SportHorses.vet is an independent equine veterinary service based in Bocholt (3950), Belgium.
Specialized in equine orthopedics, sport horse medicine and performance-oriented veterinary care across Europe.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the most widely used regenerative techniques in equine orthopedic medicine, especially for sport horses that require fast and reliable recovery. In our equine orthopedic service in Belgium, we apply PRP to improve the healing of joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles, helping horses return safely to high-performance sport.
PRP consists of the local infiltration of autologous plasma rich in platelet-derived growth factors. These growth factors stimulate biological repair mechanisms, reduce inflammation and promote high-quality tissue regeneration—key elements in preventing re-injury and maintaining long-term performance.
How PRP Helps Sport Horses Recover
PRP is highly effective in treating:
- Joint injuries, including early osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis (OCD)
- Tendonitis and desmitis (ligament injuries)
- Muscle tears
- Post-operative support after arthroscopy or other orthopedic procedures
Many tendon and ligament injuries struggle to return to sport due to the formation of low-quality scar tissue. Healthy tendons contain abundant type I collagen, but after an injury, the body tends to produce type IV collagen, which is weaker, less elastic and more prone to re-injury.
PRP helps reverse this process by stimulating the regeneration of type I collagen fibers, restoring strength, elasticity and biomechanical quality.
Scientific Benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Stimulates neovascularization, improving oxygenation, nutrition and metabolic waste elimination.
- Increases cellularity and promotes the regeneration of high-quality (type I) tendon fibers.
- Accelerates tissue healing and reduces pain.
- Shortens recovery time by up to 50%, allowing the horse to return sooner and safer to competition.
- Supports bone, tendon and ligament healing, improving structural organization of newly formed tissues.
This makes PRP an excellent therapeutic option for competitive horses requiring fast, safe and evidence-based recovery.
How We Perform PRP in Sport Horses
Our PRP protocol is fast, minimally invasive and performed with the highest clinical standards:
- Blood extraction from the jugular vein.
- Centrifugation with certified veterinary PRP kits to isolate platelet-rich plasma.
- Ultrasound-guided infiltration of PRP directly into the lesion for maximum precision.
- Most procedures take about 30 minutes, usually under light sedation for the horse’s comfort.
Depending on the injury, 2–3 sessions every 10–14 days are recommended.
After treatment, horses must follow a progressive rehabilitation plan supervised by an equine orthopedic veterinarian. This is essential to ensure optimal tissue remodeling and prevent re-injury.