Equine Laminitis Welfare and Nutritional Management

Laminitis causes severe, potentially chronic pain in horses and ponies, with prevention through careful dietary management the most important welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Laminitis involves inflammation of the laminar tissue connecting the hoof wall to the pedal bone
Severe cases involve rotation or sinking of the pedal bone through the sole causing excruciating pain
Native pony breeds including Welsh, New Forest, and Shetland are at highest genetic risk
Spring and autumn grass flushes trigger laminitis in susceptible individuals
Emergency management includes removing from pasture, deep bedding, and immediate veterinary assessment

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis is one of the most painful conditions in equine medicine. The inflammatory process causes intense throbbing pain with every heartbeat, and severe cases with pedal bone rotation cause pain of such intensity that affected horses cannot bear weight. Chronic laminitis causes permanent structural damage requiring ongoing pain management. The welfare tragedy is that many cases are preventable through dietary management, yet horses continue to develop the condition when owners fail to recognise risk factors or restrict pasture access adequately. Prevention is vastly more welfare-positive than treatment.

What You Can Do

Restrict grazing access for native breed ponies and horses during grass flush periods
Use a grazing muzzle for high-risk individuals to reduce sugar intake while maintaining movement
Learn to recognise early signs including warm hooves, increased digital pulse, and pointing of forelimbs
Contact your vet immediately at first signs of laminitis before bone rotation can occur
Work with a farrier experienced in laminitis to maintain optimal hoof balance