How to Prevent Laminitis in Horses

Laminitis occurs in horses when the membranes (called laminae) which connect the horse's foot bones to the keratin wall of the hoof become swollen and inflamed. Laminitis usually occurs on the front feet and is extremely painful to the horse. Left untreated, the membranes may deteriorate completely, which may permanently damage the hoof and foot bones.^{[1]XResearch source} Horse laminitis might occur due to over-feeding or issues with your horse's feet. You might prevent laminitis by managing your horses' food intake and taking good care of their feet.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Managing a Horse’s Feed and Weight

1
Feed horses 1.5–2% of their body weight in hay each day. Hay provides horses with carbohydrates and fiber but, unlike grasses, it contains very little sugar. As long as your horse is active and healthy, feed it up to 2% of its body weight in dry, high-quality hay daily. If you don’t have access to high-quality hay, you can substitute a horse feed purchased from a local tack store.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceUniversity of Georgia Cooperative ExtensionDivision of the University of Georgia focused on research and community educationGo to source}
- So, if your horse weighs 800 pounds (360 kg), give it 12–16 pounds (5.4–7.3 kg) of hay daily.
2
Let your horses eat in a grassy pasture for only 2–3 hours a day. Green pasture grass contains high levels of starch and sugar, which may trigger laminitis if horses eat too much of it. To guard against laminitis, when lush grass starts growing tall around spring time, turn horses out to pasture for only 2–3 hours, then bring them back to their paddock.^{[3]XResearch source}
- In general, you don’t need to monitor how much grass horses eat during their 2–3 hours of grazing. Only in the case of an overweight horse will you need to restrict the amount of food you give to your horse. Do this only in consultation with a veterinarian.
- Try a grazing muzzle if your horse is overweight or you don't have a dry paddock for your horse after their grazing period. This will control how much your horse can eat.
- Preventing laminitis may mean changing horses’ pasture schedules to protect them from consuming too much starch and sugar. Try turning your horses out at night when the starch and sugar content in the grass isn’t as high.
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3
Feed horses only 1–2 portions of sugar- and starch-rich foods a week. While horses like to eat sweet foods, they can have a harmful effect on the health of the horse’s feet. It’s fine to give your horse a sweet treat 1–2 times a week, but sugary and starchy food shouldn’t make up a large portion of the animal’s diet. Foods rich in sugars and starches include apples and other fruit, carrots, grains, and sweet green grass.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you notice a horse’s hooves becoming brittle, or if a farrier suspects your horse may be susceptible to laminitis, cut out these foods altogether.
- For example, each week, you could give your horse 1 apple and 1 carrot. If you’re concerned about laminitis, work closely with your veterinarian to figure out a dietary plan that works for your horse.
4
Add a hoof supplement to your horse’s diet if its hooves are weak. If you or the farrier notices that a horse’s hooves are brittle and dry, purchase a dietary supplement to strengthen the hooves. A good hoof supplement contains biotin, zinc, calcium, and copper may have other hoof-strengthening vitamins. Follow the directions printed on the supplement packaging, and you’re your horse as much of the supplement as directed.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceUniversity of Georgia Cooperative ExtensionDivision of the University of Georgia focused on research and community educationGo to source}
- Biotin supplements contain vitamin B, which helps hooves grow. Biotin is found naturally in alfalfa, barley, and oats. However, these low concentrations are often not sufficient to help prevent laminitis.
5
Have your pasture grass analyzed for fructans. Fructan is a type of sugar found in grasses. Not all horses respond to sweet grasses the same, and not all lush grasses have the same levels of fructans. If you’d like a better understanding of how much fructan the grass in your fields contains, bring a sample to your veterinarian and ask for an analysis. The higher the amounts of fructan in the grass, the less time your horse should spend eating it.^{[6]XResearch source}
- The level of fructan in grasses can vary with the changing seasons. For example, if winters become milder and summers become wetter, a longer growing season will result in higher rates of fructans.
- Fructan levels are at their highest in spring and autumn.
6
Store grain and feed securely so that horses can’t get to it. Horses like to eat, and if they find a bag of oats left unattended, they will consume all of the food that they can find, which could cause laminitis.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Use plastic storage bins with locking tops. This will keep horses as well as rats, mice, and other rodents out of the grain.
- Keep the grain containers behind a closed door, such as in a tack room or storage shed.
7
Exercise your healthy horse regularly to prevent obesity. Obese and overweight horses have a much higher risk of contracting laminitis than do horses at a healthy weight. So, take your horse on a trail ride 4–5 times a week, or train it in an arena or paddock for an hour or 2 daily.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If your horse doesn’t lose weight with more exercise, talk to your vet and put together a weight-reducing diet for the horse.
- Laminitis occurs more often in obese horses since the animal’s heavy body puts more weight on the hooves than they can support.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Horse’s Hooves

