Back pain in horses is a common issue leading to poor performance, with limited non-invasive treatment options available to veterinarians. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially available herbal liniment, Sore No More Performance Ultra, in reducing pain and inflammation in horses with mild back pain. Using a randomised complete block design, 18 mature stock horses were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (herbal liniment) or a control group. Over 44 days, all horses maintained similar light work while pain and inflammation were assessed weekly using pressure algometry and thermography, respectively. While all horses showed an initial decrease in pain scores, the control group’s pain scores rose at Day 23. By Day 30, the liniment group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores on the left side of the back compared to the control group. The study was limited by the small sample size and a lack of fully standardized daily exercise. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the Sore No More Performance Ultra herbal liniment has some effect on back inflammation and pain response, with notable improvements occurring between 23 and 30 days of use.
Read the complete published research on the BEVA website.