Pony and Small Equid Welfare: Laminitis, Obesity and Management

Ponies and small equids are physiologically adapted for sparse forage, making over-provision of rich grass a major welfare problem in modern management contexts.

Key Facts

Equine metabolic syndrome and insulin dysregulation affect an estimated 30-50% of UK ponies
Laminitis — painful inflammation of the laminae within the hoof — is triggered by dietary carbohydrate excess
Ponies evolved to thrive on sparse, low-quality forage; UK managed pasture is far richer than their adapted diet
Strip grazing, track systems and grazing muzzles are evidence-based management tools to control intake
Native pony breeds (Dartmoor, Exmoor, New Forest) are particularly susceptible due to their thrifty metabolism

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis is one of the most painful and debilitating conditions in equine welfare. The lamellar tissue within the hoof becomes inflamed, causing the pedal bone to rotate or sink — a condition that, once severe, may require euthanasia. It is also largely preventable through appropriate dietary management. The welfare tragedy of laminitis is that it is typically caused by excess kindness — owners providing rich pasture and supplementary feeds to animals physiologically adapted to the opposite. Welfare education that addresses this counterintuitive relationship between abundance and harm is the primary prevention tool.

What You Can Do

If you keep ponies, test forage quality and implement dietary management based on the results
Learn about track systems and strip grazing as alternatives to unrestricted pasture access for susceptible breeds
Monitor body condition score monthly and respond promptly to over-condition
Consult an equine nutritionist and farrier if your pony has a history of laminitis to develop a prevention plan
Support the Laminitis Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary in their welfare education and rescue work