High-speed maneuvers and abrupt stops can take a tollheres how to help these athletes stay sound and competitiveRapid acceleration and deceleration put stress on cutting horses hindquarters, stifles, and front legs, leading to a higher incidence of suspensory injuries in this group. | Adobe stockWestern performance horses often execute high-speed maneuvers, sharp turns, and powerful stops. Whether competing in reining, cutting, roping, barrel racing, or reined-cow-horse events, these horses face significant physical demands that put strain on their joints, muscles, and tendons.Injuries in Western performance horses are a lot like occupational hazards people may experience in their job, says Dylan Costello, DVM, who is an associate veterinarian at Western Performance Equine, in Ione, California. Many soundness issues depend on discipline but typically include soft tissue injuries, bone injuries, joint disease, and contusions.In addition to the job-related risks, age can also play a role in Western performance horse soundness. Futurity and derby events incentivize trainers and owners to start training and competing at a young age.Its great to have horses go to futurities, but sometimes we are injecting those horses as 2-year-olds, says Beau Whitaker, DVM, CERP, who focuses on lameness and sports medicine at Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals in Salado, Texas. As an industry, we need to be mindful that it can take away on the back end if we want a horse to last into their late teens. The one thing the Warmblood sport horse industry has figured out better than Western is focusing on career longevity.Keeping a horse sound despite inherent occupational hazards and an early start to work takes a strong partnership between rider and veterinarian. Riders often notice changes before lameness becomes obvious. A horse might feel different in turns, resist certain maneuvers, or struggle to push from behind, explains Alexander Daniel, BVetMed, MS, Dipl. ACVS, equine surgeon at Daniel Equine, in Wellington, Florida.Small changes in willingness, head carriage, or stride rhythm can signal discomfort before traditional lameness exams detect an issue, he says. By merging what the rider feels with a thorough physical exam, flexion tests, and gait evaluation on different surfaces, we can often pinpoint mild, early-stage soundness issues before they escalate. Imaging is then used to confirm findings and determine the best course of action.Maintaining soundness is crucial for not only competitive success but also the horses long-term well-being. Heres a look at each disciplines most common lameness issues, how veterinarians diagnose and treat them, and tips for early detection and prevention.Injuries by DisciplineMany performance horse disciplines involve working at speed. However, the specific maneuvers in each discipline can predispose horses to certain injuries. Recognizing these demands helps guide effective treatment and maintenance strategies.A reining horse engages his hind end heavily for sliding stops and rollback maneuvers. This can cause stress on the lower hock joints, stifles, and the sacroiliac region. | Adobe stockReining horses Daniel mostly sees reining horses and says these mounts common soundness issues fall into three categories: synovial joint (those that are freely movable) pain and inflammation, sacroiliac (SI) dysfunction and pain, and palmar (the rear part of the) heel and navicular issues.Reiners engage their hind end heavily for sliding stops and rollback maneuvers, leading to repetitive impact and stress on the lower hock (distal tarsal) joints and stifles, he says. Also, the explosive engagement of the hindquarters during stops and turns causes chronic stress and muscle fatigue in the SI region.Cutting horses These athletes must make quick lateral movements and sudden stops while maintaining focus on cattle. Rapid acceleration and deceleration put stress on the hindquarters, stifles, and front legs, leading to a higher incidence of suspensory ligament injuries, particularly in the distal suspensory branches or the proximal (high) suspensory regionmost often in the hind limbs, though the forelimbs are frequently affected as well. Since reined-cow-horse events include cutting and reining, these athletes have the potential to develop injuries seen in both of those disciplines.The reined cow horse is three strenuous events combined into one, so with these horses we tend to see a lot of general body soreness, exhaustion, and back soreness, Costello says. They definitely also experience typical hock and suspensory injuries.Barrel horses Half of Whitakers caseload consists of barrel and rope horsesthe other half, English sport horses. In barrel racers he frequently sees osteoarthritis, or degeneration of articular cartilage that lines the ends of bones inside joints.I see a lot of hock arthritis, coffin joint, stifle, and fetlock issues in barrel horses because of the way they use their