Research into articular cartilage is a surprisingly recent endeavour and much remains to be learned about the normal development of the synovial joint and its components that interplay in osteoarthritis and focal cartilage defects. Stem cell research is likely to contribute to the understanding of the developmental biology of synovial joints and their pathologies. Before human clinical trials are undertaken, stem cell-based therapies for non-life-threatening disorders should be evaluated for their safety and efficacy using animal models of spontaneous disease and not solely by the existing laboratory models of experimentally induced lesions. The horse lends itself as a good animal model of spontaneous joint disorders that are clinically relevant to similar human disorders. Equine stem cell and tissue engineering studies may be financially feasible to principal investigators and small biotechnology companies if the equine industry is successfully engaged in the research process.