Laminitis Prone Horses & Ponies

If your horse suffers from, or is prone to laminitis, then the diet is one of the most important places to start.

Laminitis is an inflammatory condition of the laminae tissues which bond the hoof wall to the pedal bone in the equine foot. Pain and lameness is caused by a weakening of these tissues, the tearing of the laminae bond and in severe cases the rotation of the pedal bone. The condition itself is believed to be related to obesity and incorrect nutrition and one of the most important things you can do for a laminitis prone horse is to manage their weight, ideally keeping them to a condition score of three.

Those horses prone to laminitis will often have to endure a diet which minimises the calories they receive and avoids turnout on lush, pasture. However it is important not to forget that the laminitis prone equine still requires the vital vitamins and minerals in the diet and when feed and turnout is simply reduced, they often do not receive the nutrients they require to maintain health and well being.