Over 18 months, three warmbloods at the same Kentucky barn had bouts with laminitis — one survived.

Laminitis can sneak up on some horse owners, particularly those who are novices or aren’t proactive in preventing laminitis. This is no run-of-the-mill barn, though. They take laminitis seriously.

“This owner donates money to the Kentucky Research Foundation,” explains Stuart Muir, a resident farrier at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. “They test her grass. She has nutritionists. There is nothing these horses want for.”

The surviving mare is the subject of a 5-year case study that Muir details with American Farriers Journal Assistant Editor Maclaren Krueger titled, “Consistent, Adaptable Strategy is Key in Managing Chronic Laminitis.” 

It’s a textbook example of the rollercoaster ride that laminitis cases often represent for the horse owner, veterinarian and farrier. When Muir presented the case study at the 2024 International Hoof-Care Summit, the authenticity of the highs and lows, twists and turns was important.

“I have a 6-year-old daughter, and to get full marks in school, she has to show her work,” says Muir while presenting the Burney Chapman Lecture, sponsored by Life Data Labs. “It’s easy to sensationalize our work as farriers. I could show you the first slide or the most tragic slide and then the finished slide and you’d think, ‘Well, Stuart’s the best farrier in the world.’ It’s the work and progress through these stages that give any credibility to how we get through these cases.”

Client Participation

An involved, helpful client is ideal. Muir’s client recorded methodical, almost daily notes chronicling the horse’s progress or regression. They were so detailed that they were an outline for Muir’s Summit presentation.

While that positive level of involvement is unusual, a horse owner who is patient and committed is an asset to the caregiving team. International Horseshoeing Hall of Famer Danvers Child advises farriers prepare their clients so they understand their patience will be tested.

“You can make dramatic, radical progress on the first shoeing,” says the Lafayette, Ind., farrier. “It always impresses clients. Then you come in and do the second and third shoeing, and you don’t make any progress. They become discouraged because they don’t understand why we’re stalled.

“You have to coach the client to understand this is a long-term endeavor. It’s deceptive that first time because you’ll never make that dramatic change again.”

This is an important time that allows the horse to heal.

“Everything from then out is buying time and finessing a little here and there,” he says. “You cheat a little here and there to gain over time.”

Although the horse is progressing, the client’s perception often differs.

“You’ll reach a point when you’ll know that you’re going to have this in two shoeings,” Child says. “That’s usually when your client gets frustrated and fires you. Somebody else comes in and does that second shoeing and looks like a hero because it finally happened. It’s very much a patience game.”