Laminitis in ponies: signs, prevention and what to do

Laminitis is the word every pony owner dreads — and with good reason. It is one of the most common, most painful and most serious conditions affecting British native ponies, and it can cause permanent damage or even death if not caught early. But it is also one of the most preventable diseases in the equine world. Understanding what causes it, recognising the signs, and managing your pony's weight and grazing year-round is the best protection you can give. Here is everything a pony family needs to know.

What is laminitis?

Inside each of your pony's hooves are delicate, leaf-like structures called laminae. They bond the hoof wall to the pedal bone — the bone inside the foot — and they carry the pony's entire weight. Laminitis is inflammation of these laminae. When they become inflamed and weakened, the bond starts to fail. In the worst cases, the pedal bone rotates downward or sinks through the sole of the foot, causing irreversible damage and excruciating pain.

Think of the laminae as velcro holding the bone in place inside the hoof. Laminitis is the velcro failing. Mild cases recover fully; severe cases can be life-threatening. The difference is almost always about how quickly you act.

Why are native ponies so vulnerable?

Welsh, Shetland, Dartmoor, Exmoor, New Forest, Connemara, Highland — all the breeds that make wonderful first ponies are also the breeds most at risk of laminitis. The reason is metabolic. These breeds evolved for centuries on harsh, sparse moorland and hill grazing, surviving on very little. Their bodies are extraordinarily efficient at extracting and storing calories from poor forage.

That genetic efficiency is a survival advantage on a Welsh mountainside. On lush, modern improved pasture, it is a ticking time bomb. The same metabolism that kept a Dartmoor pony alive through winter on the moor causes it to pile on weight, develop insulin resistance, and trigger laminitis when grazing sugar-rich grass in a Surrey paddock. If you own a native pony, laminitis prevention is not optional — it is part of daily care.

What causes laminitis?

Laminitis has several known triggers, but for pony owners the overwhelming cause is metabolic laminitis — linked to diet, weight and insulin dysregulation:

• Rich grass: Spring and autumn grass surges in sugar (fructans). For a native pony on unrestricted grazing, this is the single most common trigger.
• Obesity: Overweight ponies are far more likely to develop laminitis. Fat is not inert — it produces inflammatory chemicals and hormones that disrupt insulin regulation.
• Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS): A hormonal condition, common in native breeds, that causes insulin resistance and a high laminitis risk. If your pony is a "good doer" that stays fat on thin air, ask your vet about testing.
• PPID (Cushing's disease): Common in older ponies (15+), and a significant laminitis risk. A long curly coat that does not shed properly is a tell-tale sign.
• Less common triggers: Severe illness, colic, retained placenta in broodmares, concussion from hard ground, or steroid medications. These are less relevant to most family ponies but worth knowing.

The signs: what to look for

Laminitis can develop rapidly — a pony can be sound in the morning and in crisis by the afternoon. Learn to recognise the signs and act immediately:

Early signs

• Heat in the hooves — feel the hoof wall; it should be cool, not warm.
• A strong digital pulse — feel the pulse at the back of the fetlock; a bounding, throbbing pulse is a warning sign.
• Reluctance to move — the pony seems "stiff" or unwilling to walk, especially on hard ground.
• Short, shuffling steps — the pony takes tiny steps, placing heels down first to avoid pressure on the toes.

Classic signs

• The "rocked back" stance — the pony leans back onto its heels, stretching its forelegs forward and tucking its hind legs under its body to take weight off the front feet.
• Standing still and refusing to walk — the pony plants its feet and will not move.
• Lameness in both front feet (most commonly) or all four feet.
• Lying down more than usual — taking weight off the feet by lying flat out.

If you see any of these signs, call your vet immediately. Do not wait to see if it passes. Do not force the pony to walk. Bring it to a stable with a deep bed if you can do so without making it walk far, and remove all food except soaked hay. Early treatment can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent damage.

