So basically everyone.
Let’s be clear–a BOWED tendon is a rarity off the track.
Tendon strains and general tendon injuries are very common in horses. THe vast majority of which respond positively to treatment and allow the horse to return to regular work, at its previous level (unless we are talking about the super big sticks here).
There is no need to make the OP hysterical. OP: it is very unlikely that your horse BOWED a tendon. It is very likely that your horse injured her tendon or various associated supportive soft tissue structure in her lower leg. You treat them all the same, as discussed.
If she does not respond to treatment and improve within a week or two, you might want to consider an ultrasound. But an ultrasound is not usually necessary for a minor soft tissue strain as it can be extremely expensive and will not change the aftercare recommendations.
Tendon issues require a brief period of stall rest (+ice +NSAIDS) followed by a longer period of very controlled exercise; handwalking, under saddle walking, progressing to trotting of long walls/straight lines, walking corners, and absolutely NO turnout or lunging of any kind. The controlled exercise is slowly increased until the horse is sound in regular flat work and the tendon is cold and set.
Cold hosing is best, ice therapy is second best. Both are most effective post-controlled exercise. Cold therapy should be aggressive, 17 minutes every waking hour–or as often as possible, never applied more then 45 min apart.
If the tendon area is not swollen, wrapping is not necessary. Wrapping is not benign, and horse can actually BOW from a bad wrap job (bandage bow!). So if a caretaker is not confident in their wrapping prowess, the horse can and should remain unwrapped.
Horse can also become dependent on wraps if wrapped too much/too often, leaving them stocked up overnight if not wrapped–for the rest of their life. If a horse has been wrapped for a long period of time, they will need to be weaned off wrapping. Something to keep in mind when deciding to wrap or not. It is not always a good thing to wrap.
