The recovery timeline is less about “time” and more about movement quality.
During recovery and return-to-work, supporting healthy soft tissue structure matters. Tendonall is used by riders and rehabilitation programs to help maintain tendon and ligament resilience through strengthening phases, gradual load progression, and return to performance.
Supraspinatus Strain: The Overlooked Cause of Front-End Discomfort in Performance Horses
When a horse shows a subtle front-end lameness, most of the attention immediately goes to the lower limb: the foot, fetlock, suspensory, or superficial flexor tendon. But not all forelimb discomfort starts below the knee. One of the most commonly missed sources of reduced reach, shortened stride, and front-end tension is supraspinatus tendon strain, a soft tissue injury high in the shoulder.
Because supraspinatus tendon injuries are deep, well-protected by bone and muscle, they rarely show swelling or heat. And because they don’t produce the classic “tendon bow” appearance or easily block out with nerve blocks, they can linger for weeks or months without being identified. Horses with this injury don’t always look lame, they simply move differently. That subtlety is exactly why the condition is overlooked.
What the Supraspinatus Actually Does
The supraspinatus sits at the top of the shoulder blade and helps extend and stabilize the shoulder joint during movement. Every time the horse lifts the forelimb, reaches forward, or absorbs impact during landing, this muscle-tendon unit helps control the motion. When it becomes strained, the horse loses freedom in the shoulder, usually on one side more than the other.
The result isn’t always dramatic lameness, it’s reduced expression: a shorter step, a flatter gait, a horse that seems unwilling to elevate through the shoulders. Trainers may call it “sticky,” “tight,” or “not stepping through.” Riders may feel it as a horse that “just doesn’t feel the same in front.”
How Supraspinatus Strain Happens
Unlike sudden injuries in the lower limb, supraspinatus strain is usually the result of repeated stress at the shoulder over time. Horses working on the forehand, jumping ahead of their strength level, landing repeatedly off uneven distances, or working with insufficient topline or core stability are most at risk. When the shoulder compensates for lack of postural support behind, the supraspinatus quietly takes the strain.
Occasionally, the injury occurs as a single event: a slip, a misstep, a pull-back accident, or an awkward landing. But more often, it builds slowly, long before the horse looks “off.”
What It Looks Like in Real Life
Owners frequently describe it as “not lame, but not right.” Horses with supraspinatus strain rarely present with dramatic pain. They present with specific changes. They shorten the reach of the affected forelimb, they are hesitant to stretch forward, transitions may become uneven, jump takeoffs are flat, the horse loses shoulder freedom and straightness. Because the horse is trying to avoid loading the shoulder deeply, they may also lean more on one rein, travel with a slight body drift, or struggle to maintain balance in lateral work. These signs are small, but consistent.
Diagnosis Requires Intention, Not Guesswork
Because supraspinatus strain doesn’t present like a lower limb injury, it can be easy to chase symptoms instead of the cause. A thorough veterinary exam is important, especially one that includes shoulder palpation, flexion, movement assessment, and ultrasound of the shoulder region.
Owners shouldn’t feel discouraged if the injury took time to identify. This is one of the most commonly overlooked soft tissue issues in the sport horse world.
Rehab Focuses on Strength, Balance, and Progressive Load
The good news: supraspinatus strain responds well to thoughtful, structured recovery.
The goal is to restore shoulder stability and allow gradual return to full reach and expression. That means starting with controlled straight-line work, rebuilding symmetry, improving engagement behind, and gradually reintroducing exercises that ask the horse to lift and carry through the shoulder.
The recovery timeline is less about “time” and more about movement quality.
During recovery and return-to-work, supporting healthy soft tissue structure matters. Tendonall is used by riders and rehabilitation programs to help maintain tendon and ligament resilience through strengthening phases, gradual load progression, and return to performance.