Racehorse Injuries: Types, Causes, and How to Prevent Them

Last updated: March 10, 2025

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

With over 25 years as a racehorse owner and trainer, I’ve seen firsthand how injuries can derail promising careers and shatter dreams. I had a young racehorse training well a few years ago that suddenly started showing slight discomfort. At first, it seemed minor—maybe just a sore muscle. But within weeks, it escalated into a full-blown ligament injury, sidelining him for months.

That experience reinforced what I already knew—small signs can quickly turn into major setbacks. Early detection and prevention don’t just reduce downtime—they determine whether a horse thrives on the track or faces early retirement.

Injuries are the second leading cause of death in racehorses, making injury prevention and proper treatment critical. Drawing on my decades of experience and insights from top equine experts, this guide will help you understand the most common racehorse injuries, their causes, and how to prevent and treat them.

Whether you’re a trainer, owner, or passionate racing fan, this article will equip you with practical knowledge to keep racehorses sound, healthy, and performing at their best.

Understanding Racehorse Injuries: Causes & Prevention

A racehorse injury is anything that keeps a horse from training or racing. After being in the horse racing business for so long, I’ve seen that injuries aren’t just bad luck—they follow patterns. Recognizing these patterns is key to keeping racehorses sound and competitive.

Some injuries develop over time from strain, like stress fractures or tendon damage. Others happen suddenly, like broken bones or ruptured tendons, and can be devastating.

Racehorse injuries range from minor setbacks to career-ending or even life-threatening events. Since injuries are the second leading cause of death in racehorses, understanding and managing the risks is essential for keeping them healthy and performing at their best.

Common Types of Racehorse Injuries

Over the years, I’ve seen racehorses suffer everything from minor setbacks to career-ending breakdowns. Understanding the most common injuries has helped me take early action to keep my horses sound and performing at their best—and it can do the same for you.

Soft Tissue Injuries: The Most Frequent Setbacks in Racehorses

Soft tissue injuries are among the most common setbacks in racehorses, affecting ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues. These injuries range from mild strains to complete ruptures, often requiring long recovery periods and careful management.

Ligament Injuries: Causes, Recovery, and Prevention

• Suspensory Ligament Injuries – The suspensory ligament supports a horse’s weight in both the front and back legs. A mild strain might require 3–6 months of rest, while a severe bowed tendon can mean a year or more off the track.
• Splints – Inflammation of the interosseous ligament between the splint bones and the cannon bone, commonly seen in young racehorses due to repetitive concussive forces.
• Preventative care, including proper conditioning and controlled workloads, can significantly reduce ligament strain (Horse Tendon & Ligament Health: Prevention & Treatment).

Tendon Injuries: How Overuse Can End a Career

• Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT) – Also called a bowed tendon, this injury weakens limb support and causes swelling and lameness. Horses with this injury often require intensive rehabilitation and may never return to peak performance.
• Deep Digital Flexor Tendon (DDFT) – Damage to this tendon can significantly impact movement and soundness, often requiring long-term management strategies.
• Ruptured Tendons – A complete tendon tear, resulting in loss of limb support, often leading to career-ending consequences or euthanasia.
• Tendinitis – Inflammation caused by overuse or overstretching, leading to lameness, swelling, and long layups.

Carpitis

• Inflammation in the knee from overextension, leading to pain and lameness. Proper warm-ups and track maintenance can help reduce risk.

💬 Personal Insight:
After a fast morning work, my promising filly came off the track slightly off in her front leg. At first, it seemed minor, but a vet exam confirmed a bowed tendon. She was sidelined for nearly a year and never quite the same. That experience reinforced how crucial early detection and prevention are in racehorse management.

Bone-Related Injuries: Fractures That Threaten a Racehorse’s Career

Long Bone Fractures: Can Racehorses Recover?

• These often start as stress fractures and can be fatal if they don’t heal properly. Research from the University of California, Davis suggests that early detection of stress fractures using bone scans can reduce the risk of catastrophic breakdowns.
• In severe cases, a broken leg is often a death sentence for a racehorse due to complications in healing and weight distribution, as discussed in my article on Why Are Horses With a Broken Leg Euthanized?.

Sesamoid Fractures: The High-Risk Injury for Speed Horses

• A leading cause of fatal injuries, especially in Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, due to their location and difficulty in surgical repair.

Slab Fractures: A Common Yet Serious Racing Injury

• A serious injury involving a fracture of the carpal (knee) bones, often caused by repetitive concussive stress during high-speed workouts.
• Common in racehorses due to the repeated impact on hard surfaces (Merck Veterinary Manual).
• Depending on severity, some horses recover with surgery, while others may need career-ending retirement or euthanasia.
• Early detection through radiographs and adjusting training loads can help reduce the risk.

Pelvic Fractures

• Often career-ending, though some horses recover with time. Recovery depends on early detection and controlled rehabilitation.

Cannon Bone Microfractures

• Tiny fractures that are hard to detect but can lead to catastrophic breakdowns if ignored.