back end to run as fast as they can to turn as sharp as they can around a barrel, Whitaker says. Those are not natural forces on their joints, and the repetitive use on those horses can stress them.Costello says he frequently sees kissing spines in barrel horses. In his opinion, he adds, Quarter Horse racehorse breeding decisions dont include turning at speed because on a racetrack a Quarter Horse runs straight. Regarding rope horses, he notes that deep digital flexor tendon injuries of the right foreleg are most common.Veterinarians commonly diagnose osteoarthritis (OA) in the coffin joint, stifle, and fetlock in barrel racing horses. | Adobe stockA head horse makes the same left turn every day, Costello says. A lot of times they leave out going to the right, and then we see a lot of balance issues as well.Treatment and Maintaining Soundness in Western Performance HorsesTreating an issue and developing a maintenance plan begins with a physical exam, including palpation to find range-of-motion decreases or pain response when joints are flexed. Flexion tests help narrow down where to radiograph (X ray) and use nerve blocks, which together can help the veterinarian determine if an MRI is necessary. Diagnosis and budget determine the next steps.Most of the time were doing joint injections, Whitaker says. What we use depends on the clients finances because there can be a big range in price. It also depends on the severity of arthritis were treating, the number of joints, and the mechanics of the joints.Corticosteroids remain the most budget-friendly option but, given repeatedly and at high doses, they can cause more damage to the joint and potentially decrease its longevity, Whitaker explains. With corticosteroids there is the risk of inducing laminitis in metabolic horses, he adds.Hyaluronic acid in the IV injectable form is another cost-effective option that has been shown to be beneficial when loaded and then given monthly. Some clients choose to use HA this way; Whitakers preference is to give HA IV about 48 hours before competition due to the initial heightened effects over the first two to four days after administration.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be given to competition horses, with phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine most commonly used. Whitaker cautions that there could be more judicious use in the Western performance horse disciplines that are not subject to drug testing, where he says trainers often give NSAIDs before competition without discretion.Negative consequences include masking injuries and decreased muscle recovery, Whitaker says. That being said, many older competition horses especially benefit from daily oral firocoxib (an anti-inflammatory that avoids the side effects other NSAIDs can cause long term), though they should have regular bloodwork to make sure it is not negatively affecting them systemically.Veterinarians commonly use polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), an injectable drug labeled for intramuscular use, in Western performance horses. It is Whitakers most recommended systemic joint therapy.Much of the benefit is in the loading dose phase of treatment, he says. Due to this I typically recommend that horses load PSGAG every six months. Some (veterinarians and horse owners) elect to give it monthly as well between the loading doses.Injectable polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAAGs) have increased in use and for good reasons, notes Whitaker. Veterinarians have two PAAG products that work in different ways and often serve different purposes. Nevertheless, Whitaker says in his experience many cases respond more favorably and for a significantly longer period of time to intra-articular use of PAAGs than other products, though PAAG typically costs more and can take longer to produce noticeable results. Daniel recommends clients use a 2.5% PAAG for long-term joint support by enhancing synovial membrane elasticity.Increasingly, orthobiologics ranging from stem cells and platelet-rich plasma to interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein and autologous conditioned protein/serum are replacing steroids for treatment and long-term maintenance.Using orthobiologics eliminates the risk of corticosteroids causing problems in horses with metabolic issues, which many performance horses have, Whitaker says. Plus, they prolong the usable life of those joints by slowing the inflammatory cycle and joint degradation, he adds.Daniel adds, For soft tissue injuries, I prioritize regenerative therapies, using bone-marrow-derived stem cells, which I inject both locally and intra-arterially whenever possible to enhance tissue repair.Special Feature: Managing Your Performance Horses JointsIn addition to injections, veterinarians commonly prescribe therapies such as therapeutic ultrasound, underwater treadmill protocols, and functional electrical stimulation (FES) to promote healing and long-term