In 1984, a grass-roots effort was created in order to fund research of different ailments of the horse. The group called themselves the Animal Health Foundation (AHF), and were led by Don Walsh, DVM, a veterinarian in the St. Louis area of Missouri.

“We started as a not-for-profit research foundation and decided that we would target a specific disease,” said Walsh. The first disease the group targeted was laminitis, and they believed they would move on after research was complete. Fifteen years later, the group still is going strong, with just as much interest in finding the triggering mechanism behind the mysterious disease of laminitis, which debilitates and causes pain in thousands of horses every year.

Laminitis is the failure of the attachment between the distal phalanx and the inner hoof wall. The lamellae of the inner hoof wall suspend the coffin bone from the inside surface of the hoof capsule, and when the lamellae separate, the weight of the horse, as well as the efforts of his moving around, force the coffin bone to drive down into the hoof capsule, causing vascular damage and considerable pain for the animal.

In the early days of the organization, the AHF solicited input from farriers and veterinarians on the prevalence and experiences with laminitis so studies could be targeted. Volunteers pulled together, and Walsh selected a Board of Directors from a broad base of equine clientele and cohorts in his area. The group held such fundraisers as a jamboree and several parties for the benefit of laminitis. A local equestrian club donated their show grounds to the AHF. Schooling shows were held for the surrounding area to fund the cause, and when the show grounds were overtaken by a road project three years ago, AHF was given the capital from the sale of the land