Horse Laminitis: A Painful and Preventable Condition

Laminitis is a devastating hoof disease causing severe lameness in horses, with prevention being far more effective than treatment.

Key Facts

Laminitis affects the sensitive laminar tissue bonding the hoof wall to the pedal bone
The condition is caused by insulin dysregulation, grain overload, or systemic illness such as colic
Severe cases lead to rotation or sinking of the pedal bone through the sole of the hoof
Approximately 1.5% of horses per year are affected, making it one of the most common equine emergencies
Recurrence rates are high — horses that survive one episode have elevated future risk
Ponies and horses with equine metabolic syndrome are disproportionately affected

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis causes excruciating pain, often described by veterinarians as the equivalent of having fingernails torn away. Horses in acute laminitic episodes are unable to bear weight comfortably and may lie down for extended periods. Chronic laminitis causes ongoing hoof distortion and lameness that substantially reduces quality of life. The welfare burden is immense — many horses are euthanized because the condition becomes unmanageable. Prevention through dietary management, regular farriery, and metabolic screening is the most effective welfare strategy.

What You Can Do

Restrict grass access for horses and ponies prone to insulin dysregulation, especially in spring and autumn
Test horses with metabolic symptoms for equine metabolic syndrome and PPID
Establish regular farriery schedules to maintain correct hoof angles and support laminitic horses
Learn to recognize early warning signs: heat in the hooves, bounding digital pulse, and reluctance to move