Laminitis Recovery Info
Our equine sanctuary rescued Gandalf, the magnificent horse shown in the photo, in the early 2000s. At that time, he was fighting for his life against Pasture-Induced Laminitis.
The poor fellow could hardly stand due to the extreme pain he was experiencing, so we had to find a way to help him recover from this excruciating condition.
That was 22 years ago, and since then, we have helped thousands of horses recover from laminitis, both through our sanctuary and by supporting owners at home to help their horses achieve more complete and lasting recoveries.
Over the past two decades, these horses have taught us a great deal about the challenges of laminitis and what can genuinely help support recovery. We are happy to share what we have learned in the hope it may help others facing the same journey with their own horses.”
Higher New Zealand Laminitis Risks
Aotearoa presents some unique environmental challenges for laminitic horses, meaning overseas advice may not always suit our local conditions.
Factors such as intensive farming grasses, rapid seasonal growth, long sunshine hours, and elevated mycotoxin exposure can significantly increase laminitis risks for many horses during spring and autumn.
For this reason, returning laminitic horses to pasture too soon can sometimes lead to setbacks or relapse, particularly without careful grass management.
Laminitis and New Zealand Horses: Understanding the Impact and Care
The Laminitis Recovery Plan
We provide a free Laminitis Recovery Plan below to help you get started.
For anyone with a horse affected by laminitis or an at-risk equine, we highly recommend following the RECOVERY PLAN below in addition to using our innovative, all-natural LAMINITIS SUPPORT FORMULA, which has been researched and developed exclusively to enhance your horse's recovery journey and promote healing.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
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Laminitis Recovery Plan: 4 Simple Steps to Help Your Horse
If your horse has laminitis, we know how frightening and upsetting it can be, especially when you're doing everything you can to help them.
The good news is that there are some very practical things you can do right now to help your horse feel more comfortable and give them the best possible chance of recovery.
You don't need expensive facilities or complicated feeding programmes. The most important thing is to act quickly and keep things simple.
STEP 1: Call Your Vet and Get Pain Relief
Laminitis is extremely painful, so the first thing to do is contact your vet and arrange pain relief as soon as possible.
Your vet can help you work out what has caused the laminitis and put together a recovery plan.
It's also worth asking your vet about blood tests to check for conditions such as Cushing's disease or problems with how your horse processes sugar. These can make some horses much more likely to develop laminitis.
Your horse's comfort must come first, so please don't delay getting help.
STEP 2: Get Your Horse Off the Grass
This is one of the most important things you can do!
Remove your horse from all grass, including weeds, fresh shoots and anything green they can reach through the fence.
Instead, provide plenty of clean meadow hay in slow-feed haynets so your horse has something to eat throughout the day and night.We recommend soaking the hay overnight in clean water to help remove some of the sugars. Drain it thoroughly and feed it promptly.If you can, have your hay tested to check the sugar levels.
Keep bucket feeds very basic. A small handful of suitable low-sugar chaff and some ground flaxseed meal is usually all you need for mixing in medication or supplements.
Avoid grains, sugary feeds, treats and unnecessary extras while your horse is recovering.
STEP 3: Make a Comfortable Grass-Free Area
Now, here's a really useful tip that could save you a fortune!
You can use old carpet to create a grass-free area for your horse!
Pop down to your local carpet shop and ask whether they have any old carpet that's been removed from houses.
Most carpet shops are only too happy to give it away, as it saves them having to dispose of it.
Lay the carpet over the grass to create an area where your horse can stand, eat their hay and lie down comfortably.
If you can, use several layers of carpet to provide extra cushioning, particularly where your horse likes to rest.
Use weed mat pegs to secure the carpet firmly to the ground so it doesn't lift or blow away. Make sure the pegs are pushed right down so your horse can't injure themselves.
Check the carpet for staples, nails or anything sharp before laying it down. Make sure it doesn't become slippery when wet and that your horse isn't chewing or eating the fibres.
One of our clients has created an amazing track for her horses using old Axminster carpet collected from her local carpet shop!
It's a fantastic way to recycle something that would otherwise be thrown away while giving your horse a comfortable, grass-free area.
If your horse is very sore, they may also need additional cushioning, such as soft sand or padded hoof boots.
STEP 4: Keep Those Poor Hooves Comfortable
When a horse has laminitis, their hooves can be incredibly painful, so keeping them comfortable is really important.
We recommend finding a good barefoot hoof care professional who understands laminitis and will take a gentle approach.
Avoid aggressive trimming. If the hooves need attention, small, gentle adjustments are much kinder than taking too much hoof away at once.
Padded Hoof Boots Can Make a Wonderful Difference
Imagine trying to walk around with a badly injured foot in a hard, inflexible boot. It wouldn't be very comfortable, would it?
That's why we recommend padded therapeutic hoof boots rather than metal shoes.
The soft pads inside the boots help cushion sore hooves and make standing and walking more comfortable.
They can also be removed for cleaning and checking your horse's hooves.
You can find our range of therapeutic hoof boots here:
How Long Should Your Horse Stay Off Grass?
