Laminae lowdown
The term “laminitis” is used to describe an inflammation of the laminae, the tissue that connects your horse’s coffin bone to the rest of the hoof. This inflammation can be extremely painful, and in severe cases it can cause the laminae to die, leaving the coffin bone unsupported in the hoof. If the bone rotates or sinks in the hoof, the horse is said to have “foundered.” Because of the potential severity, this condition always requires attention from your veterinarian and farrier.
Common causes
The leading cause of laminitis is widely believed to be pasture (grass sugar) overload, which is one of the reasons it’s best to reintroduce grazing slowly in the springtime. You may also consider using a grazing muzzle to help reduce your horse’s risk of overindulging on pasture.
The Tough 1 Easy Breathe Grazing Muzzle offers a comfortable way to limit access to grass without restricting breathing or drinking. There are other causes for laminitis—including inflammatory conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushing’s disease—so it’s important to be familiar with the signs listed above. To learn more about laminitis, visit SmartPak.com/LaminitisVideo
SmartLamina™ Pellets help support the integrity of your horse’s laminae from the inside. This comprehensive formula contains hops and omega 3 fatty acids, demonstrated by research to support healthy laminae, along with MSM and devil’s claw, which help maintain a healthy inflammatory response. Rounding out this comprehensive formula is Auradagex™, a powerful antioxidant to promote cellular health.
Ow that looks really painful
I’m a trimmer and have owned horses my entire life. As long as the horse has healthy feet to begin with, and proper angles that don’t put an overwhelming amount of pressure on the coffin bone, you don’t need to worry about laminitis. The feet may get warm for a few days, but they are always able to correct themselves if given the opportunity. If the horse has foundered in the past though, caution should be taken. But in my experience, laminitis and founder are simply some of the later, more prominent symptoms of an underlying problem. Very often it is a lack of magnesium coupled with poor trimming. And alfalfa is not the enemy to foundered/laminitic horses!
Thank you so much for the information. It wasn’t only Interesting but very helpful to watch for this spring..Thank you again. From the State Of Kansas
Also a barefoot trimming specialist for over a decade now, and agree with B. Jackson regarding proper hoof angles! Your “healthy” diagram on the left appears to have an overly steep front hoof wall of approximately 60 degrees, while the coffin bone (CB) is closer to 50 degrees. Ideally they would both be about 45 degrees in a healthy front hoof, closer to 55 degrees in the hinds–the frontal surfaces of hoof wall/CB must be parallel for a healthy laminar connection. When you have a ground parallel CB on weight bearing, there is nowhere for it to rotate, so a case of laminitis should resolve on its own within weeks (unless of course, the entire connection suddenly fails and leads to a dropped coffin bone, but that would be very rare IME). The outer hoof wall should emulate the shape of the underlying CB, both along the walls and across the sole/bars! Have helped enough horses recover from laminitis and advanced founder that a natural mixture of green grasses (i.e., not mono-culture or fertilized) doesn’t concern me. But please do consider getting your horses barefoot sound, turned out 24/7 and off the sweet feed!
Can anyone suggest a good barefoot trimmer in Norco, CA. My horse has EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) I think. The crest of his neck has grown and hurts him. I am trying to find a barefoot trimmer to help me with his diet and one who knows the angles and foot mapping. I just want him healthy and happy because he is so much fun and is my life.