Horse Legs 101: Tendons, Ligaments, and What Can Go Wrong
Excerpt: Legs take the brunt of the work—and injuries here can sideline even the strongest horse. This Real Rider Resource gives you a practical, down-to-earth guide to what’s inside your horse’s legs, and how to keep them strong and sound.
The Job of Tendons and Ligaments
Think of tendons as cables and ligaments as seatbelts. Tendons connect muscle to bone and store energy like a spring during movement. Ligaments connect bone to bone and help stabilize joints. In horses, these structures are long, thin, and under a lot of stress—especially in speed, impact, or tight turns.
Common Injury Zones
Soft tissue injuries tend to show up in key areas like:
- Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) – back of the cannon bone
- Suspensory ligament – between cannon and splint bones
- Check ligament – supporting the flexor system
- Stifle and hock ligaments – stabilizing rear leg motion
Any swelling, heat, or reluctance to move could be a sign of strain here.
What Causes These Injuries?
There’s rarely just one reason. It’s usually a cocktail of risk factors:
- Poor footing or uneven terrain
- Overuse or fatigue
- Poor conformation or imbalanced hooves
- Improper warm-up or cool-down
- Old injuries not fully healed
What You Can Do (That Actually Works)
Here’s where prevention pays off:
- Use Draw It Out® 16oz Gel after rides on tendons and ligaments
- Apply MasterMudd™ EquiBrace™ before and after high-stress work
- Wrap with breathable support boots when needed—not 24/7
- Keep up with trims and shoeing to support balance
- Hydrate and recover with Hydro-Lyte with GastroCell
Final Thoughts: Know the Leg, Protect the Ride
The more you know about your horse’s legs, the better you can protect them. You don’t need to be a vet—just a rider who pays attention, uses the right products, and gives your horse every advantage they can get.