We generally recommend keeping your horse completely off grass for at least 12 weeks to give their hooves time to recover.
Some horses may need longer, depending on how badly they've been affected.
And please don't rush to put your horse back on grass just because they're walking better. Their hooves may still be healing on the inside.
IMPORTANT: Don't Let Laminitis Progress to Stage 2 (Founder)
Every time your horse suffers another episode of laminitis, there is a risk of further damage to the delicate tissues inside their hooves.
If the damage becomes severe, the pedal bone inside the hoof can move out of its normal position. This is commonly known as Founder, which we refer to as Stage 2 laminitis.
Unfortunately, this damage can be permanent, and in the worst cases, a horse may become so uncomfortable that euthanasia is the only humane option.
This is why preventing another episode of laminitis is so important.
Having a good grass management plan, feeding suitable hay and keeping your horse's hooves comfortable can make an enormous difference to their long-term health and happiness.
Finally, Don't Panic
We know how upsetting it is to see your horse in pain, but there are plenty of practical things you can do to help.
Keep them off the grass, provide suitable hay, make sure they're comfortable and work with your vet and hoof care professional.
And remember, you don't need to spend a fortune.
Sometimes a few pieces of old carpet, a comfortable place to rest, plenty of meadow hay and some padded hoof boots can make a world of difference.
Take things one step at a time. Your horse needs your patience, understanding and care while they recover.
What to Feed Your Horse During Laminitis Recovery
When your horse has laminitis, keeping their diet as natural and uncomplicated as possible can make a big difference to their recovery.
We recommend a small bucket feed containing ingredients chosen to support digestion, help manage inflammation and provide the nutrients needed for healing.
Remember, we're not trying to feed your horse a large meal. This little bucket feed is simply a way to provide helpful ingredients and supplements while their main diet remains good-quality, low-sugar meadow hay.
You can give this feed once or twice a day. If feeding twice daily, divide the total daily amounts between the two meals.
1. Meadow Chaff: The Base of Your Feed
Start with a small handful or scoop of meadow chaff.
This is just something to carry the other ingredients and make them easier for your horse to eat.
Choose plain meadow chaff without lucerne, clover or added sugars.
Don't have any chaff? No problem! Just chop a little meadow hay into small pieces using scissors.
We recommend avoiding haylage, baleage, lucerne products and damp fibre feeds during recovery, as we've found some horses can be particularly sensitive to these.
2. Ground Flaxseed (Linseed): To Help With Inflammation
Flaxseed and linseed are exactly the same thing!
They're naturally rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which help support the body's normal response to inflammation. They also provide vitamin E, an important nutrient for healthy muscles and tissues.
We prefer freshly ground flaxseed, although flaxseed meal, flakes or pellets can also be used.
Daily amounts:
Horse size-Ground flaxseed per day
Miniatures-50–75 g
Ponies-100 g
Cobs-150 g
Horses-200 g
Large warmbloods and drafts-Up to 250 g
During acute laminitis, we recommend starting with the lower amounts rather than feeding more than necessary.
If your horse doesn't tolerate flaxseed, chia seeds may be another option.
3. Flaxseed Oil: A Little Extra Omega 3
We also recommend adding a small amount of cold-pressed flaxseed oil.
This provides additional Omega 3 fatty acids to support your horse's diet during recovery.
Daily amounts:Horse size
Flaxseed oil per day
Miniatures-5 ml
Ponies-10 ml
Cobs-20 ml
Larger horses-30–50 ml
There's no need to add lots of oil. A little goes a long way.
4. Equi-Protect: Our Grass and Mycotoxin Support Formula
One of the things we look at when helping horses with laminitis is their exposure to mycotoxins.
These are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain fungi and can sometimes be found in grass, hay and other feeds.
We originally developed Equi-Protect to help Gandalf many years ago, and it has since become an important part of our approach to helping grass-affected horses.
Our formula contains carefully selected ingredients, including natural plant extracts and toxin-binding ingredients, designed to support horses exposed to these environmental challenges.
Daily amount: 5–30 g, depending on your horse's size. Follow the instructions on the packet.
Natural Horse NZ Equi-Protect Detox Formula
5. All In 1: Everyday Vitamins and Minerals
Even when we're feeding good-quality hay, horses still need the right balance of vitamins and minerals.
New Zealand soils can be deficient in certain minerals, which means the grass and hay grown on them may not provide everything our horses need.
That's why we developed our All In 1 formula.
It provides a range of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids, along with ingredients to support horses dealing with grass and environmental challenges.
Rather than feeding lots of separate supplements, All In 1 helps keep things uncomplicated.
Daily amount: Follow the feeding instructions for your horse's size.
Natural Horse NZ All In 1 Formula
6. Equi-Digest: Looking After Their Tummy
A healthy digestive system is particularly important when a horse is recovering from illness.
We've found that many horses struggling with laminitis also benefit from additional digestive support.
Our Equi-Digest formula contains beneficial bacteria, live yeast and amino acids to help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in the digestive system.
