Successful identification, management and prevention of injuries in sport horses requires a thorough understanding of the demands of each sport and the ways in which injury may be manifested. It is essential to be able to communicate with the client (be it the owner, the rider, or the trainer), which means understanding the terminology (or jargon) that goes with the sport. It is important to recognize what is involved in the training of the horse to allow it to compete in whatever discipline in order to plan appropriate rehabilitation programs and in order to be able to give a realistic prognosis. For example the prognosis for a superficial digital flexor tendon injury in an elite show jumper is very different than that for a three-day event horse. It is essential to recognize that, despite owners' and or trainers' expectations, not all horses have either the athletic ability or the temperament to perform at a high level. However genuine a horse might be, unwillingness to perform does not necessarily equate with a pain related problem, although of course, it may. This is especially the case with amateur owned and produced horses. At the other extreme, a professionally produced horse may compete very successfully, despite significant musculoskeletal problems, and may superficially appear to be sound. However, recognition and successful management of those problems may enhance the athletic ability of such horses. There are many problems that a horse is able to cope with at lower levels of competition but which become manifest when greater athletic demands are placed upon the horse when it starts to train and compete at higher levels.
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