Hoof Injuries in Racehorses: Risks, Prevention & Recovery

Bruised Soles: The Impact of Hard Racing Surfaces

• Common on hard racetracks, bruised soles can cause temporary lameness but typically heal with proper hoof care and supportive shoeing.(The Impact of Racetrack Surfaces on Horse Racing Outcomes).
• Studies suggest that using shock-absorbing materials in horseshoes can help reduce sole bruising in high-impact environments (Horseshoe effects on equine gait—A systematic scoping review).

Laminitis in Racehorses: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

• Often triggered by intense training, excessive grain consumption, or metabolic imbalances, this painful condition affects the sensitive laminae in the hoof and can be career-ending. (Endocrinopathic laminitis).
• High-starch diets and sudden changes in feed are common risk factors for laminitis.
• Preventative measures like balanced nutrition, proper farrier care, and weight management reduce the risk (Hoof Pain in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Care).

Abscesses: Small Problems That Can Sideline a Horse

• Can mimic severe lameness, making them difficult to diagnose.
• Abscesses often result from bacteria entering through small cracks or punctures, leading to pain and swelling.
• Veterinarians recommend soaking the hoof in warm Epsom salt water and using protective bandaging to help draw out infection (Horse Hoof Abscess: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention Guide).

Hoof Cracks (Quarter Cracks)

• Usually caused by hard or uneven surfaces, leading to pain, infection, and potential hoof instability.
• Poor hoof conformation, genetic factors, and improper trimming increase the risk.
• Regular farrier care, hoof balance, and moisture control are key to prevention.(Horse Hoof Care: Anatomy, Problems, and Maintenance Tips).

Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Racehorses

EIPH isn’t always seen as an injury, but it affects performance and needs careful management. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) occurs when blood vessels in the lungs rupture due to intense physical exertion, causing bleeding in the airways. This condition occurs frequently in racehorses, particularly those competing at high speeds.

• Causes – The rapid acceleration and high cardiovascular demands of racing place extreme pressure on lung capillaries, leading to hemorrhaging in some horses.
• Symptoms – Some horses exhibit visible bleeding from the nostrils (epistaxis), while others may show subtle signs like coughing, labored breathing, or reduced performance.
• Treatment & Management –
  • Furosemide (Lasix) is commonly used to reduce pulmonary pressure and minimize bleeding.
  • Training modifications, controlled workloads, and proper respiratory health care can help mitigate EIPH risks.

💬 Personal Insight: In my experience, EIPH isn’t a serious issue for most horses—Lasix usually controls it well. However, a friend of mine had a horse that kept bleeding even on Lasix, so he ultimately decided to retire him from racing.

Risk Factors Contributing to Racehorse Injuries

Racehorse injuries aren’t just bad luck—they result from a combination of biological, environmental, and management-related factors. Understanding these risks helps trainers and owners make informed decisions that can extend a horse’s career and reduce injury rates.

Why Some Racehorses Are More Injury-Prone Than Others

Some horses are simply more prone to injury due to genetics, conformation, and age-related vulnerabilities.

• Age – Young racehorses are at higher risk for developmental injuries as their bones and soft tissues are still maturing, while older horses are more susceptible to wear-and-tear breakdowns. (Young Horse Conditioning for Health and Soundness).
• Sex – Stallions, mares, and geldings have different injury tendencies due to hormonal influences and muscle composition.
• Breeding & Genetics – A horse’s conformation affects how weight and force distribute across its limbs, influencing stress points and susceptibility to injuries. Research suggests that certain bloodlines may be predisposed to tendon and bone issues (Research to Identify Racehorses at Risk for Major Injury).

💬 Personal Insight:
In my years of racing, only two of my horses have suffered slab fractures—and they were full sisters. I didn’t train them any harder than the others, yet they both sustained the same injury. That reinforced my belief that genetics play a bigger role in injury risk than we often realize.

Race Conditions: How Distance, Speed, and Track Surfaces Matter

The nature of racing itself—speed, distance, competition level—plays a significant role in injury frequency and severity.

• Distance – Sprint races increase the risk of muscle strains, while longer races put more stress on bones and joints, leading to stress fractures (Equine Injury Database).
• Class – Higher-class races involve faster speeds, deeper competition, and more physically demanding conditions, which may raise the likelihood of injuries.
• Number of Starters – The more horses in a race, the greater the risk of collisions and interference injuries, particularly in tight turns and crowded starts.

Management-Related Factors

How a horse is trained, conditioned, and cared for directly impacts its injury risk and recovery capacity.

• Training & Exercise History – Gradually increasing exercise intensity helps strengthen tissues and prevent breakdowns. Overtraining, however, leads to cumulative damage, making horses more susceptible to injuries (Training Horses For Speed: Basics to Advanced Techniques).
• Medication Use – While pain management is essential, masking discomfort with NSAIDs or corticosteroids can lead to career-ending breakdowns by allowing horses to push through undetected injuries (AAEP Guidelines).
• Shoeing & Farrier Care – Improper hoof balance, poor trimming, or incorrect shoeing can increase stress on ligaments and tendons, leading to hoof and soft tissue injuries (Essential Lameness Prevention Tips: Keep Your Horse Sound).
• Post-Race Recovery Protocols – Cooling down, icing legs, using therapeutic wraps, and allowing proper turnout reduce inflammation and help with injury prevention and recovery.(Race Day Rundown: A Deep Dive into Horse Racing). Dynamics

Track-Related Factors

The racing surface and environmental conditions play a major role in injury occurrence and severity.

