Tendon and suspensory ligament injuries plague horses performing in all disciplines. Even pleasure horses and pasture ornaments may fall victim if they take the proverbial bad step over rough ground conditions. These are every bit as painful as bone or joint disorders and can take as much as a year to heal.
Source: Horse Network, July 28, 2017.
The common practice of giving a horse with an old injury phenylbutazone or other anti-inflammatory/analgesic before work in anticipation of it stressing the area is not a good idea. If the horse is doing something that causes a reaction sufficient to require these drugs he shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.
INSIGHTS: This is a good article for websites, social media and to have as a handout for horse owners dealing with old injuries in their horses. New horse owners can use it, too.