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Autumn Laminitis & Managing Condition
What is Laminitis?
If you're a horse owner, chances are you've heard about laminitis—a common but serious condition in the equine world. But do we really understand what laminitis is? While some horses and ponies are more prone to this condition, any equine can be affected. This is why educating horse owners about laminitis is so important. Laminitis refers to inflammation in the laminae, the connective tissue in the hoof that anchors the hoof wall to the coffin bone. If left untreated, this inflammation can lead to separation, causing pain and potentially severe complications. Recent research views laminitis as a clinical syndrome linked to systemic disease, meaning it affects the entire body, not just the hoof.
What causes Laminitis?
Laminitis comes in different forms, with about 90% of cases categorized as endocrinopathic laminitis or hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL). These are usually linked to abnormal insulin levels in the blood, often due to underlying conditions like Cushing’s disease (PPID) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). While obesity can contribute to laminitis by triggering pro-inflammatory factors, a horse or pony doesn’t need to be overweight to develop the condition. Nonetheless, maintaining a healthy weight remains a key preventative measure.
How can we manage a horse or pony with Laminitis?
There are many factors at play when managing a horse with laminitis, and it is important to consult a vet at every stage of the process as they will be able to advise on the management of each horse on a case-by-case basis.
The Horses Diet/Medication –Following a low sugar, starch and high fibre diet (we discuss this in further detail in the next section) Medication –Following any medication prescribed from your vet (usually moresevere cases) Condition Scoring -Checking your horse or pony’s condition score is key andmaintaining a healthy, high fibre, balanced diet Regular, appropriate exercise -Regular and continuous exercise helps circulationand keeps the lamellar oxygenated and flushes away pro-inflammatory factors andtoxins
What can I feed a laminitic horse or pony? The nutritional input is a critical factor for susceptible horses. With so many feeds to choose from, it is hard to know where to start and what is safe to feed to horses with laminitis.
The primary nutritional culprit is carbohydrate overload; high levels of absorbed sugars can impact insulin sensitivity and contribute to inflammation. Excess carbohydrates also disrupt the gut’s microbial balance, leading to the absorption of toxins that further inflame the hoof.
Horses and ponies are hind-gut fermenters, due to this, fibre should form the base of their diet. Fibre keeps the digestive system healthy and functioning properly. Starch and sugar are normally digested in the small intestine; however, if too much is consumed, any excess passes through to the hind gut affecting the microbial profile and causing rapid fermentation and lactic acid to be produced.
This lactic acid alters the pH in the hind gut and becomes an acidic environment which can alter the permeability of the gut wall. This then allows dead bacteria and endotoxins to enter the blood stream and causes the inflammation response with laminitis. For this reason, it is imperative that you choose feeds with a low sugar and starch content.
To support gut health, prioritize high-fibre feeds made with ingredients like beet pulp, oat fibre, and lucerne. These ingredients help the microflora to be maintained in the hind gut and provide a functioning barrier to these toxins Products such as Speedi-Beet and Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash are ideal because they provide high fibre while being low in sugar and starch.
Why is there an increased risk of Laminitis in Autumn?
While the dangers of spring grass are widely known, there can be a similar impact on horses during autumn. During autumn, grasses can have fluctuating levels of sugar and protein, which, in combination with the horse natural hormonal propensity to lay down fat for winter, can exacerbate laminitic symptoms. During the year the levels of protein, sugars, oil and fibre vary.
Sugar: Though autumn sugars don’t reach the peaks of spring, they can still rise to significant levels (up to 12%), and even pasture grasses may have an upsurge in these parameters particularly in late-cut hays Protein: Protein levels in autumn grasses can sometimes exceed spring levels, reaching as high as 20% (dry basis). This combination of sugar and protein can be problematic for laminitic horses.
As a result, autumn grass can be a trigger to laminitis. How can I keep condition on my laminitic horse? Maintaining condition without impacting insulin dysfunction can be tricky at this time of year, especially with the variances in the grasses and a metabolism that is gearing up for Winter. Limiting access to rich pasture might seem like the solution, but reducing gut fill is not ideal for susceptible horses. The introduction of a product such as Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash can help maintain condition whilst reducing the risk of laminitic cues.
Using a product like Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash offers a practical alternative:
Digestibility: Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash has lower protein than autumn grass but higher digestibility, ensuring better nutrient uptake while reducing the risk of harmful fermentation in the hindgut.
Low Sugar and Starch: With only 5% sugar and 3% starch, Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash minimizes stress on insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of gut microbiota disruption and reduces the production of lactic acid.
Prebiotic Benefits: Ingredients like Speedi-Beet in Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash promote healthy microbial populations, reducing lactic acid and supporting a balanced gut environment.
Tight Junctions: Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash works to reduce tight junctions* which is one of the major routes in reducing laminitis. Reduced tight junctions reduces toxin uptakes, reduces metabolic inflammatory cues, improves blood flow through the hooves and reduces hypoxia.
*Tight junctions are spaces through which larger molecules can pass between the gut wall cells, molecules such as fermented microbial end products and toxins. Lactic acid, from sugar fermentation, loosen tight junctions, whilst butyric acid tightens; in short, starch & sugar in the hindgut increases toxin absorption, Barastoc FIbre-Beet Mash butyric decreases. Importantly, butyric and lactic acids antagonise the regulation of the tight junctions between cells.
Consistency: Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash helps to smooth out fluctuations in feeding variable fibre sources such as hay and pasture. By reducing variations, it supports the stability of the microbiota population spectrum, ensuring more consistent nutrient absorption. With this foundation, adjusting the quantity of Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash can effectively manage the horse’s condition without heightening the risk of laminitis
Support for Gut Health: Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash encourages the production of butyric acid, which strengthens the gut wall, reduces toxin absorption, and promotes overall gut integrity. Butyric acid is an important regulator within the hindgut; not only does it provide energy within the metabolism, but it also specifically energises the cells of the hindgut wall, maintain gut health. As you can see from the below graph, Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash increases this important regulator.
Managing laminitis requires a proactive approach that includes dietary control, regular exercise, and close veterinary oversight. By incorporating high-fibre, low-sugar feeds like Barastoc Fibre-Beet Mash into your horse’s diet, you can support gut health, maintain condition, and reduce the risk of laminitis—even during challenging seasons like autumn. Remember, prevention and early intervention are key. Work closely with your vet or equine nutritionist to create a tailored plan for your horse, ensuring their comfort and well-being all year round.