Laminitis Approved Diets. What To Feed And What Not To Feed!

Laminitis Symtoms

We work with hundreds of horse owners every year, helping them address laminitis in their equine friends. This condition is mostly caused by pasture-induced carbohydrate overload, especially during prolific grass-growing periods. Too much grass and/or unsuitable feeds are the main triggers.

One of the most frustrating things we hear is owners feeding "Safe/Laminitis Approved" pelleted feeds. There is no such thing! Many of these products are rarely suitable for horses with laminitis, despite the claims on the packaging. It seems that slick marketing and big profits often take precedence over the health, comfort, and recovery of your horse.

Manufacturers use buzzwords like:

- Omega 3s, 6s, and 9s

- Low GI

- Safe

- Cushings Approved

- Metabolic

- Low Energy

- High Fibre

- Cool

- Low Starch and Sugar

- Gut Health

- Probiotic

- High Protein

- Grain-Free

- Laminitic Approved

However, these products often contain inflammatory ingredients like vegetable, soya, sunflower, canola, and bran oils, which are high in omega 6s and 9s. These oils increase inflammation and free radicals while being low in beneficial omega 3s. Horses do not have a gall bladder and cannot process high amounts of oils or fats, so apart from moderate amounts of flaxseed oil, avoid all other types of oil.

Many bagged feeds also contain "meals" like vegetable protein, soya meal, oaten meal, or lucerne meal, which are highly processed fillers that can cause more inflammation. Avoid these at all costs.

What to Feed a Laminitic Horse-For the fastest recovery, follow this approach:

1. Staple Diet:

- Feed a 50-50 ratio of meadow hay and barley straw to reduce calories without compromising on fiber. This helps keep the forage on hand without the problems caused by high-calorie green grass.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Whole Foods:

- Bucket Feed (1-2 times per day):

- 1 scoop of meadow chaff

- 1 cup (200-250g) of flaxseed (flakes, pellets, or ground)

- 30-50ml of cold-pressed flaxseed/linseed oil

- 30g Natural Horse EquiProtect Detox

- 30g Natural Horse Premium Mineral/Vitamin Formula

- 10ml of cider vinegar (with the mother)

- 1 teaspoon of raw, unprocessed salt

- Pre and Pro-Biotics (e.g., Equi-Digest)

- Add a cup of water and mix well

3. Additional Tips:

- Use Bute for the first few days, then switch to 3-5ml of liquid devil's claw.

- Adjust amounts for different horse sizes.

- Provide a companion to reduce stress and a soft surface for standing.

- Weekly or fortnightly light trims by a skilled barefoot trimmer.

- Use padded hoof boots for comfort.

Making a Dry Lot

To create a dry lot, dissolve household or agricultural salt in warm water and spray it onto a small grass area to kill the grass. Tape off the area once the grass has died to keep your horse there for recovery.

Recovery and Relapse

Improvements should be seen within a day or two. Once your horse has fully recovered, do not put them back onto grass immediately. Gradually reintroduce grass over three months to avoid a relapse. Horses that have had laminitis will be prone to it for life, so careful grass management is essential.

We hope this helps all the laminitic horses and their owners. Hang in there—there is light at the end of the tunnel.