Soft tissue injuries are one of the most common reasons horses come out of work, whether they’re high-level competitors or pleasure horses. Despite how often they occur, many owners feel unprepared when they first hear, “It’s a soft tissue injury.” The terminology is confusing, the timelines are extensive, and every case behaves differently.
This guide breaks down what owners actually need to understand — how these injuries happen, what the early phases of healing really require, and the factors that have the biggest impact on long-term soundness.
What Counts as a Soft Tissue Injury?
Soft tissue includes:
In horses, the most commonly affected structures include the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), suspensory ligament (including branches and proximal origin), and accessory ligaments.
These tissues are critical for absorbing load, stabilizing joints, and controlling movement. That’s why even a small amount of damage creates significant issues.
How These Injuries Actually Happen
While many owners imagine one “bad step,” most soft tissue injuries develop gradually. The fiber structure weakens over time due to repetitive load, microstrain, and subtle fatigue, and the tear finally becomes visible only when the weakened region reaches its limit.
Common contributors include:
-
Repetitive work without enough recovery
-
Sudden changes in intensity
-
Footing inconsistencies
-
Poor shoeing balance
-
Loss of conditioning
-
Fatigue from travel or competition
-
Age-related changes in tendon elasticity
Acute injuries do happen — a slip, a stumble, a bad landing — but they’re less common than slow-building strain.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters More Than Anything Else
Tendon and ligament tissue doesn’t heal like muscle. It repairs through a slow process involving inflammation, scar formation, and long remodeling phases. The sooner the injury is identified, the more effectively the early stages can be managed.
Catching a soft tissue injury early helps prevent:
If you notice heat, swelling, increased filling after work, subtle gait changes, or a horse that “just feels different,” involving your vet early is always the safer approach.
The Three Overlapping Phases of Soft Tissue Healing
Many owners assume healing is linear — but tendons and ligaments go through distinct stages that overlap and progress slowly. Understanding these helps manage expectations:
1. Acute Phase (Inflammation)
Duration: 1–2 weeks
The body removes damaged fibers and signals repair.
Visible signs: heat, swelling, pain, lameness.
Goal: reduce excessive inflammation without halting natural healing.
2. Subacute Phase (Fibrous Repair)
Duration: several weeks to months
The body begins laying down new fibers, but they’re disorganized and weak.
Goal: controlled movement to encourage proper fiber alignment, avoid scar-heavy repair.
3. Chronic Phase (Remodeling)
Duration: months to over a year
Scar tissue strengthens and reorganizes, but it never becomes identical to the original structure.
Goal: progressive loading, monitoring, and preventing reinjury.
This is why tendon injuries take so long — not because healing is slow, but because the tissue must rebuild strength and alignment safely.
Why Controlled Movement Is Non-Negotiable
Complete rest weakens a tendon. Uncontrolled movement overloads it.
The solution is controlled, predictable, structured movement: Hand-walking, small paddock turnout (if approved), and gradual loading under veterinarian supervision. Small increases too early are one of the most common causes of setbacks.
Consistency is more important than intensity.
How to Reduce Reinjury Risk — the #1 Concern for Owners
Reinjury rates are highest when:
-
Work resumes too quickly
-
Scar tissue isn’t fully remodeled
-
The horse returns to uneven surfaces or intense work too soon
-
Pain subsides before the tissue is truly strong
Long-term success depends on:
-
Accurate diagnosis
-
A structured, progressive rehab plan
-
Monitoring for subtle changes
-
Supporting the tissue during remodeling
-
Managing overall workload and conditioning
Where Tendonall Fits Into the Process
Soft tissue healing is built on collagen production, inflammation resolution, and long remodeling cycles. Tendonall was designed to support these exact processes from inside the tissue itself.
Tendonall contains a highly refined retinoic acid analogue — a compound involved in cellular pathways tied to collagen organization, inflammation resolution, and fibrosis control.
How Tendonall Supports Healing
As new fibers develop, Tendonall helps:
-
Support normal collagen alignment
-
Reduce the pathways associated with excessive fibrosis
-
Assist healthy remodeling
-
Address low-grade inflammation that can disrupt healing
-
Improve the quality of the scar tissue that forms
How Tendonall Supports Prevention
In horses in regular work, Tendonall helps support:
This type of support matters for both the injured horses and the ones you want to keep sound.
Soft tissue injuries are complicated, slow, and often overwhelming, but understanding what’s happening inside the tissue gives you more control over the outcome. Early diagnosis, structured movement, consistent rehab, and science-driven support are what determine whether a horse comes back strong or struggles with repeated issues.
You can’t rush tendon healing. But you can set the conditions for a stronger recovery, and a sounder horse in the long run.
