Concept
Our Story
Our Mission & Vision
Years of experience in the management of Equine Athletes around the world made our founder, Henk Offereins DVM, MVSc, MRCVS realise the shortcomings and frustrations most horse owners face when confronted with a tendon or ligament injury. Lack of accurate diagnosis technology and the inability to truly control forces on tendons in rehabilitation made tendon and ligament recovery unsuccessful, unpredictable, frustrating and expensive.
We believe that collecting reliable and accurate data will optimise equine performance management:
- To determine optimal exercise and training levels during rehabilitation.
- To determine optimal training in young or developing horses and to monitor tendon health during high performance.
- To monitor exercise levels and establish optimal feed and supplement intake.
- To monitor equine soundness and balance during training and competition.
- To allow distance monitoring of equine rehabilitation, training and performance.
Our company is driven by a goal to offer industry-changing results by using unique technology and services, creating a worldwide network of centres of excellence and by offering clients an excellent and affordable service. We also believe that sharing the successes, disappointments, and general experiences between our clients and experts will help to deal better with injuries and the challenges we face managing these.
Prevention & Monitoring
Tendon injuries may be the result of single macro-trauma. But there is growing evidence that tendon lesions are frequently preceded by gradual disintegration going on for months or even longer before injuries become manifest. So, clinical symptoms are frequently only the tip of the iceberg.
The best technology to accurately assess the quality of tendon tissue is called Ultrasound Tissue Characterisation (UTC) scanning. UTC is currently used by leading sports institutes all over the world and is vastly gaining ground as being the golden standard for Equine Tendon Management. It is mobile and the assessment scan doesn’t cost a fortune (like MRI).
Diagnosis of Injuries & Early Prevention
Early and detailed diagnosis is key to effective tendon healing. Using UTC, we can detect subtle tendon changes before clinical symptoms appear. These findings often precede full-scale damage by 2–4 weeks, allowing us to intervene early. In some cases, changes reverse within a few days, requiring no major treatment. When tendons show signs of not coping, reducing training intensity or limiting exercise for two weeks is often enough to stabilise the tissue.
In more serious cases, where symptoms like swelling, warmth, and tenderness suggest tendon overload or early failure—we reduce intensity but avoid complete rest. Instead, we use light exercise, often supported by our Tendon Pro DSS, to maintain mobility and reduce strain. Therapies such as shockwave, and electrotherapy further enhance healing. Ongoing UTC monitoring helps guide treatment, ensuring the best recovery with minimal risk and downtime.
Rehabilitation & Injury Management
Tendon injuries in equine athletes require careful, staged management rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The goal is to maximise Type I (green) fibres, which ensure elasticity and resilience, while minimising weaker Type II (blue) and III (red) fibres that predispose the tendon to re-injury.
To achieve optimal healing, we follow a proactive exercise protocol designed to limit scar tissue and shorten the “blue stage.” Using our TendonPro DSS from as early as 1–2 weeks post-injury, we can safely reintroduce controlled exercise. This device regulates strain on the healing tendon and prevents sudden peak loads. Its adjustable support allows for gradual loading based on actual tendon fibre progress monitored via UTC. This combination of technology and tailored exercise enables us to offer safe, effective rehabilitation with the best possible long-term outcomes.
Management of Tendons & Ligaments
Equine athletes are capable of exceptional performance but with that comes an increased risk of injury, especially when pushing beyond physical limits. As such, proactive injury prevention and dynamic management are essential. Tendons, ligaments, and muscles are inherently dynamic, and their care must match. With our UTC technology, we can monitor fibre structure to evaluate tendon health and determine whether a horse is coping with its current training load. This enables us to make informed adjustments before injury occurs.
Our approach is rooted in a global network of veterinarians, physiotherapists, trainers, and riders who collaborate to refine injury prevention and recovery strategies. We offer clients worldwide access to this collective knowledge through agents, digital services, and expert referrals, ensuring tailored, high-level care that leads to exceptional results in diagnosis, rehabilitation, and long-term performance management.