What to do in a laminitis emergency

1. Call the vet. Say you suspect laminitis — most practices treat this as an emergency.
2. Do not force the pony to walk. Walking worsens the damage. If the pony is in the field, gently encourage it to a stable with a deep, supportive bed (at least 6 inches of shavings) over the shortest possible distance.
3. Remove all food except soaked hay (soak for 30–60 minutes to reduce sugars). No grass, no hard feed, no treats.
4. Do not feed bute or painkillers unless the vet instructs you to — masking pain can cause the pony to move more and worsen the damage.
5. Do not cold-hose the feet unless advised — ice therapy is sometimes used in the first 48 hours, but it must be done correctly under veterinary guidance.
6. Keep the pony on a deep bed and wait for the vet. The bedding supports the feet and reduces pain.

How laminitis is treated

Veterinary treatment depends on severity but typically includes:

• Pain relief and anti-inflammatories — to make the pony comfortable and reduce inflammation.
• Acepromazine — sometimes used to improve blood flow to the feet and keep the pony calm.
• Corrective farriery — your farrier may trim the heels and toe to reduce the pull on the damaged laminae, or apply supportive frog pads or heart-bar shoes.
• Box rest on a deep bed — the pony must stay still while the laminae heal, often for weeks.
• Dietary management — weight reduction and a low-sugar diet are essential for recovery and prevention of recurrence.
• X-rays — in moderate to severe cases, your vet may X-ray the feet to check whether the pedal bone has rotated or sunk, which guides treatment and prognosis.

Prevention: the year-round approach

The single most important thing to understand about laminitis prevention is that it is not something you do in spring — it is something you do all year. A fat pony in March is a laminitis case waiting for April grass.

Weight management

• Keep your pony at a body condition score of 2.5–3 out of 5. You should be able to feel the ribs but not see them; the neck should not have a hard crest; there should be no fat pads behind the shoulder or at the tail head.
• Use a weigh-tape monthly and record the result. Trend matters more than any single reading.
• If your pony is overweight, act before spring — not during it. Weight loss takes months, not weeks.

Grazing management

• Restrict grass in spring and autumn when sugar levels surge. Options: a bare paddock or sacrifice area, a track system, strip grazing, or a grazing muzzle.
• Turn out at night in peak spring — grass sugar levels are lower overnight than in bright sunshine.
• Avoid turning out on frosty mornings followed by sunny days — stressed grass accumulates sugar.
• Consider a grazing muzzle — a well-fitted muzzle can reduce intake by 30–80% while allowing turnout with companions. Introduce gradually and never leave on 24/7.

Diet and feeding

• Feed forage first — good-quality hay (soaked if needed to reduce sugar) is the foundation. Read our complete feeding guide.
• Avoid molasses-based feeds, cereal-based hard feed, and rich grass nuts for laminitis-prone ponies.
• A vitamin/mineral balancer is the only supplement most ponies need — it provides essential nutrients without calories.
• Soak hay for 30–60 minutes to reduce water-soluble sugars for overweight or laminitis-prone ponies.

Routine care

• Regular farriery every 6–8 weeks keeps the feet balanced and allows early detection of changes.
• Annual vet check-ups, including metabolic testing if your pony is a persistent good-doer.
• Test for PPID (Cushing's) in older ponies — early treatment dramatically reduces laminitis risk.

Can a pony get laminitis more than once?

Yes — and once a pony has had laminitis, it is more likely to have it again. The laminae are weakened, and the underlying metabolic factors (EMS, obesity, insulin resistance) do not go away on their own. This is why prevention is not just about avoiding the first episode — it is about lifelong management. Many recovered ponies live full, active lives with careful weight control, restricted grazing, and regular farriery. Some need a permanent dry lot or track system. Your vet and farrier will help you build a long-term plan.

The bottom line

Laminitis is the most serious health risk facing British native ponies, but it is also one of the most preventable. Know the signs, keep your pony lean, manage the grass, and never hesitate to call the vet if something seems wrong. A fat pony is not a healthy pony — and spring grass is not a treat for a native. Read our guide to managing the good-doer, learn to body condition score so you catch weight gain early, and use our seasonal care calendar for the full year-round picture.