Hoofbeat

Laminitis is one of several spring pasture concerns

How do you reduce laminitis in horses?  The incidence of laminitis is about 2% a year in the U.S.  In the spring and summer it goes up to about 5%. Almost half of laminitis cases happen in animals at pasture.  Plants in the spring have a lot of simple sugars and other starches that when ingested in great amounts can cause laminitis. The condition is painful and disabling for horses. That’s why vets recommend putting horses out to pasture a little at a time in the spring…and not 24 hours at a time in the beginning.