Laminitis Hub

Title

Laminitis:
Know the Signs.
Be Prepared. Act Quickly.

Expert education, research and practical cold-therapy solutions to help horse owners and professionals prepare for laminitis.

Understand Laminitis

Explore Laminitis Solutions

Veterinary Guidance

Research & Evidence

Cold Therapy Solutions

Practical Preparedness

Recognizing Laminitis Early

Early recognition matters. Knowing what to watch for can help horse owners and professionals respond quickly and involve their veterinarian sooner.

Reluctance to move

Shifting weight

Heat in the hoof

Increased digital pulse

Rocked-back stance

Sudden lameness

!

If you suspect laminitis, contact your veterinarian promptly.

What to Do If You Suspect Laminitis

How to Find and Check Your Horse’s Digital Pulse

A stronger-than-normal digital pulse can be an important early sign of inflammation in the hoof. This short video shows horse owners how to locate the digital pulse and check it properly.

Watch: How to Take Your Horse’s Digital Pulse

Not sure what you’re feeling? Compare both front feet and contact your veterinarian if you notice a significant change or other signs of laminitis.

Take Action

Suspect Laminitis? Start Here.

If you think your horse may be showing signs of laminitis, early veterinary involvement and a clear response plan can make a difference.

A veterinarian examining a horse with a stethoscope

1. Call Your Veterinarian

Laminitis requires professional assessment and a treatment plan.

A horse standing in deep supportive bedding

2. Limit Unnecessary Movement

Follow your veterinarian’s guidance on footing, confinement and movement.

A horse wearing Ice Horse cooling boots on both front hooves

3. Begin Cooling If Advised

Cold therapy may be part of the management plan when recommended by your veterinarian.

An Ice Horse laminitis kit with a cooling boot, frozen insert and sole disc

4. Be Prepared With the Right Tools

Having cold-therapy equipment and a response plan in place makes it easier to act quickly.

Early action matters.

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Learn About Cold Therapy

Why Cooling Matters

When laminitis is suspected, controlling inflammation and reducing hoof temperature may be an important part of the veterinary treatment plan.

1

Target the hoof early

Cooling is most useful when started promptly and continued according to veterinary guidance.

2

Maintain consistent cold

Effective cold therapy requires sustained cooling rather than short, inconsistent applications.

3

Use a practical delivery method

The goal is to cool the hoof efficiently while making treatment manageable for the horse and caregiver.

Want to see the science?

View the University of Pennsylvania Study

Watch the Laminitis Webinar

An annotated hoof X-ray showing the sensitive laminae and where inflammation puts pressure on them

Cover of the University of Pennsylvania study on local hypothermia and experimentally induced laminitis

✓

Demonstrated the benefits of early, sustained hoof cooling.

✓

Helped shape modern laminitis treatment recommendations.

✓

Supports the importance of controlling hoof temperature.

Research & Veterinary Education

Go Deeper Into the Science

Explore the research and expert guidance behind laminitis care.

Illustration of continuous hoof cooling with a temperature scale from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius

Peer-Reviewed Study

The Science Behind Sustained Hoof Cooling

This peer-reviewed study found that continuous hoof cooling with the Ice Horse system safely and effectively reduced hoof temperature, reaching a median treated temperature of 11.1°C, compared to 29.7°C in untreated hooves. Every horse in the study achieved a hoof temperature below 10°C.

11.1°C

Median treated hoof temperature

29.7°C

Median control hoof temperature

Below 10°C

Minimum achieved in every horse

Source: Morgan J, et al., Veterinary Record Open, 2017.

View the Study

Dr. James Orsini presenting Ice Horse study findings at a Lunch and Learn event in Wellington, Florida

Laminitis Webinar

Learn From Dr. James Orsini

Join Dr. James Orsini, DVM, for an in-depth educational webinar on recognizing, managing, and preparing for laminitis. Gain practical insights to help support at-risk horses.

Watch the Webinar

Laminitis Questions, Answered

Clear, practical answers to common questions about laminitis, cooling and hoof care.

Is there a target temperature for the hoof?

In his webinar, Dr. James Orsini describes a hoof-cooling target below 10°C (50°F). Maintaining effective cooling matters. Your veterinarian can guide the cooling method, monitoring and duration for your horse.

Explore the cooling research

What early signs of laminitis should I watch for?

Watch for hoof heat, a stronger-than-usual digital pulse, shifting weight between feet, a shortened or stiff stride, and reluctance to move. Some horses stand with their front feet extended and their weight shifted back; others lie down more than usual. Signs can be subtle, and not every horse shows the classic stance. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect laminitis.

How does cooling help with laminitis?