Understanding Equine Soft Tissue Injuries: What Owners Need to Know (and What Actually Matters)
Soft tissue injuries are one of the most common reasons horses come out of work, whether they’re high-level competitors or pleasure horses. Despite how often they occur, many owners feel unprepared when they first hear, “It’s a soft tissue injury.” The terminology is confusing, the timelines are extensive, and every case behaves differently.
This guide breaks down what owners actually need to understand — how these injuries happen, what the early phases of healing really require, and the factors that have the biggest impact on long-term soundness.
What Counts as a Soft Tissue Injury?
Soft tissue includes:
Tendons (which connect muscle to bone)
Ligaments (which connect bone to bone)
In horses, the most commonly affected structures include the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), suspensory ligament (including branches and proximal origin), and accessory ligaments.
These tissues are critical for absorbing load, stabilizing joints, and controlling movement. That’s why even a small amount of damage creates significant issues.
How These Injuries Actually Happen
While many owners imagine one “bad step,” most soft tissue injuries develop gradually. The fiber structure weakens over time due to repetitive load, microstrain, and subtle fatigue, and the tear finally becomes visible only when the weakened region reaches its limit.
Common contributors include:
Repetitive work without enough recovery
Sudden changes in intensity
Footing inconsistencies
Poor shoeing balance
Loss of conditioning
Fatigue from travel or competition
Age-related changes in tendon elasticity
Acute injuries do happen — a slip, a stumble, a bad landing — but they’re less common than slow-building strain.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters More Than Anything Else
Tendon and ligament tissue doesn’t heal like muscle. It repairs through a slow process involving inflammation, scar formation, and long remodeling phases. The sooner the injury is identified, the more effectively the early stages can be managed.
Catching a soft tissue injury early helps prevent:
Excess scar tissue
Re-injury at adjacent sites
Loss of fiber alignment
Overloading other limbs
If you notice heat, swelling, increased filling after work, subtle gait changes, or a horse that “just feels different,” involving your vet early is always the safer approach.
The Three Overlapping Phases of Soft Tissue Healing
Many owners assume healing is linear — but tendons and ligaments go through distinct stages that overlap and progress slowly. Understanding these helps manage expectations:
1. Acute Phase (Inflammation)
Duration: 1–2 weeks
The body removes damaged fibers and signals repair.
Visible signs: heat, swelling, pain, lameness.
Goal: reduce excessive inflammation without halting natural healing.
2. Subacute Phase (Fibrous Repair)
Duration: several weeks to months
The body begins laying down new fibers, but they’re disorganized and weak.
Goal: controlled movement to encourage proper fiber alignment, avoid scar-heavy repair.
3. Chronic Phase (Remodeling)
Duration: months to over a year
Scar tissue strengthens and reorganizes, but it never becomes identical to the original structure.
Goal: progressive loading, monitoring, and preventing reinjury.
This is why tendon injuries take so long — not because healing is slow, but because the tissue must rebuild strength and alignment safely.
Why Controlled Movement Is Non-Negotiable
Complete rest weakens a tendon. Uncontrolled movement overloads it.
The solution is controlled, predictable, structured movement: Hand-walking, small paddock turnout (if approved), and gradual loading under veterinarian supervision. Small increases too early are one of the most common causes of setbacks.
Consistency is more important than intensity.
How to Reduce Reinjury Risk — the #1 Concern for Owners
Reinjury rates are highest when:
Work resumes too quickly
Scar tissue isn’t fully remodeled
The horse returns to uneven surfaces or intense work too soon
Pain subsides before the tissue is truly strong
Long-term success depends on:
Accurate diagnosis
A structured, progressive rehab plan
Monitoring for subtle changes
Supporting the tissue during remodeling
Managing overall workload and conditioning
Where Tendonall Fits Into the Process
Soft tissue healing is built on collagen production, inflammation resolution, and long remodeling cycles. Tendonall was designed to support these exact processes from inside the tissue itself.
Tendonall contains a highly refined retinoic acid analogue — a compound involved in cellular pathways tied to collagen organization, inflammation resolution, and fibrosis control.
How Tendonall Supports Healing
As new fibers develop, Tendonall helps:
Support normal collagen alignment
Reduce the pathways associated with excessive fibrosis
Assist healthy remodeling
Address low-grade inflammation that can disrupt healing
Improve the quality of the scar tissue that forms
How Tendonall Supports Prevention
In horses in regular work, Tendonall helps support:
Tendon fiber resilience
Healthy extracellular matrix turnover
Soft tissue response to repeated load
Long-term tissue quality
This type of support matters for both the injured horses and the ones you want to keep sound.
Soft tissue injuries are complicated, slow, and often overwhelming, but understanding what’s happening inside the tissue gives you more control over the outcome. Early diagnosis, structured movement, consistent rehab, and science-driven support are what determine whether a horse comes back strong or struggles with repeated issues.
You can’t rush tendon healing. But you can set the conditions for a stronger recovery, and a sounder horse in the long run.