Months after the equine community lost the Kentucky Derby Champion Barbaro to laminitis, veterinarians will gather in Seattle, Wash., at the 2007 ACVIM Forum on June 6-9 to discuss new ways to prevent and manage the disease that eventually led to his euthanasia.

Laminitis, commonly called founder, is a painful inflammation of the foot occurring when the laminae, or sensitive tissues beneath a horse’s hoof wall, separate from the bone. It’s estimated up to 75% of those afflicted ultimately develop severe or chronic lameness and debilitate. The disease is second only to colic as the biggest cause of death in horses.

Barbaro was euthanatized on Jan. 29 due to the effects of laminitis. After winning the 2006 Kentucky Derby, the colt broke his right rear leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, ending his racing career. After surgeons repaired Barbaro’s fracture and applied a cast, his supporting limbs developed laminitis. Following months of treatment, Barbaro’s veterinarians and owners determined he could not be saved.

“All horses and ponies are at risk for laminitis, not just racehorses,” said Dr. Ray Geor, Director of Research at the MARE Center at Virginia, and speaker at the 2007 ACVIM Forum. Dr. Geor’s session, Pasture-Associated Laminitis, will discuss the risk factors associated with laminitis, focusing on the combination of an overweight horse and exposure to pasture. Three other sessions will disseminate important information on this serious disease to the equine veterinary community including its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management