Horse Laminitis Prevention: Dietary and Management Strategies

Preventing laminitis in at-risk horses requires understanding of dietary triggers, metabolic risk factors, and pasture management strategies.

Key Facts

Pasture-associated laminitis is the most common form, triggered by rapid intake of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in grass
Horses and ponies with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) or Cushing's disease have dramatically elevated laminitis risk
Spring grass, stressed autumn grass, and lush growth after rain are highest-risk grazing periods
Grazing muzzles reduce grass intake by 75-80% and are an effective prevention tool for at-risk equines
Diagnosed Cushing's disease should be treated with pergolide to normalize ACTH and reduce laminitis risk
Body condition scoring — targeting score 5/9 — is a key preventive monitoring tool for EMS horses

Welfare Considerations

Preventing laminitis is vastly preferable to treating it — the condition causes intense, sometimes irreversible pain and can end careers and lives. Prevention requires understanding the individual horse's metabolic risk and managing diet and pasture access accordingly. Overweight ponies and horses are at highest risk, yet are often fed freely on lush pasture — a recipe for preventable suffering. Grazing muzzles, track systems, and dry lot periods are practical management tools that dramatically reduce risk. Owners of high-risk horses need clear veterinary guidance on seasonal pasture management, body condition monitoring, and recognition of early laminitis signs. Prevention investment saves enormous welfare cost.

What You Can Do

Have at-risk horses and ponies tested for equine metabolic syndrome and Cushing's disease
Restrict pasture access during high-risk periods (spring flush, stressed autumn grass)
Use a grazing muzzle for overweight equines or those with diagnosed metabolic conditions
Monitor body condition score monthly and target a score of 5/9 for at-risk horses
Treat diagnosed Cushing's disease with pergolide to normalize hormonal laminitis risk
Work with your farrier on preventive shoeing for horses with a history of laminitis