Laminitis is a painful and potentially debilitating condition in horses that affects the tissues (laminae) connecting the hoof wall to the coffin bone within the hoof. It can have various causes, and while it doesn't have a single cause, it can be triggered by a variety of factors. Founder is a term often used interchangeably with laminitis, but strictly speaking, founder refers to the more severe, advanced stages of laminitis where the coffin bone has rotated or sunk within the hoof.

Causes of laminitis can include:

1. Nutritional Factors: Overeating, especially on lush, rich pasture or excessive grain consumption, can lead to an overload of carbohydrates, which may contribute to laminitis.
2. Metabolic Conditions: Horses with conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Cushing's disease (PPID) may be more prone to laminitis.
3. Concussive Factors: Repeated trauma to the hooves, such as excessive road or hard surface work, can contribute to laminitis.
4. Systemic Illness: Infections or illnesses elsewhere in the horse's body can trigger laminitis.
5. Endotoxins: Certain conditions, such as colic or severe infections, can release endotoxins into the bloodstream, potentially leading to laminitis.

Preventing laminitis involves several key strategies:

1. Proper Nutrition: Provide a balanced diet appropriate for the horse's age, weight, and activity level. Avoid sudden changes in diet, and monitor grazing on lush pasture.
2. Weight Management: Maintain a healthy body weight for your horse to reduce the risk of metabolic issues.
3. Regular Exercise: Regular exercise can help improve circulation and maintain overall health. Be cautious with intense or prolonged work on hard surfaces.
4. Proper Hoof Care: Regular hoof care, including trimming and shoeing by a skilled farrier, is essential for preventing laminitis.
5. Monitor for Health Issues: Be vigilant for signs of illness or infection and address them promptly.
6. Veterinary Care: Regular veterinary check-ups are important to monitor the overall health of the horse and catch any potential issues early.

If you suspect laminitis or notice signs such as lameness, reluctance to move, increased digital pulses, or changes in hoof temperature, it's crucial to seek immediate veterinary attention. Early intervention can significantly improve the outcome for a horse with laminitis.

Prevention is always better than cure. So we have 3 suggestions

1. Trim 

2. Grazing Muzzle

3. Founderguard

WHAT IS TRIM?

Trim

Weight Management Supplement for Overweight or Good-Doer Horses Kohnke’s Own TRIM is designed to help normalise the metabolism in ‘good doer’ horses and ponies who may be at risk of laminitis and founder.

Owners often struggle to reduce weight in these horses and ponies, even during periods of sparse grass or reduced feeding. While a trip to the ‘Jenny Craig’ paddock is a popular way to begin weight loss, it may not be successful if the horse or pony is an ‘easy-keeper’.

TRIM can be used before the horse is at risk of laminitis or founder, but it can also quickly soften and reduce cresty necks and tail butt fat which are the common signs that body condition of a horse or pony is well above the healthy range. 

Grazing Muzzle

A Grazing muzzle allows your horse or pony out to wander around the paddock without being able to ingest large quantities of grass. They can still drink and it prevents them from being locked up all the time which results in a much happier pony.

 FOUNDERGUARD is not a treatment for horses that have already got laminitis and founder it can however be used to prevent further bouts of laminitis in the future or from it occurring at all.

WHAT IS FOUNDERGUARD®?

FOUNDERGUARD is a clinically proven preventative supplement for feed induced laminitis and founder. It has been formulated to ensure delivery of the active drug to the hind gut and proven to control the build up of lactic acid in the hind gut. A small daily dose of the palatable granules allows high grain diets to be fed safely. It is recommended for 

• Horses on high grain diets e.g. gallopers, pacers, eventers and show hacks
• Young horses being prepared for sales e.g. high grain/low exercise animals
• Horses that have suffered laminitis or founder in the past
• Horses undergoing a change in diet

• FOUNDERGUARD controls the build-up of lactic acid from this fermentation process, preventing damage to the gut lining and therefore laminitis.
• FOUNDERGUARD can be added to the daily feed as an effective daily management tool of horses at risk of founder and low-grade laminitis.

Founder Guard is an anti-biotic, Virginiamycin. It is designed for horses that are risk of developing laminitis from grazing pasture or on a high grain diet.