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

Laminitis Approved Diets

Feeding the Laminitic Horse

What to Avoid and What Actually Helps Recovery

At Natural Horse we work with hundreds of horse owners every year helping them address laminitis in their equine friends.

In the vast majority of cases this condition is triggered by pasture induced carbohydrate overload, particularly during periods when grass is growing rapidly. Too much grass, combined with unsuitable feeds, is one of the most common causes we see.

One of the most frustrating situations we encounter is when owners are feeding products marketed as “Safe” or “Laminitis Approved” pelleted feeds.

The simple truth is that there is no universal “safe” pelleted feed for laminitic horses.

Many of these products are rarely suitable for horses suffering from laminitis, despite the claims printed on the bag. Slick marketing and strong branding often seem to take priority over the health, comfort, and recovery of the horse.

Feed manufacturers frequently rely on buzzwords that sound reassuring but do not necessarily reflect what is actually best for a laminitic horse.

Common examples include:

Omega 3, 6 and 9

Low GI

Safe

Cushings Approved

Metabolic

Low Energy

High Fibre

Cool Feed

Low Starch and Sugar

Gut Health

Probiotic

High Protein

Grain Free

Laminitic Approved

While these claims may sound appealing, a closer look at the ingredient lists reveals that many of these feeds contain inflammatory oils and highly processed ingredients.

Vegetable oils, such as soya oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and bran oils, are commonly included in bagged feeds. These oils are high in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, which can promote inflammatory responses and oxidative stress while offering very little of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that horses actually need.

Horses also lack a gallbladder, which means they are not designed to process large quantities of oils or fats in their diet. Apart from moderate amounts of flaxseed or linseed oil, most added oils are unnecessary and best avoided.

Many bagged feeds also contain processed meals such as vegetable protein meal, soya meal, oaten meal, or lucerne meal. These ingredients are heavily processed and are often used as inexpensive fillers. In sensitive horses they can contribute to further metabolic stress and inflammation.

What To Feed A Laminitic Horse

When helping horses recover from laminitis, the goal is to reduce carbohydrate intake, stabilise the digestive system, reduce inflammation, and provide supportive nutrition while the hoof structures recover.

Staple Diet

A simple forage-based diet works best.

The foundation of the diet should be low-sugar meadow hay. If barley straw is available, mixing it with hay can help reduce overall calorie intake while still providing plenty of fibre.

However, good-quality straw can be difficult for many horse owners to source, so the most reliable approach is to soak the hay.

Soaking hay helps remove excess sugars and reduces the overall carbohydrate load, which is especially important for laminitic horses. Soaking for several hours before feeding can significantly reduce soluble sugars and make the forage safer during recovery.

The goal is to provide constant access to low-sugar forage, while removing access to lush pasture until the horse has fully recovered.

Anti-Inflammatory Whole Foods

Provide a simple bucket feed once or twice per day.

1 scoop meadow chaff

1 cup (200 to 250 g) flaxseed (flakes, pellets, or freshly ground)30 to 50 ml cold-pressed flaxseed or linseed oil

30 g Natural Horse All In 1 Supplement

10 ml raw cider vinegar with the mother

1 teaspoon raw, unprocessed salt

Pre and probiotic suppor,t such as Equi Digest

Add approximately one cup of water and mix thoroughly.

Additional Management Tips

Pain relief may be necessary during the early stages. Many horses receive Bute for the first few days under veterinary guidance. Once the acute phase settles, some owners transition to herbal support such as devil’s claw.

Adjust feed quantities depending on the size and condition of the horse.

Providing a calm companion helps reduce stress during recovery, and keeping the horse on a soft supportive surface can improve comfort.

Frequent light trimming by a skilled barefoot trimmer, often every one to two weeks during the recovery phase, can help restore balance to the hoof.

Padded hoof boots can also make a significant difference to comfort and mobility.

Creating a Dry Lot

During recovery, it is often necessary to remove the horse completely from pasture.

One way to create a simple dry lot is to kill off a small section of grass. Dissolving household or agricultural salt in warm water and spraying it onto the grass will kill the vegetation. Once the grass has died the, area can be fenced off to create a safe recovery space.

Recovery and Relapse

With proper management, many horses begin to show improvement within a day or two.

However, once your horse has recovered,d it is important not to return them directly to unrestricted grazing. Grass should be reintroduced slowly and carefully over about three months to reduce the risk of relapse.

Horses that have experienced laminitis are often prone to future episodes, so careful pasture management becomes a lifelong part of their care.

If you are currently dealing with laminitis, try to stay positive. With the right approac,h many horses make a good recovery

.

There really is light at the end of the tunnel.

Help for Laminitis Recovery

If you would like personalised help managing laminitis for your horse, you can book a Laminitis Support Consultation here:https://www.naturalhorse.co.nz/product-page/laminitis-support-consultation