The weather this year has been rather unusual leading to grass growth at funny times of the year. The very dry weather in spring meant little growth early on but it would seem that every time it rains a little, the grass grows furiously, the levels of sugar (fructans) in the grass shoot up, and we see a sudden rise in the number of cases of laminitis.

Many of these poor horses and ponies have never suffered from the condition before so owners have been caught unawares. The recent rain is likely to lead to another burst of grass and another surge in the number of cases of laminitis so please be very careful!

If you have a horse or pony that has ever suffered from laminitis before, or is a little on the plump side, think about restricting their access to grass as soon as it rains. If their feet have got a little long, give the farrier a call to get them trimmed.

At the first sign of any foot soreness, bring them into a stable on a nice deep bed and give us a ring. Do whatever you can to avoid your horse or pony suffering from this nasty condition.