Laminitis - not a condition exclusive to fat ponies

Abstract

P erhaps one of the most instantly recognisable causes of lameness in the horse is laminitis. The characteristic ‘rocking horse’ stance of a horse trying to take the pressure off it’s toes by leaning back on it’s heels has been included in every text book on lameness. In reality, the presentation is often much more subtle and fortunately only in very extreme cases will this textbook appearance be seen. Our understanding of laminitis and the processes that lead to it has improved dramatically in recent years; the exact cause of the condition, however, is still poorly understood. The fat pony on lush grass is often cited as the example of a high risk case but many fat ponies exist happily year after year and never suffer, while at the same time a thin Thoroughbred may be seen with the disease without having any of the classically understood risk factors. Owner education has improved and there are in general, fewer easily preventable cases. The cases we do see however may not always fit in with the picture we have in our minds, of the laminitic horse.