Laminitis Rehabilitation in Horses: Long-Term Welfare Management

Laminitis rehabilitation requires months of careful management — the welfare goal is restoring comfortable movement and preventing recurrence.

Key Facts

• Laminitis rehabilitation requires 3-12 months of careful dietary and exercise management
• Deep, supportive bedding (20+ cm shavings or sand) is essential for comfort during recovery
• Radiographic monitoring guides farriery decisions throughout rehabilitation
• Return to grazing must be carefully managed — grass sugars can trigger relapse
• Many laminitis cases are linked to equine metabolic syndrome or PPID requiring long-term treatment

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis rehabilitation is a long-term welfare commitment that requires patience, vigilance, and consistent management. Horses in active laminitis experience severe pain from the coffin bone rotating or sinking within the hoof capsule — pain management is the immediate welfare priority. As acute inflammation subsides, rehabilitation focuses on restoring normal laminar attachment through correct farriery, dietary management to remove the trigger (usually dietary carbohydrate excess), and treatment of underlying metabolic conditions. Deep, supportive bedding reduces the pain of standing. The psychological welfare of horses confined during rehabilitation must also be addressed — enrichment, social contact, and mental stimulation reduce the stress of restricted movement.

What You Can Do

• Provide deep supportive bedding of at least 20cm and ensure the horse can lie down comfortably
• Work with a veterinarian and farrier experienced in laminitis rehabilitation using radiographic guidance
• Eliminate dietary triggers — restrict pasture access and feed a low-sugar, low-starch hay-based diet
• Test and treat for PPID and equine metabolic syndrome as underlying causes
• Provide social contact and mental enrichment to maintain psychological wellbeing during box rest