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Reg
Charity No: 1049266
PRESS RELEASE
THE
HORSE WORLD TO UNITE FOR
NATIONAL
LAMINITIS AWARENESS MONTH
If only
preventing laminitis was simply a question of keeping fat ponies away from rich
grass, but every year horses and ponies of every breed and discipline contract
this excessively painful illness.
The Laminitis Trust, a charity founded by Robert Eustace, FRCVS, director
of The Laminitis Clinic in Wiltshire, is organising Laminitis Awareness Month in
May 2001 to educate horse owners and riders on how best to avoid this crippling
and often fatal disease and to raise funds for vital research.
In its mildest form laminitis presents as a mild lameness, a reluctance
to move, or the animal lying down to try and get some relief from its painful
feet. Sometimes the horse will be
sweating, groaning and blowing giving rise to the misdiagnosis of colic.
After repeated attacks, however, the attachment between the pedal bone
and hoof capsule starts to fail. This is described as foundering.
The most severe form of founder is where the pedal bone becomes loose
within the hoof and is described as a sinker the majority of cases of
which will die without rapid and expert treatment.
Robert Eustace says: We
recognise that laminitis can be brought on by a variety of factors, including
stress. Trauma to the feet caused
by excessive work on hard surfaces can cause laminitis particularly in show
jumpers and endurance horses. But
it is a fact that as many as 80% of
laminitis cases could be avoided by sensible feeding and management.
Particularly worrying is the unwelcome practice of feeding high calorie
diets to horses and ponies in order to achieve so-called show-ring
condition. Leading show judge
and producer Robert Oliver joins me in saying that horses and ponies should be
judged for fitness, not fatness.
Just one aspect of the work of The Laminitis Trust has been to pioneer an
approval mark for horse feeds to guide owners towards those feed products which
are safer to use both to prevent laminitis and during the treatment period.
To carry the approval mark, feeds have to be submitted for scrutiny by
The Laminitis Trusts Scientific Committee.
Dengie, Spillers and Dodson & Horrell are manufacturing a selection
of feeds which carry the Laminitis Trust Approval Mark and, to support National
Laminitis Awareness Month, are producing helpful fact sheets and recommended
diets.
Robert Eustace concludes: Laminitis is not a condition to be taken
lightly. I have witnessed at first
hand the misery it can cause. We
intend that National Laminitis Awareness Month will create a platform whereby
many of the old wives tales and misinformation are finally put to rest.
Further vital research is essential, but until a cure is found, owners
have the solution in their own hands. Sensible
feeding and management are, in the majority of cases, the key to ending the
unnecessary pain and suffering caused by laminitis.
Every equestrian association and organization is
being asked to support National Laminitis Awareness Month to aid understanding,
promote better management and help raise funds for a research project.
Many well known figures in the equestrian world have already pledged
their support. Please signal yours
on the attached fax back form
-
ends
November 2000
Information
supplied by Liz Higgins, Blue Inc.,
Tel: 020
8933 8383 Fax: 020
8723 7683
The Laminitis Trust, Mead House Farm, Dauntsey, Chippenham,
Wilts SN15 4JA
Tel:
0870 444 0676 Fax: 0870 444
0677
www.equilife.co.uk/laminitis-org
National Laminitis
Awareness Month May 2001
How you can help
If you would like to help raise money or support
National Laminitis Awareness Month
please complete this form and fax back to
The Laminitis Trust Press Office on 020 8723 7683
or email: liz@blue-inc.co.uk
q
I will display The Laminitis Trusts Fact
Sheet in my yard. Please supply
laminated A3 size copy @ £3.50 each (inc P & P)
q
I will display a Laminitis Trust Collection
Box.
q
I would like to organise a fund raising
activity for The Laminitis Trust
Details:
.
.
q
I would like to arrange a lecture by Robert
Eustace FRCVS at my local equestrian college or riding club (fee to be paid
directly to The Laminitis Trust)
q
I will donate a proportion of entry fees for
class at
. Show to The Laminitis Trust
during May 2001
q
I enclose a cheque for £
towards The
Laminitis Trust research project
Name:
.
Address:
.
. Tel:
The Laminitis Trust, Mead House Farm, Dauntsey, Chippenham,
Wilts SN15 4JA
Tel:
0870 444 0676 Fax: 0870 444
0677
www.equilife.co.uk/laminitis-org
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