Many of the world’s leading researchers on laminitis were invited to participate in the Equine Laminitis Research Panel and Meeting held in Louisville, Ky., on July 25, regarding where the industry stands on this deadly disease. The gathering was sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Quarter Horse Association, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and Morris Animal Foundation.

More than 100 participants attended a morning session that gave brief speaking times to a dozen veterinarians and researchers. The reasons given for holding the meeting were to establish research priorities, stimulate collaboration between researchers and institutions, and increase awareness for the need for further research, noted Nat White, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, chair of the AAEP Foundation Advisory Committee and one of the coordinators of the meeting. Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery and director of the Equine Health Studies Program at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, organized and moderated the session.

"Laminitis is a horrible disease," said White, head of the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Virginia, in opening the session. "As long as I’ve been treating horses with laminitis, and with the tremendous amount of research that has gone on, I still have a horrible time predicting and treating this problem."

The afternoon was dedicated to breakout sessions with six groups assigned to set priorities and answer specific questions on their topics to the best of their abilities. Afterward, a representative from each group presented a summary