Laminitis is one of the most painful and potentially debilitating conditions a horse can face. Whether you're a horse owner, stable manager, or equine professional, knowing how to respond quickly and correctly can make a meaningful difference in your horse's recovery. This guide walks through the essential steps for treating laminitis, from the moment you suspect a problem to long-term management.
What Is Laminitis?
Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae — the sensitive tissue that bonds the hoof wall to the coffin bone inside the hoof. When these tissues become inflamed, blood flow is disrupted, causing significant pain and, in severe cases, rotation or sinking of the coffin bone. It can affect one hoof or all four, though the front hooves are most commonly involved.
Recognizing the Signs
Early detection is critical. Common signs of laminitis include:
• A horse shifting weight off its front feet, often leaning back onto its hindquarters
• Warm or hot hooves, particularly around the coronary band
• A strong, bounding digital pulse in the lower leg
• Reluctance to move or a shortened, pottery gait
• Lying down more than usual and difficulty rising
If you notice any of these signs, treat it as an emergency and act immediately.
Step 1: Call Your Veterinarian
Laminitis requires professional diagnosis and treatment. Call your vet as soon as you suspect a problem. Do not wait to see if the horse improves on its own. The faster you intervene, the better the prognosis. Your vet will assess the severity, may take radiographs to check for coffin bone rotation, and will recommend a treatment plan.
Step 2: Remove the Trigger
Laminitis is almost always caused by an underlying trigger — most commonly a high-sugar diet, access to lush pasture, grain overload, or systemic illness. Identifying and removing the cause is essential to preventing recurrence. Move the horse off pasture immediately and limit or eliminate grain. Your vet can help identify the trigger.
Step 3: Stall Rest with Deep Bedding
Confine the horse to a stall with deep, supportive bedding — shavings or sand work well. The goal is to support the entire hoof capsule and reduce pressure on the toe. Avoid forcing the horse to move unless necessary. Movement during an acute episode can worsen damage to the laminae.
Step 4: Apply Continuous Cold Therapy (Cryotherapy)
This is one of the most important and well-supported interventions in acute laminitis treatment. Research shows that continuous cold therapy — keeping the hooves at or below 5°C (41°F) — can significantly reduce tissue damage by slowing the inflammatory process and limiting the enzymatic activity that breaks down the laminar tissue.
Traditionally this was done with ice buckets, but this approach is difficult to maintain, stressful for the horse, and hard to regulate. Modern icing boots like CryoStride are designed specifically for this: they allow the horse to stand and move naturally while delivering consistent, targeted cold therapy around the hoof capsule. The self-draining design keeps ice positioned precisely where it matters most, without the mess or the stress of standing in a bucket.
For acute laminitis, continuous cryotherapy should be maintained for the first 24 to 72 hours, and in some cases longer — your vet will advise on duration.
Step 5: Pain Management
Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as phenylbutazone (bute) or flunixin meglumine to manage pain and reduce inflammation. Follow dosing instructions carefully and never exceed recommended amounts, as NSAIDs can have side effects with overuse.
Step 6: Corrective Farriery
Proper hoof support is critical to recovery. Work with a farrier experienced in laminitis cases. Depending on severity, this may include deep-bedding support, pads, frog support, or therapeutic shoeing. Radiographs are often used to guide trimming and shoeing decisions based on the position of the coffin bone.
Step 7: Long-Term Management
Recovery from laminitis takes time — weeks to months depending on severity. Long-term management typically includes:
• Strict dietary management, including a low-sugar, low-starch diet
• Restricted or managed pasture access, particularly in spring and fall
• Regular farrier visits every 4 to 6 weeks
• Ongoing monitoring for signs of recurrence
• Gradual, controlled return to exercise as advised by your vet
Many horses recover fully from laminitis with appropriate care. The key is early intervention, consistent treatment, and addressing the root cause.
The Bottom Line
Laminitis is serious, but it is manageable. Speed matters. The faster you recognize the signs, call your vet, remove the trigger, and begin supportive treatment — including cold therapy — the better the outcome for your horse. Equipping yourself with the right tools before a crisis happens is one of the best things you can do as a horse owner or equine professional.