Think of these as the tiny helpers that live in your horse's gut and help break down their food.
Supporting these beneficial microorganisms can be particularly useful when your horse has experienced digestive upset or changes in diet.
Daily amount: Follow the feeding instructions for your horse's size.
7. Salt: An Important Everyday Mineral
Salt is essential for your horse's normal body functions, including hydration, nerve function and healthy muscles.
We recommend adding up to one heaped teaspoon of plain, unprocessed sea salt or Himalayan salt to the bucket feed during recovery.
Always provide a salt lick as well, so your horse has access to additional salt.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar: An Optional Extra
If your horse enjoys apple cider vinegar, you can add a small amount to their feed.
We prefer organic apple cider vinegar containing the mother, which is the naturally occurring culture found in unfiltered vinegar.
Amount: Approximately 10 ml, or a capful, mixed into the bucket feed.
This is optional, so there's no need to worry if your horse doesn't like the taste.
9. Add Water and Mix Well
Add approximately one cup of clean water and mix everything together.
The finished feed should be moist and easy for your horse to eat.
Remember, this is only a small bucket feed to carry the supplements and other ingredients. Your horse's main source of food should still be suitable meadow hay.
10. Pain Relief: Bute and Devil's Claw
Laminitis can be extremely painful, particularly during the early stages.
We recommend working with your vet to arrange immediate pain relief, which may include Bute.
In our experience, Devil's Claw can also be useful for some horses needing longer-term comfort support.
We developed our own liquid Devil's Claw formula without alcohol, as we prefer to avoid alcohol-based herbal tinctures.
Important: Don't replace prescribed pain relief with Devil's Claw without discussing it with your vet. Devil's Claw can interact with some medications and isn't suitable for every horse.
Natural Horse NZ Liquid Devil's Claw
A Few More Things That Really Help
Alongside the bucket feed, remember these important basics:
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Plenty of hay: Provide suitable low-sugar meadow hay throughout the day and night, preferably in slow-feed haynets. Your horse should never be left without enough forage.
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Fresh water: Make sure clean drinking water is always available.
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A comfortable place to rest: Soft sand, soil, shavings or securely laid carpet can help provide a more comfortable grass-free area.
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Padded hoof boots: These can make a tremendous difference to sore hooves by providing cushioning and protection.
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Company: Horses are social animals. If possible, keep a familiar companion nearby so your horse doesn't feel isolated during recovery.
A Note About Metal Shoes
At Natural Horse NZ, we favour a gentle, barefoot approach to laminitis recovery.
We've found that many horses are far more comfortable in flexible, well-padded hoof boots than in fixed metal shoes.
Hoof boots can provide cushioning and protection while allowing us to remove them to check the hooves and adjust the padding as needed.
We recommend discussing suitable hoof support with your vet and an experienced barefoot hoof care professional.
Finally, Keep Things Simple
This is a short-term feeding approach to support your horse while they're recovering from laminitis.
You don't need to feed enormous buckets of food or lots of different ingredients. The aim is to provide suitable hay, a small nutritious bucket feed and the support your horse needs to recover.
And remember, every horse is different. Some recover quickly, while others need considerably more time and care.
Once your horse is recovering well, you can move towards a suitable everyday feeding programme using our recommended diet guide.
Natural Horse NZ Recommended Diet
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How To Make A Quick and Easy Grass Free Area
How to Make a Quick and Easy Grass-Free Area Using Salt Water
If you need to create a temporary grass-free area for your horse, here's another inexpensive method using ordinary salt and water.
What You'll Need
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2 kg of ordinary salt or fine-grade agricultural salt
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7 litres of hot water
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A watering can or garden sprayer
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A small area you can fence off
How to Do It
Step 1: Add the salt to the hot water and stir until dissolved.
Step 2: Choose a small area where you'd like to create your horse's temporary grass-free yard.
Step 3: Using a watering can or garden sprayer, spread the salt water evenly over the grass, preferably during dry weather.
Step 4: Allow time for the grass to die off before preparing the area for your horse.
Step 5: Fence the area securely and provide plenty of suitable meadow hay, fresh drinking water and somewhere comfortable to rest.
Salt water can be an inexpensive way to kill off unwanted grass without using conventional weedkillers. However, the salt can remain in the soil after the grass dies, so the area isn't automatically safe for horses to use.
Natural Horse NZ
Complete Laminitis Resource Library
Practical information to help you recognise, manage and prevent laminitis in horses.
1. Understanding Laminitis
What Is Laminitis? · Laminitis Triggers · Metabolic Syndrome & Laminitis
2. Recognising the Warning Signs
Laminitis Checks · White Line Changes · Laminitis Watch
3. Recovery and Hoof Care
Laminitis Recovery Plan · Cleo's Story
4. Feeding and Nutrition
Laminitis Diets · Weight Management · Understanding Hay Sugar
5. Grass Management and Prevention
Tracked Grazing · Grass Management · Safe Grazing Times · Frost and Grass
Explore More Laminitis and Grass Articles →