The aim is to help horse owners identify horses potentially suffering from laminitis and help them treat and manage the disease.

Although grass can trigger laminitis, up to 90% of cases are caused by an underlying hormonal condition, either Cushing’s disease (PPID) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS).

Boehringer Ingelheim has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the disease, ‘Talk About Laminitis’, which will run until the end of October.

As part of the campaign, the company is offering free laboratory tests for the blood test used to detect Cushings disease.

Results of Cushings tests from over 15,000 British horses and ponies has identified that Cushings is not just a disease of veteran animals, but could be responsible for laminitis in any horse or pony over the age of 10.

In fact, more than a third of the 10-15-year-olds within this group were positive for Cushings.

These equines were tested because they were showing signs of the disease such as laminitis, abnormal hair coat, muscle wastage and fat deposits round the eyes.

Horses or ponies with any of these clinical signs should be tested for Cushings, so that the condition can be treated and managed appropriately.

Sharon Power, co-founder of IHWT, said: “By identifying the underlying cause of laminitis, owners will be able to treat, manage and reduce future episodes of this painful condition.”

If your horse suffers from recurring laminitis talk to your vet or visit the website talkaboutlaminitis.ie for more information or to download a free blood test voucher.