Steroids are a broad class of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds characterized by a four-ring carbon skeleton. In equine veterinary medicine the term most commonly refers to corticosteroids, which are used to reduce inflammation and suppress overactive immune responses, and to anabolic-androgenic steroids, which influence muscle mass, red blood cell production, and secondary sexual characteristics.
Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, and triamcinolone are among the most frequently prescribed medications in equine practice. They are administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or by direct intra-articular injection into a intra-articular corticosteroid injection or other joint to control osteoarthritis-driven inflammation. Systemic corticosteroid use carries a risk of laminitis in horses with insulin dysregulation, making dose and duration decisions clinically significant — a consideration that intersects directly with laminitis risk from systemic corticosteroid use health management.
Anabolic steroids such as stanozolol and boldenone have been used historically to support muscle recovery and appetite in debilitated horses, though regulatory restrictions in competition horses are strict. Most governing bodies test for steroid metabolites in urine and blood, with detection windows that extend weeks beyond the last dose.
Endogenous steroids — including the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — regulate reproductive cycling in the mare and behavioral characteristics in the stallion. Understanding baseline hormone levels helps veterinarians diagnose reproductive abnormalities in both sexes.