The discovery that ageing causes significant blood vessel loss in equine tendons could help identify horses at risk of injury and the best way to treat them.

The Royal Veterinary College research considered imaging of the superficial digital flexor tendon, and found that older horses – those aged between 18 and 22 – showed a 70% reduction in vascular volume (the amount of blood present in the tendon blood vessels). They also found a reduction of 30% in vessel diameter, and 74% in the number of vessels, compared to horses aged between two and five.

“This means older tendons receive far less blood flow, making them more vulnerable to damage and slower to heal,” an RVC spokesperson said.

“At the same time, the team observed an increase in the formation of smaller blood vessels within

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