soundness. When Daniel sends a horse home, he also includes progressive loading protocols for soft tissue injuries.The protocols include carefully timed increases in intensity to prevent reinjury, he says.The key to success is individualized treatment, Daniel explains. No two horses are the same, and I work closely with owners to optimize their horses recovery.In regard to supplements, Whitaker says, The supplement industry is the wild west with limited regulation and little validation. Many of the products lack scientific backing and product research, he adds. I recommend to my clients to avoid the hot social media product and look at the supplements backed with research that are targeted at specific issues. If something sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.Recognizing Early Signs of Lameness in Western Performance HorsesDetecting the earliest signs of discomfort allows for early treatment and a better chance for recovery.There is strong evidence that early treatment of synovitis is critical, Daniel says. Waiting until it progresses to osteoarthritis significantly reduces the chances of a full recovery. Similarly, resolving back and SI pain early can prevent secondary compensatory stress on the limbs, reducing injury risk.Horses have the best outcomes for recovery and long-term soundness when their owners, riders, and trainers notice subtle clues and partner with their veterinarians.One of the most valuable tools in soundness management is understanding a horses individual movement patterns, behavior, and athletic tendencies, Daniel says. Each horse has strengths and weaknesses in the sport, and recognizing what they excel at versus where they struggle helps bridge the gap between clinical evaluation and rider feedback.To help riders and owners know what to look for, Daniel offers this checklist:Watch how a horse steps out of his stall The first few steps into the aisleway can reveal stiffness, hesitation, or uneven movementall signs of early discomfort.Look for changes in swellings, lumps, or bumps Know whats normal for your horse. Subtle changes in heat or puffiness around joints or tendons might indicate low-grade inflammation.Observe reactions to grooming and tacking up Flinching, ear-pinning, or shifting away when certain areas are brushedespecially the back or girth regioncan be an early indicator of pain.Check for back and SI sensitivity Gently running your hand over the back and gluteal region can help detect muscular sensitivity that might indicate SI pain. However, palpation takes experience, and improper technique can easily trigger a false reaction.In addition to closely observing their horses, Costello encourages clients to include routine soft tissue ultrasound scans to keep an eye on trouble spots and catch (and respond) to potential issues before they become big problems.Preventing Equine InjuriesElite athletes, human or equine, often become injured because of the demands of training and competition. Conditioning and strengthening help horses maintain soundness, and they reduce the risk of injury. Costello encourages clients to use tension-band systems and hill work (taking previous injury into consideration) to get horses moving up under themselves.We see a lot of fatigue-type injuries, where horses get tired and pushed beyond the limit. Thats when things fail, Costello says. If you could build a horses endurance, build their strength, and get them framed properly, they can use their bodies better and protect themselves. A lot of Western disciplines tend to let them get hollowed out and inverted. A little dressage training goes a long way.All three veterinarians agree that routine hoof care is a critical and often overlooked component of maintaining soundness in Western performance horses.Corrective shoeing is crucial, with an emphasis on improving breakover (the moment the heels lift off the ground) and reducing strain on the navicular region, Daniel says.Costello agrees. I think everyone, across all disciplines, could pay a little more attention to when their horses are shod. I get complaints all the time that my horse is sore in the front, and when I ask when their horse was shod, theyll say, Ten, 14 weeks ago. (In other words, the animals lameness has manifested over time due to improper foot care.) Horses need a good shoe with good breakover.Whitaker adds, You have to take a whole-horse approach to maintaining soundness in the horse, especially athletes. That includes how foot care, diet, and daily routine affect the horse.Take-Home MessageOnce a horse becomes more confident in his work, Whitaker recommends taking up different activities such as trail riding and rest periods during the off-season. People have gotten better about not just wearing their horses out constantly between every competition, he says. They need recovery time, especially as they get older. Keeping a well-trained horse in shape is important, but make sure youre not overdoing so the horse can last longer.