Laminitis is one of the most painful and common conditions affecting horses and ponies. Prevention through understanding triggers and implementing management strategies is far better than treatment.
Laminitis causes intense, sometimes agonising pain that profoundly compromises equine welfare. The laminar tissue damage that underlies the condition is progressive; each laminitic episode causes permanent structural changes that increase vulnerability to future episodes. Prevention is therefore not merely a welfare improvement but a welfare imperative: every laminitic episode that could have been prevented represents avoidable suffering. Evidence-based prevention requires understanding the specific trigger category for each individual animal, implementing targeted management accordingly, and monitoring vigilantly for early signs. For EMS horses, strict grazing restriction and body weight management are the foundations. For PPID horses, treatment with pergolide to restore cortisol regulation significantly reduces laminitis risk. For all horses, the relationship between nutrition, weight, and laminitis risk should be central to management planning.