Feeds for horses prone to laminitis

Shetland pony grazing in field — (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Due to the fact that laminitis is effected by diet, finding feeds suitable for horses prone to lamintis is a real challenge. Horses prone to laminitis require a low starch and sugar diet – a combined level below 10% is considered low, but really the lower the better. Even if overweight, they still need a balanced feed ration to avoid deficiencies, especially when grazing is restricted.

It’s important to understand that these feeds don’t treat laminitis, but are formulated for horses prone to the condition. This guide explores the options available to help you make the right choice for your horse. If you’re still unsure, consult a feed manufacturer’s nutritional helpline.

A soft, tasty blend of British grown, chopped, precision-dried grass and high-quality oat straw for maximum fibre content whilst being low in calories. Suitable for good-doers and those prone to laminitis, naturally low in sugar and starch with tasty herbs – cinnamon and thyme – plus postbiotics to promote digestive health, can be fed as a total or partial forage replacer. Free from molasses, cereals, alfalfa & preservatives.

This product is the same as the original Happy Hoof, providing all the same nutrients, but without the molasses coating, which lowers the sugar content from 4% to just 1.25%. For those concerned about molasses this is a low calorie fibre blend with garlic and no added sugar. It contains biotin and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet and can be used as a total hay replacer.

This nutritionally-balanced, high fibre feed has been formulated with B vitamins, biotin and MSM to promote stronger hooves and healthy joints. It’s made from a blend of soft cereal straw with chopped and pelleted nutrient rich alfalfa. It’s low in calories, which makes it ideal for good-doers and laminitis prone. It has a light rapeseed oil coating that provides slow-release energy and coat shine, plus garlic to help tempt fussy feeders.

This high fibre feed is suitable for horses prone to laminitis as it will produce a low insulin response – and being low calorie it is also ideal for good-doers, natives and those in light work. It can be fed on its own, alongside a balancer or as a hay replacer. The blend includes short chopped fibre to extend eating time, contains biotin to support hoof health, and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet.

Specially formulated for good doers – horses that maintain condition easily and don’t need extra calories. With a high fibre content and a concentrated dose of balancer, it provides all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients without the risk of unwanted weight gain. This low-calorie, all-in-one feed supports digestive health including prebiotics and probiotics for gut function, essential amino acids for muscle maintenance, biotin for healthy hooves and coat, and added salt for electrolyte balance.

L Mix is a chaff based feed that is suitable for those prone to laminitis. The alfalfa and chaff ensures increased chewing time, which is beneficial for horses on a restricted diet and can help to maintain a healthy digestive system. It contains no added sugars, molasses or cereal grains and has an extremely low digestible energy. It contains herbs for palatability, pre- and probiotics, and linseed, which is a good source of omega-3. Suitable for horses with intolerances to cereal grains or molasses.

A highly nutritious, quick soaking (10 minute) beet pulp feed, with no added molasses, 95% sugar free. Made using only best quality British Beet Pulp, Speedi-Beet is subjected to a patented cooking process to produce a unique feed.There’s a high proportion of soluble fibre, mostly pectins, which means its fibre is more easily digested than that found in forage e.g. hay. This makes it a great source of non-heating slow-release energy. It’s starch free and low in sugar, so safe for horses prone to laminitis.

This mash is enriched with super fibres and beetroot to support the daily diet with high levels of prebiotics, aiding in the restoration of beneficial microflora for improved fibre digestion. Its low sugar and starch content makes it ideal for barefoot horses and thoseprone to laminitis. It can serve as a partial substitute for hay or forage and is particularly suitable for horses prone to digestive issues, with a very low feeding rate.

This balancer supplies the additional nutrients that are required by an increased workload without the unwanted calories. It helps build and maintain muscle and topline, while a full balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants support healthy hoof growth, metabolism and recovery. The low starch and sugar levels also make it suitable for those with elevated nutrient requirements (not calories) and prone to laminitis.

If a horse is overweight and laminitis prone, it can be tempting to think they don’t require a bucket feed at all. While they don’t need to be supplied with energy or calories, consuming only grass or forage won’t provide everything they need. Deficiencies are even greater if grazing or forage have to be restricted to facilitate weight loss and manage the risk of laminitis. Therefore, feed rations for horses prone to laminitis need to be balanced and tailored to their individual needs.

For a good-doer or overweight horse, the bucket feed tops up the nutrients that are naturally lacking in grass and forage. This top up can be achieved by using a fortified feed, which is designed to provide a balanced ration when fed at the recommended quantity, or by feeding one of the best vitamin and mineral supplements (you can also find supplements for horses on restricted grazing) or feed balancers added to a low-calorie fibre feed.

We’ve rounded up a selection of feeds that manufacturers describe as suitable for feeding to horses prone to laminitis, some of which are also approved by The Laminitis Trust. It includes some fibres, fully balanced feeds and balancers, so that you can find something that works for you and your horse. Before deciding what to feed a horse who is prone to laminitis, it’s advisable to call a free nutritional helpline for additional advice.

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Franchesca is Horse & Hound’s Products Editor. She produces all of our buying guides and gift guides, as well as organising product testing and bringing you news about the latest products to hit the market. If there’s a new launch, Franchesca is the first person to hear about it. She brings you the best deals and is passionate about arming Horse & Hound’s readers with honest, unbiased product reviews. Franchesca loves letting riders and horse owners know what products are coming out, how to make their lives easier and how to spend their money wisely.

23 feeds suitable for horses prone to laminitis

Feeds suitable for horses prone to laminitis

Fibre-based chaffs

Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs

Mollichaff Light Molasses Free

Spillers Happy Hoof Molasses Free

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free

Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound

Honeychop Lite & Healthy

Spillers Happy Hoof

Pure Feeds Pure Fibre Balance

Thunderbrook Organic Herbalite

Allen & Page L Mix

Soaked feeds

British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet

Spillers Speedy-Mash Fibre

Baileys Natural Meadow Cobs

British Horse Feeds Fibre-Beet

Allen & Page Care & Gain

Balancers

TopSpec AntiLam Forage Balancer

Baileys No.14 Lo-Cal Balancer

Blue Chip Lami Lite Balancer

Simple System Horse Feeds MetaSlim

Baileys No.19 Performance Balancer

Spillers Lite & Lean Balancer

Dodson & Horrell Go Lite Balancer

How to choose a suitable feed for a laminitis prone horse

What is The Laminitis Trust approval mark?

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Laminitis: how to spot the signs, plus treatments and ways to prevent it

Expert advice for feeding horses with or prone to laminitis – what owners need to know

How to calculate your horse’s body condition score – is he the right weight?