Pasture Management to Minimize the Risk of Equine Laminitis
Authors: Watts Kathryn
Journal: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice
Summary
# Editorial Summary Environmental stress significantly alters pasture composition in ways directly relevant to laminitis management: cold temperatures, drought, and poor nutrition cause plants to accumulate nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC)—sugars, starch, and fructans—at concentrations two to threefold higher than those found in actively growing, well-resourced swards. Watts' review synthesises evidence on how these metabolic shifts occur and provides practical guidance for practitioners managing laminitis-susceptible horses. The key implication is that grazing risk cannot be assessed by season alone; a horse turned out in spring or autumn may face far greater NSC exposure than one grazing lush summer growth, depending on water availability and mineral status. For farriers, vets, and nutrition specialists working with at-risk animals, this underscores the need for pasture management tailored to local growing conditions rather than calendar dates—including strategic grazing restriction or yard confinement during stress periods—alongside regular assessment of sward quality and environmental forecasting to anticipate high-NSC windows.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Monitor pasture conditions closely during spring, late summer droughts, and after cold snaps—these are peak risk periods for NSC accumulation even if pasture looks green
- •Limit or remove access to pasture for laminitis-prone horses when environmental stress (cold, drought, poor soil nutrition) triggers sugar and starch buildup
- •Well-fertilized, actively growing pasture in warm conditions is safer than stressed pasture, so management practices that promote consistent growth reduce laminitis risk
Key Findings
- •Stressed pasture (cold, drought, nutrient deficiency) accumulates 2-3 times higher nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) than well-managed pasture
- •NSC content of pasture is directly dependent on environmental growing conditions
- •Horses at risk for laminitis require pasture restriction or removal during high-NSC accumulation periods