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Laminitis is a common illness frequently affecting native ponies on lush pasture. It is caused by inflammation of the laminae in the hoof. In this article I will discuss how it happens and ways of managing laminitis. How does Laminitis happen? The sensitive laminae lie between the wall of the hoof and the pedal bone. As this area gets inflamed, the feet become extremely painful. The illness is often associated with over-eating, especially where grass is lush. More rarely it may be associated with any situation associated with toxaemia or septicaemia, and it is also seen in Cushing ’s disease, obesity, and hypothyroidism. The blood supply to the foot is affected, and in severe cases, there is separation of the laminae from the hoof wall.
It is possible that laminitis is related to a build up of toxic metals such as aluminium, as acid rain falls and the chemicals are concentrated in cereals. Clinical Signs of Laminitis: The forefeet tend to be affected more than the hind feet, so affected horses will appear to lean back as they try to ease their weight off the fore-feet. In acute laminitis, there is constant pain with distress and sweating. The feet may feel hot or cold.
Prevention: Keep your horse or pony slim, and when overweight, do not turn her out. Restricted turn out or turn out with a muzzle or in a yard are needed at the most laminitis-prone times of year (often March and September). Current Western Treatments: Call a veterinary surgeon early with laminitis. Irreversible damage may occur within twelve hours of the onset of symptoms. Veterinary Treatments are discussed in depth in the full version of this article.
Things you can do for yourself: Warm water hosing and warm compresses will increase the blood supply to the distal hoof, so is better than cold hosing. Taped on frog supports may be helpful, and box rest is recommended.
Complementary Therapies: Herbal Remedies: There are several herbs that can help detoxify the body, initiate healing, and help digestion, so aiding prevention. For a full list see th full version of this article.
Aromatics/ Aromatherapy: A number of aromatic oils can be offered for a horse to self select by inhalation or licking.
Healing: Healing with Reiki or Spiritual healing can help calm a horse and bring in her own self-healing abilities, reducing pain and inducing relaxation. The effect may be enhanced with the use of cetain crystals, such as sodalite and yellow jasper for digestive problems. Magnetic therapy can also boost healing.
Bach Flower Remedies: Selection of appropriate Bach flower remedies depends on the personality and current mood of your horse, so it is better to seek expert advice to get the optimal remedy combination. Rescue remedy is useful in emergency situations and can be given frequently while awaiting the vet’s visit.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy works best if you consult a trained veterinary homeopath, as the specific remedies can be targeted to your horse. In particular, remedies to support detoxification and the liver, and those to help the circulation, would be beneficial in laminitis.
Acupuncture: The acupuncture meridian for the liver extends into the forefeet, so acupuncture and acupressure treatment along this meridian is likely to help with laminitis.
Conclusion: Laminitis remains a serious and painful condition, with serious effects early in the disease. Calling the vet is essential as soon as the illness is suspected, but we can do plenty to prevent it, and to support our equines while awaiting the vet and in conjunction with veterinary management.
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Not all equestrian accidents happen while you’re riding. Routine daily horse care chores like grooming, tacking and feeding can result in an injury. Be prepared, be aware and be safe!
1. Rope Wrap: Don’t wrap your lead line around your hand (or any other body part). If your horse spooks or shys, you can get a rope burn, a sprain…even some broken bones.
2. Tack Troubles: Use caution when tacking a horse, especially an unknown horse. When you’re tightening the girth some horses will bite at anything they can reach. If the horse is in cross ties, be sure no one is standing within striking distance. If your horse isn’t in cross ties, keep an even wider perimeter.
3. Bridle Knockout: Keep your wits about you when bridling a horse. Some horses will shake their heads before accepting the bridle. If you’re not paying attention, you can get hit in the head. Hard.
4. Not So Tranquilizing: Some horses can become aggressive when tranquilized. Don’t assume your horse will be putty in your hands! Use of prescription drugs should always be under your veterinarian’s direction.
5. Eyes On The Flies: Be aware of the environment in which you’re going to work or ride. If the flies are plentiful and biting, your horse may bolt in an effort to get away from them. You can use fly sprays, but keep in mind that the sprays wear off. You may need to reapply during a long ride.
6. Try A Little Tenderness: Check your horse for injuries or sore spots before grooming. Inadvertently running a comb over a tender spot can cause a dangerous bite or kick.
7. The Trick Of Treats: Horses love treats, and sometimes they show their love by shoving and kicking their pasture mates. There is a pecking order in the herd, and horses take it very seriously. As they jockey optimum treat distribution, you may suffer collateral damage. Feed treats from the safe side of a fence, tossing some treats to the lower status herd members. For the safest possible treat feeding, just put them in their feed buckets. You’ll get fewer brownie points with your horses, but you’ll stay in one piece.
8. Fit That Tack: Poor fitting tack can cause discomfort to your horse. This, in turn, can cause discomfort to you when he tries to buck you off. Be sure your tack is correctly fitted to your horse.
9. Dress For Success: Wear appropriate footwear. A properly fitted boot/stirrup combination is also very important. Release catches are available on some saddles to prevent dragging if your foot is caught in the stirrup.
10. Plan For A Quick Retreat: Don’t enter a stall without planning how you’ll get OUT of the stall. If the stall doesn’t have stall guards (allowing you to duck under) and you must close the door, be sure someone is available to open the door quickly in the event of trouble. In an emergency, reaching over to fiddle with the stall door latch may not be feasible.
