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Laminitis - Not Just A Summer Problem!

Writer's picture: Eloise Eloise

Updated: Dec 22, 2021

Unfortunately, laminitis is one of the most common causes of lameness among horses and ponies in the UK. Typically, we associate the lush grass in spring and summer with laminitis. For the most part, the UK's winters are long and wet but those few days of extremes can pose an issue for our metabolically challenged equines.



Horses that have endocrine diseases such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, or formerly known as Equine Cushing’s Disease) are more likely to be affected with the condition during the winter months. Even for well managed horses with endocrine conditions, winter laminitis can occur with no change in diet or management or a previous history of laminitis.


Below are some helpful tips on reducing the chances of your horse being affected by cold weather induced laminitis:


1. Be honest about your horses’ current weight – are they under or overweight? It is vital that your horse is fed accordingly. An overweight horse needs careful calorie monitoring, the most important part of an overweight horse’s diet is fibre. An underweight horse needs to be provided with safe calories, usually in the form of added oils. Consulting with an equine nutritionist can help you create a nutritionally correct and healthy diet for your horse!


2. Ensure you are feeding a low sugar, low starch, high forage and vitamin and mineral balanced diet for those horses with conditions like EMS/PPID.


3. Preventing your horse standing for prolonged periods on frozen solid ground or concrete. This will sap the heat from your horse’s feet and reduce blood flow. Instead the use of rubber matting to further insulate the concrete is better. Additionally, a deeper bed of shavings will further insulate the area they are reliant on standing in.


4. Consider the use of hoof boots to insulate the hoof capsule or lower leg wraps (old hiking socks or leg warmers make a great cheap alternative!). Frozen hard ground can be all it takes to push a horse with an already compromised lamellar connection over the edge, and lead to trauma induced laminitis. Hoof boots offer some protection from this.


5. Prevent or reduce turnout time on grass during and after sunny frosty weather. If this is unavoidable, provide extra dry forage such as hay to encourage them to eat that instead of the grass.



For more information on equine EMS or PPID please follow these links.


Eloise Campion Equine Sports Therapy

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