Joint injections are a common topic for horse owners—especially if your horse is aging, in competition, or both. Whether joint injections are right for your horse is a decision that deserves careful consideration.
Key Takeaways
- Joint injections are a therapy used to reduce inflammation and pain within a horse’s joints.
- They are performed to treat lameness and improve performance.
- Injections must be administered by a veterinarian.
- After the procedure, your horse will need a follow-up period of rest—sometimes with NSAIDs—followed by a gradual return to work.
What Are Horse Joint Injections?
Joint injections are just what they sound like: an injection into a joint by a trained professional, your veterinarian. A needle is placed into the space between bones that comprise the joint, also called the intra-articular space, where a treatment is administered.
Some joints are easier to inject, while others can be impractical to inject due to depth of surrounding muscle. Most commonly, veterinarians inject joints in the lower limbs of horses.
Joint injections are very common in performance horses of all ages. Some disciplines like showjumping and barrel racing use joint injections more often, but stricter laws have been developed in the past few years that limit joint injections for performance too close to a race or show.
Why Does a Horse Need Joint Injections?
A joint is anywhere on the horse’s body where two bones come together. Surrounding that space is a structure called the joint capsule, which contains joint fluid (synovial fluid). Synovial fluid is composed of large molecules (hyaluronan) and other proteins. The ends of the bones are also covered in cartilage.
Both the cartilage and joint fluid provide a cushion and prevent the two bones from rubbing against each other. When the cartilage breaks down or the joint fluid thins, bone can slide against bone, causing pain and inflammation, as well as changes in the bone structure itself.
These changes often result in lameness and reduce range of motion in the horse’s stride.
Any time a horse experiences inflammation of a joint, injections can help relieve pain and inflammation and increase range of motion.
Common conditions that may benefit from joint injection use include:
Joint injections provide pain relief by reducing inflammation. Corticosteroids block the inflammation receptor pathways, and reducing inflammation also helps protect cartilage from further damage.
Types of Joint Injections for Horses
Steroids
Corticosteroids are synthetic steroid drugs that reduce pain and inflammation. They are generally cheap and readily available, but overuse has been shown to cause cartilage damage in horses over time.
Steroids should also be used with caution or not at all in horses who are metabolic or prone to laminitis.
Hydrogels
Hydrogels, such as Arthramid and Noltrex, provide pain relief by forming a gel buffer in the joint that acts as a fluid cushion between the bones.
Hyaluronic Acid
Large molecules like hyaluronic acid help to improve the quality of the joint fluid by helping to make the fluid more viscous. As a horse ages, the joint fluid can become thinner and less viscous, providing less cushion in the joint.
Orthobiologics
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) are derived from the horse’s own blood and prepared in a lab before being injected into the joint. These treatments help reduce inflammation and slow degenerative changes.
How Often Do Joint Injections Need to Be Done?
Joint injections can have a wide range of flexibility in terms of how often they are repeated. It depends on how the individual horse responds to the initial injection. But generally, joints can be injected as often as every few weeks or as little as once a year.
Keep in mind that frequency of injections can play a role in how well the horse responds to the injections. Over time, the injections will become less beneficial.
Cost of Joint Injections for Horses
The cost of joint injections can range from $200 to $1,000 per visit.
Because injections are often done in pairs (e.g., both hocks or both stifles), the total cost can vary depending on several factors, including:
In some areas of the country, prices may be significantly higher. Cost can also rise depending on the type of injection—hydrogels, for example, tend to be much more expensive than steroids.
Joints that require special equipment, such as ultrasound guidance, will also add to the cost.
Preparation for Horse Joint Injections
Before your veterinarian arrives, brush off any dirt, mud, or dust from your horse’s coat. You can also hose and clean the legs, but make sure they’re dry by the time your vet gets there.
The horse should be placed in a clean stall or on a cement mat or aisle, avoiding shavings or dusty areas.
If your horse is on any daily medication, especially NSAIDs, let your veterinarian know.
Prepare an area or stall with no food where your horse can wake up safely after the procedure is done. Most veterinarians recommend 24 hours of stall rest after injections, so be sure that space is available.
How Are Horse Joint Injections Performed?
Joint injections are typically administered under sedation or some form or restraint to prevent movement.
The injection site is prepped and cleaned thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection—a process that typically takes seven to 10 minutes.
Once the area is prepped, your veterinarian will draw up the product, insert the needle into the joint, and then attach the syringe to deliver the injection. The actual injection is generally a quick process.
After the needle is removed and all the joints are injected, your veterinarian may apply a silver spray, like Silver Honey, or cover the area with a light bandage.
Post Joint Injection Care for Horses
Your veterinarian will provide specific aftercare instructions based on the joint injected and the type of product used.
Often, you may be asked to administer an NSAID for a few days following the procedure.
In general, most horses are given 24 hours of stall rest, followed by two to three days of light work, then a gradual return to regular work.
Side Effects of Joint Injections
There is always a small risk of infection with joint injections, which is why your veterinarian carefully cleans the injection site beforehand.
In some cases, horses may experience joint flare a few days after the injection. This is an inflammatory response—not an infection—but it can still cause swelling and heat in the joint.
Alternatives To Horse Joint Injections
If joint injections aren’t the right choice for your horse, there are other ways to support joint health and reduce inflammation.
Systemic (whole-body) injectables, like Adequan, Zycosan, and Polyglycan, can be administered deep into muscle tissue or intravenously on a schedule to help improve joint quality.
Oral anti-inflammatories, like phenylbutazone, Banamine, or Equioxx, can be given alone or alongside Adequan. However, long-term NSAID use carries potential side effects, so talk to your vet before starting these medications.
Joint supplements containing hyaluronic acid (HA) or glucosamine can be added to your horse’s feed, but these are better for maintenance, as you won’t see as dramatic an effect as you would with injectables.
Horse Joint Injections FAQs
What is the best joint injection for horses?
The cheapest and most commonly used intra-articular injection in horses is corticosteroids combined with hyaluronic acid. It does not, however, mean that it is the best option for every horse. Discuss with your veterinarian which type of injections are best for your horse.
How long do joint injections last in horses?
How much do joint injections cost?
The cost of joint injections is $200–$1,000 per visit, depending on the product being injected and number of joints being injected.
What do vets inject into horse joints?
Veterinarians can inject a combination of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, autologous blood products (PRP, IRAP), and hydrogels into joints.
When do you see the maximum benefit from joint injections?
For corticosteroids, horses typically experience the maximum benefit around seven days after injection. Hydrogels take longer, with peak effects often seen after 30 days or more.
