Feed to Prevent Founder

If the levels in the grass are higher and your horse shows signs of inflammation you will need to limit or restrict your horses access to pasture find grazing muzzle options here.
Some signs that your horse may be getting too much starch and sugar from pasture include a thick cresty neck tender feet a distended or more intense digital artery pulse on your horses ankle flared or ridged hoof walls and unusual weight gain or loss.
Instead of grazing provide low sugarstarch hay 247 in a slow feeder such as a hay net with small holes or another device. To learn what the sugar and starch levels in your pasture are have it analyzed by an agricultural lab. The report will give you the information you need to determine if your pasture is safe. If you arent sure how to interpret the results an equine nutritionist can decipher the data and help you balance your horses diet accordingly.
Mycotoxin

If your hays starch and sugar levels are low and your horses diet is balanced but the grass is still triggering laminitis mycotoxins could be to blame. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic compounds released by fungi that live in grass. Mycotoxins are vasoconstrictors that are absorbed quickly through the small intestine and trigger a systemic inflammatory response which can then cause laminitis.
According to Jennifer Duringer Ph D. director of Oregon State Universitys Endophyte Lab there are more than 500 known mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin levels rise and fall seasonally and are present in more grass species than was once believed she says. We are currently conducting a study to identify which species are infected.
You can combat mycotoxins by turning your horse out on a dry lot instead of a pasture although mycotoxins can be and often are present in cured hay. If you suspect your horse is
suffering from mycotoxininduced laminitis try removing the offending toxins with a mycotoxin binder to reduce inflammation. These can be found in certain equine feed supplements that generally contain yeast derivatives.
Keeping a laminitis or founderprone horse on pasture can be challenging if not impossible. Keep up the good fight against pain and discomfort by reducing grazing as needed testing hay and being aware of potential mycotoxins.