Early signs of laminitis: the overlooked clues most horse owners miss
- Riikka Kemppainen
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Most horse owners have been taught to look for lameness, heat in the hooves, or stretched white lines as signs of laminitis. But by the time those things show up, the damage is already well under way. Laminitis almost always begins much earlier, and if we could recognise it in those first quiet stages, we could save a lot of horses from pain and long-term damage.
We also know that:
flares
"event lines" (laminitis rings)
thin soles
abscesses
wall cracks
wall/white line separation
Are all symptoms of laminitis, but how do we nip it in the bud before we have this much damage to the hooves?
The first of two earliest and most reliable signs is a digital pulse, and inflammation of the coronet band. It’s there long before the horse is hobbling, growing obvious rings, or cracking walls. And it tells us far more than most people realise.
Early signs of laminitis often begin with a digital pulse
A pulse in the fetlock or higher up the leg means there is inflammation in the hoof. It doesn’t take weeks to show up — it can appear in hours. A horse turned out on grass in the morning can already have a bounding pulse by the evening.
The above images show a laminitic horse with a strong, bounding digital pulse. In the middle image we've circled the best place to feel it - both on the inside and outside of the leg. It's actually bulging out and visible to the eye - this is always a bad sign. The artery is located in a bundle along with a vein and a nerve, and the last image shows where the bundle runs down the horse's leg.
The higher up the inside of the leg you feel the pulse, the more severe the inflammation. Sometimes you can even see the artery throbbing below the knee on the medial side, which should always be taken very seriously. In contrast, when things are going well, it can be hard to even find the artery at all, and you definitely will not see it bulging.
The tricky part is that horses can have a pulse and still be galloping around their field or paddock, looking sound. That’s why so many owners (and even professionals) miss it. The horse doesn’t look lame, so the problem is dismissed. But by ignoring that pulse, we’re missing the earliest stage of laminitis.
Inflamed coronet band
The other reliable and easily found sign is inflammation of the coronet band. I was taught this by an amazing equine veterinarian Dr. Melanie Quick, and to date I have not seen anyone else use this to assess the presence or level of inflammation on horse's hooves. It's such a shame because it's very easy to see and feel, and it's super accurate. Anyone can do it, you don't need an x-ray to see this!
An inflamed coronet band is raised, puffy, has a rubbery look and slight sheen to it. The wider the "swelling" is vertically, the more severe and longer the inflammation has been ongoing. It can also take on a red or pinkish tinge, and be a very narrow line hiding right under the hairline.
This is current, active inflammation which will turn into an event line aka laminitis ring.
Why lameness is not the first warning sign
One of the biggest misconceptions about laminitis is that it starts with lameness. In reality, laminitis is already present long before a horse struggles to walk. Digital pulses and inflammation at the coronet band are the true early signs of laminitis, but they’re so often overlooked.
Laminitis isn’t just for fat or PPID horses
Another common myth is that laminitis only strikes overweight horses or those with EMS or PPID. The truth is, any horse can cycle in and out of laminitic episodes. Grass, diet, and trimming practices all play a role, and many horses experience these flare-ups without anyone noticing. Most laminitic horses in fact do not have EMS or PPID. They are regular horses with "low grade" laminitis, that is simply not being recognised by anyone.
This is why keeping an eye on pulses and coronet bands is so powerful. It’s the horse’s way of telling us when their hooves are inflamed, long before it spirals into lameness or hoof capsule changes.
Abscesses are an overlooked sign of laminitis
Many owners think abscesses just happen — a stone bruise, some mud getting in, bad luck. But the reality is far different: most abscesses are the result of laminitis simmering in the background.
Here’s how:
Separation in the white line allows pathogens to enter. What causes that separation? Laminitis.
Pressure from overgrown bars damages the corium and leads to tissue death. That damage is far more likely if the hoof is already inflamed.
The pedal bone pressing on the sole causes tissue breakdown — again, a laminitis process.
So if your horse has recurring abscesses, don’t dismiss them as coincidence. They are one of the most common early signs of laminitis.
Bruising in barefoot horses is rarely what it seems
Another big misunderstanding is bruising. Many people blame barefoot horses for getting “stone bruises” on rough ground. In reality, most sole bruises aren’t from stones at all. They’re from internal inflammation and the pedal bone pressing down on the sole — laminitis. Yes, stone bruises happen occasionally, but far less often than people think.
So when you see bruising in the sole, don’t dismiss it as bad footing. It’s often the hoof’s way of showing you that laminitis is present.
How to prevent laminitis before it takes hold
The good news is that you don’t need fancy tools or devices to catch laminitis early. What really works is simple:
Check digital pulses regularly, and learn to feel what’s normal for your horse. Always check when the horse is at rest, not after exercise.
Keep a short trim cycle. Long toes, high bars, and wall separation only worsen the problem. (And by short, we mean SHORT: 4 weeks max, but small weekly trims done by the owner is the gold standard.)
Feed a low-sugar diet. Reduce grass access if needed and avoid feeds that fuel inflammation.
Encourage movement. Horses with strong, healthy hooves are those who move freely in suitable environments.
With these basics in place, abscesses stop being a recurring nightmare, and laminitis doesn’t get the chance to take hold unseen.
Spotting early signs of laminitis can save your horse
The real danger of laminitis isn’t that it’s hard to stop. It’s that it’s ignored in the early stages. Horses don’t need to fall off the cliff into obvious lameness before we act. By learning to read pulses and coronet bands, recognise subtle signs, and understand what bruising and abscesses are really telling us, we can step in early and protect our horses’ hooves for the long term.
If you’d like to learn how to check your horse’s hooves for the five most common problems, including the early signs of laminitis, grab our free hoof health check guide.