Dr. Orsini explains that cooling can reduce inflammation and lower the hoof tissues’ demand for glucose and oxygen. This slows cellular activity and can help protect the laminae, the tissues connecting the hoof wall to the bone within the hoof. Cooling supports early treatment; it does not reverse established rotation or replace care for the underlying cause, pain, and hoof support.

When does cooling matter most?

Cooling is most useful when started early, particularly during the developmental and acute stages of laminitis. Your veterinarian may recommend it for a horse at high risk before foot pain appears, or when laminitis is first suspected. Call promptly to discuss starting cooling; do not wait for the classic stance or severe lameness.

How long should I continue cooling?

There is no single schedule that fits every horse. Published acute-laminitis protocols often use continuous cooling for at least 48 hours, with duration guided by the cause and clinical response. This differs from short icing sessions after exercise. Follow your veterinarian’s plan, maintain the recommended cooling consistently, and ask before stopping or changing treatment.

What horses are most at risk for laminitis?

Horses and ponies with insulin dysregulation, including those with equine metabolic syndrome, are at increased risk. Horses with PPID (often called equine Cushing’s disease) may also be at risk, especially when insulin dysregulation is present. Other situations include serious systemic illness and excessive loading of one limb because the opposite limb is injured. Discuss your horse’s individual risks and testing with your veterinarian.

Why are ponies more prone to laminitis?

Many ponies are easy keepers and can gain excess weight on relatively little feed. Insulin dysregulation can make them especially vulnerable to pasture-associated laminitis. Laminitis is not inevitable: an individual plan for weight, forage, pasture access, and veterinary testing can help manage risk. Ask your veterinarian whether a grazing muzzle or restricted pasture access is appropriate; time of day alone does not guarantee safe grazing.

Can laminitis affect just one foot?

Yes. Dr. Orsini notes that laminitis can affect a single foot, although more than one foot may be involved. Supporting-limb laminitis can develop when an injury causes a horse to place excessive weight on the opposite limb. Have your veterinarian assess the horse rather than assuming that one painful foot rules out laminitis, and protect the other feet as part of the treatment plan.

Should I test my hay, and is alfalfa always unsuitable?

Hay type and appearance do not reliably tell you its sugar and starch content. Dr. Orsini recommends forage testing rather than automatically excluding alfalfa. Your veterinarian or equine nutritionist can interpret the results and select forage for your horse’s needs. Ask your county Extension office or a reputable forage laboratory about testing, and follow the lab’s instructions for representative core samples.

Should I keep baseline hoof X-rays?

Baseline radiographs can help your veterinarian compare hoof structures over time, particularly when subtle changes are suspected. Dr. Orsini emphasizes good-quality, comparable images and consistent hoof preparation. Whether your horse needs baseline or repeat X-rays depends on its history and risk; your veterinarian should determine the timing and interpret the images with your farrier when appropriate.

When should I call my veterinarian?

Call immediately if you suspect laminitis. New foot pain, unusual weight shifting, reluctance to move, or a stronger digital pulse warrants prompt veterinary advice. Do not force a painful horse to walk or exercise. While waiting, keep the horse quiet and follow your veterinarian’s instructions for movement, bedding, cooling, feeding, and medication.

What should I keep on hand?

Keep your veterinarian’s regular and after-hours numbers, your farrier’s contact details, and an emergency transport plan readily available. Prepare deep supportive bedding and have medical, feeding, and farrier records easy to find. For your cooling plan, keep properly sized Ice Horse® Pro Therapy Laminitis Boots, enough frozen inserts for rotation, and dedicated freezer space. Download the bilingual preparedness checklist in the final section of this hub.

Still have questions?

Watch the educational webinar with Dr. James Orsini or contact our team.

Watch the Webinar

Contact Ice Horse

Laminitis Hub

Practical Solutions for Laminitis Care

Products designed to help horse owners and professionals support veterinary-guided cold-therapy protocols.

Ice Horse® Pro Therapy Laminitis Boot

Designed for sustained hoof cooling as part of a veterinary-guided laminitis care plan.

Learn More

Ice Horse® Hoof Boot

A practical cold-therapy hoof boot designed for everyday hoof-care and cooling routines.

Learn More

Not sure what you need?

We’re happy to help you choose the right solution for your horse or barn.

Contact Ice Horse

Be Prepared Before You Need It

Keep essential contacts, cooling supplies, and an emergency plan ready. Download our printable checklist and laminitis emergency reference in English and Spanish.

Essential contacts

Cooling supplies

Emergency planning

Get the Bilingual Laminitis Checklist

English + Español • Print and keep in your barn

Preview of the Ice Horse® laminitis preparedness checklist and emergency references in English and Spanish

Currency

Laminitis:
Know the Signs.
Be Prepared. Act Quickly.