• Surface Type – Studies show synthetic tracks reduce fatal injuries compared to dirt, while turf tracks tend to be easier on joints but can become hazardous when wet (Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority).
• Weather Conditions – Extreme heat, cold, or wet tracks can increase slipping, footing instability, and fatigue-related injuries.
• Track Maintenance – Uneven or poorly maintained tracks increase concussive forces on limbs, raising the risk of stress fractures and soft tissue injuries. Consistent grading and moisture control are critical for injury prevention (Racing INJURY PREVENTION).

How to Reduce Racehorse Injuries with Smart Management

Preventing racehorse injuries isn’t just about luck—it’s about smart management, early intervention, and science-backed strategies. With the right approach, trainers and owners can reduce injury risks, extend careers, and improve overall equine well-being. However, even with the best care, some horses will still get injured—that’s the reality of the sport.

The Role of Progressive Conditioning in Injury Prevention

• Gradually increasing distance and intensity helps strengthen tendons, ligaments, and bones while preventing overuse injuries.
• Research—and my own experience—shows that horses with consistent, progressive training are less likely to suffer breakdowns (Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete).
• Optimizing the Care and Management of Your Equine Athlete. explains how proper exercise regimens can keep tendons strong.

💬 Personal Insight:
I once had a young colt with incredible speed, but he was a bit immature. Instead of pushing him into tough workouts too soon, I took it slow—gradually increasing his workload. The result? He stayed sound while many other young horses suffered setbacks. That experience taught me that patience in training is key to injury prevention.

The Importance of Rest and Recovery Between Races

• Sufficient rest between races and workouts allows micro-damage in muscles, tendons, and bones to repair, preventing chronic injuries. We rest our horses between works.
• Overracing and overtraining lead to stress fractures and tendon strain, increasing the risk of catastrophic injuries (Merck Veterinary Manual).
• Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits discusses the importance of balancing work and recovery.

Hydration & Electrolyte Balance

• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances lead to muscle cramping, weakness, and soft tissue injuries.
• Proper hydration and balanced electrolyte supplementation are essential for maintaining muscle function and preventing fatigue-related injuries (Electrolytes and Muscle Function in Horses: Essentially Linked).

Early Warning Signs: Catching Small Problems Before They Escalate

• Subtle signs like slight lameness, heat in the tendons, or a shortened stride can signal the onset of a serious issue.
• Daily grooming and hands-on inspections help detect small problems before they become major injuries.
• Heart rate monitoring during exercise can help spot subtle signs of distress before an injury occurs.

💬 Personal Insight:
I noticed a slight swelling in one of my gelding’s tendons after a routine morning gallop. He wasn’t lame, but I trusted my gut and backed off his training. A vet exam confirmed mild tendon strain, and with rest, he recovered fully. Had I ignored the early signs, it could have turned into a serious injury. This experience reinforced the importance of daily hands-on checks and listening to the horse.

Rehabbing Racehorse Injuries: What Works Best?

Rehabilitation is crucial for racehorses recovering from injuries, ensuring they regain strength, mobility, and soundness before returning to competition. Advanced therapies and controlled exercise programs significantly improve recovery outcomes.

Key Rehabilitation Techniques

• Stem Cell Therapy – Used to regenerate damaged ligament and tendon tissue, promoting stronger, more natural healing (Equine Regenerative Rehabilitation).
• Shockwave Therapy – Helps accelerate healing by stimulating blood flow and tissue regeneration, especially for soft tissue injuries.
• Aquatic Therapy (Swimming Pools, Underwater Treadmills) – Reduces weight-bearing stress while keeping the horse active during recovery. (Consensus for the General Use of Equine Water Treadmills for Healthy Horses)

Controlled Exercise & Rehabilitation Timeline

Rehabilitation length depends on injury severity and early intervention. A mild suspensory ligament strain often requires 3–6 months of controlled rehab, while a severe bowed tendon injury may take 12+ months before returning to training. Gradual reintroduction to work is critical to prevent re-injury.

FAQs: Answering Your Racehorse Injury Questions

Racehorse injuries are a major concern for owners and trainers. Below are answers to the most common questions about prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Conclusion: Protecting Racehorses Through Smart Management

Preventing racehorse injuries isn’t just about reacting to problems—it’s about proactive care, structured training, and early intervention. Progressive conditioning, track maintenance, and pre-race veterinary monitoring help reduce risks and keep horses in peak condition.

A racehorse’s success isn’t just about speed—it’s about longevity and soundness. By recognizing early warning signs, managing workloads, and using science-backed rehab strategies, owners and trainers can extend careers and prevent career-ending injuries.

💬 Final Thought:
In my 25 years in horse racing, I’ve learned that the best way to deal with an injury is to prevent it. Have you had experience managing or preventing racehorse injuries? Share your insights in the comments.

✅ For more expert advice, check out my guides on Tendon & Ligament Health and Hoof Pain Management.