Laminitis, an often devastating hoof disease that can strike horses of any breed without warning, is a major issue for horse owners and veterinarians alike. In the recent American Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Industry Survey, nearly 50% of the 11,000-plus owners surveyed listed it as a health issue of concern. And in last year's AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) Equine Research study, 63% of the responding veterinarians listed it as a health condition in need of more research, making it the No. 1 health problem listed on the survey.

Some of the best minds in equine veterinary medicine have targeted this disease, and the pieces are starting to fall into place. Here we'll visit studies described by James Orsini, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, Penn Vet Laminitis Institute director; and Amy Rucker, DVM, of Midwest Equine in Columbia, Mo., who both presented at the Fifth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot (Nov. 6-8, 2009)