03/23/2025
The laminitis calls have started coming in already!
We’re getting spring grass starting, that means we need to be on the lookout for laminitis symptoms.
Laminitis is extremely painful for horses and it is the second biggest killer after colic. ANY horse can get laminitis, from your thin thoroughbred to your miniature “lawn mower” (that includes donkeys and mules). I repeat ANY horse, they don’t have to be obese to founder.
Symptoms to look for are...
Uncomfortable on hard ground
Shifting weight from foot to foot when standing on hard ground
Shortened stride on hard ground
Sore after a trim
Digital pulse
Heat in the hooves
Flattened sole
Stretched lamina line
Blood in the lamina line
Unwilling to pick up feet
Rings in the hoof wall
Prevention is better than cure. Get your diet and management sorted.
If your horse is sore you need to remove the cause, if the cause is grass that means they can have NO GRASS, NONE.
Feed a low sugar hay in a slow feed hay net. Soak it to reduce sugar if you’re not sure what the sugar content is.
Avoid rye, clover, too much Lucerne, get them off the short grass! Short stressed grass is higher in sugar than older longer grass. Grass in shaded paddocks is also lower in sugar.
Grazing can be limited to safe times between 2am and 9am, afternoon grazing is the most dangerous time.
Track systems are wonderful if you need to lock up as they promote movement.
Grazing muzzles are not the devil and can be fantastic if you aren’t able to remove your horse from the grass.
Do NOT starve your obese pony! They need access to hay at all times even if it’s in a double netted slow feeder to slow them down.
Avoid any feed/hay with a combined sugar content over 10% (check ESC + starch on the bag). If it’s not there contact the feed company and ask. Feeds with the laminitis safe tick are not necessarily safe, this is a good marketing trick with little science behind it.
Avoid apples, bread, grains, molasses. Remember things like molasses are used in a lot of feeds to make them palatable like molo mix.
Safe feeds like beet pulp and soy hulls can be used for weight gain if it’s needed, and to carry minerals.
Remember going on a diet is not about starving the body of nutrients it’s about bringing it back to health.
If your horse is off grass they will need mineral supplementation (mineral licks are not enough and are often high iron and molasses), salt, vitamin E, and omega 3.
Contact your hoof care practitioner as soon as you see symptoms to get your horse back on track. If you have an acute case and you horse is lame, laying down a lot, leaning back, or otherwise unwell contact your vet. If your horse is not improving or has other symptoms, you may need to test for underlying conditions like Cushings and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
