Managing Laminitis Risk After Dry Weather and Rain

Laminitis is a painful and potentially devastating condition affecting the hooves of horses and ponies. It involves inflammation and weakening of the sensitive tissues (laminae) that connect the hoof wall to the pedal bone. If not treated promptly and managed carefully, it can lead to severe lameness and, in some cases, can even become life threatening.

Why Does Wet Weather After a Dry Spell Increase Laminitis Risk?

Laminitis cases often spike in spring and autumn, but a sudden downpour following a dry spell is a lesser-known trigger. Here’s why it happens:

• Dry weather slows grass growth, concentrating sugars in the grass.

• When heavy rain and mild weather follows, the grass uses these concentrated sugars to get a growth spurt, turning into lush, sugary pasture almost overnight.

• Horses (particularly those with insulin dysregulation, metabolic syndrome, or who are overweight) are at higher risk of developing laminitis when suddenly exposed to this new growth.

  This “sugar surge” in the grass can overwhelm a horse’s system as it tries to regulate, triggering inflammation and blood flow issues in the feet.

How Can I Keep My Horse Safe?

Timing is key to safe grazing. Sugar levels in grass fluctuate during the day:

• Highest Sugar: Late morning to early evening on sunny days (due to photosynthesis creating and storing sugar in the grass).

• Lowest Sugar: Early morning (around 4–9AM), especially after a cool, cloudy night.

Best Time to Turn Out: Very early morning (before 9 AM), and bring horses in before midday.

Avoid: Turnout in the afternoon or evening, especially on sunny days or after rain on previously dry grazing.

The Benefits of Old Pasture and Grass-Free Turnout

We are lucky at Ashtree to benefit from high quality old pasture grazing. Older, well-established pastures tend to contain:

• Fewer modern ryegrasses (which are bred for high sugar and yield)

• More varied, low-sugar species (e.g., fescues, timothy, herbs)

• Less (or in our case, zero) fertiliser use, which can cause rapid, sugary growth.

Benefits: Reduced risk of laminitis, more natural foraging behaviour, and better gut health.

Grass-Free Turnout Options

In some cases horses may be at extremely high risk, or be suffering from an acute case of laminitis. When grass is simply too risky, consider grass-free turnout, such as all-weather pens, track systems or hardstanding areas. A form of forage should always be available during grass-free turnout.

At Ashtree we have two superb all-weather turnout pens, and provide soaked or dry forage as well as enrichment and toys to prevent boredom.

Benefits:

• Safe turnout and movement (crucial for hoof health)

• Controlled diet

• Reduced stress and boredom compared to complete stabling

At Ashtree we are highly experienced with these cases. We are lucky to not only have our quality old pasture with fertiliser-free grazing and hay, complimentary hay-soaking for liveries, flexible turnout times and sociable all-weather turnout pens if required, but we also have all our other incredible facilities for you and your horse, both in the saddle and enjoying quality time on the ground.