Horse Laminitis Welfare and Management

Laminitis is one of the most painful and common conditions affecting horses. Successful management requires understanding its causes and implementing evidence-based preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Key Facts

Laminitis involves inflammation of the sensitive laminae connecting the pedal bone to the hoof wall
Causes include endocrine disease (EMS, PPID), dietary carbohydrate overload, and systemic illness
The Obel grading system (1-4) classifies laminitis severity based on lameness and willingness to move
Supportive shoeing with frog support and palmar angle elevation is central to acute treatment
Dietary management — limiting access to lush grass and controlling carbohydrate intake — is essential for EMS-related laminitis

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis causes severe, acute pain — a horse with grade 3-4 laminitis is in agony, reluctant to move, standing in a characteristic "sawhorse" posture to take weight off their front feet. The welfare tragedy is that many cases are preventable: horses with undiagnosed endocrine disease, allowed access to lush spring grass, can develop acute laminitis seemingly without warning. Managing the underlying cause — PPID, EMS — prevents recurrence far more effectively than treating each episode. Chronic laminitis with pedal bone rotation represents long-term suffering that requires committed management and regular evaluation of quality of life.

What You Can Do

Have horses who are overweight, "good doers," or have previously had laminitis tested for PPID and EMS
Restrict access to lush grass during high-risk periods — spring and autumn flush — using grazing muzzles or strip grazing
Seek emergency veterinary assessment immediately if laminitis is suspected — early intervention improves prognosis
Work with a farrier experienced in therapeutic shoeing for laminitic horses
Monitor pedal bone position annually with radiographs in chronic laminitis cases to guide ongoing management