1
Check and clean your horse’s hooves every day. Maintaining your horse’s clean, healthy hooves is a crucial part of preventing laminitis. Clean any dirt, stones, and other objects from the central “V” of the hooves with a hoof pick. While you’re cleaning, inspect the horse’s hooves and make sure there are no signs of laminitis.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Signs of laminitis include tenderness and heat in the hooves. Additionally, you might feel warmth or softness around the coronary band, which requires veterinary care. A horse with laminitis will also be hesitant to walk, or may only walk in circles. If the illness has progressed, you’ll notice the fronts of the horses hooves beginning to turn upwards. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your horse has laminitis.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Association of Equine PractitionersNational organization with a mission of improving the health and welfare of horses and providing resources to people who work with them.Go to source}
- If you see signs of sore feet (e.g., a horse refusing to let you touch one foot), contact your veterinarian.
2
Have your farrier trim your horse’s feet every 6–8 weeks. Regular hoof trims will prevent laminitis, keep the hooves from growing too long, and ensure that your equine has well-balanced feet. Talk with the farrier and make sure that they’re trimming the toe of the hoof to prevent harmful wear and tear on the horse’s foot that could lead to laminitis.^{[11]XResearch source}
- A farrier is an individual who attaches the shoes to horses’ feet. If you don’t have a reliable farrier, ask your veterinarian and other horse-owning friends for a recommendation.
3
Avoid riding on rough terrain if your horse doesn’t have shoes on. Good riding practices are an important part of preventing laminitis. If your horse isn’t shod and will be moving quickly along any hard surface (including asphalt, concrete, and rocks), its hooves could be concussed. These hoof concussions and bruises can leave the animal at risk for foot ailments, including laminitis.^{[12]XResearch source} So, either ask your farrier to put shoes on your horse, or stick to riding on soft surfaces.
- If you use your horse for work (e.g., pulling a carriage or farming), make sure to shoe the horse before having it work on hard surfaces. Repetitive stress injuries from riding unshod on hard surfaces can cause laminitis.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Guarding against Other Causes of Laminitis

1
Use bedding that does not contain black walnut shavings. Black walnut shavings are incredibly harmful to horses’ hooves and can cause laminitis literally overnight. You can often recognize black walnut among the horse’s bedding shavings: it has a dark brown color, unlike most other woods used in horse bedding.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Before purchasing bedding from a tack and horse supply store, confirm that black walnut comprises 0% of the bedding.
2
Ensure that the placenta comes out of a mare after it gives birth. If any part of the placenta stays inside of the mare after she gives birth to a foal, it can cause a serious internal infection. If left untreated, this infection can cause laminitis (among other life-threatening conditions). So, watch closely as your mare gives birth and confirm that she produces a placenta. If you have a vet on hand during the birth, they can also look for the placenta.^{[14]XResearch source}
- The placenta is about 2 by 2 feet (0.61 m × 0.61 m) and has a pink, reddish color. It’s covered in veins and has a thin, white, “bag”-like structure at 1 end.
- After the placenta comes out, put it in a bucket for safe-keeping so that your vet can examine it when they come to check the foal. The vet will be able to tell you if the entire placenta came out.
- If your mare doesn’t produce a placenta within 2 hours after giving birth (and you don’t have a vet on hand), call a veterinarian immediately. This is a medical emergency.
3
Inspect your horse’s hooves for laminitis if it’s recently been ill. In some situations, horses can contract laminitis in 1 or more feet after they’ve had a serious illness, even if the illness has nothing to do with the digestive tract or feet. If you notice heat or tenderness in the horse’s hooves, take them to a vet and mention your concerns about laminitis. Illnesses that can trigger laminitis in horses include:^{[15]XResearch source}
- Colic (especially if it arose following a surgery)
- Pneumonia
- Potomac Horse Fever
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Tips

To maintain the health of your horse’s digestive tract, try feeding it a probiotic supplement.^{[16]XResearch source} Probiotics are a simple, yet very effective way of maintaining good gut health and aiding the digestion of fiber.
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Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect laminitis. Treating horse laminitis right away will improve chances for a full recovery.
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The starch and sugar content in lush pasture grasses is highest in the spring and during the daytime.
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Warnings

If it ever gets to where your horse can't stand up or if the coffin bone drops through the sole of the hoof you must put your horse down.
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