Personal Experience Report by Sarah M. | Reading time: approx. 6 minutes
After 3 Years Fighting My Mare's Laminitis, I Finally Found Something That Works: My Honest Review
Laminitis Treatment, Symptoms, and the Only Product That Truly Made a Difference
Why This Report Is Different
I am writing this because I know exactly how exhausting it is when nothing seems to help.
For 3 years, I tried everything: my vet's recommendations, my farrier's advice, every supplement on the market, every forum thread I could find. Over 15 different products and an estimated $2,400 later, I had nearly given up.
Until I understood what actually goes wrong inside a laminitic hoof.
That is what I want to share with you: not as a miracle cure, but as a realistic solution that finally worked for my mare after years of dead ends.
How My Mare's Laminitis Story Began
2021. It started quietly: a slightly shortened stride that I put down to the hard ground.
I remember thinking it was probably nothing. She had always been a sharp mover, my 12-year-old Welsh Cross, Bramble. A little stiffness after a cold night. It would pass.
It did not pass.
Within a few weeks, things changed fast. She was rocking back on her heels at the walk. Her digital pulses were pounding. The farrier came out and took one look at her feet and said the word I had been dreading.
Founder.
Within two months, we had all of the following:
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Bounding digital pulses in all four feet
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A pottery walk across the arena surface she had always loved
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Significant heat in both front hooves
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A laminitic hoof sole beginning to show bruising at the white line
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Visible hoof wall separation at the toe on the left front
The feeling that my horse's body had turned against her. And against me.
The lowest point: I stood in the stable at 11pm on a Tuesday, watching Bramble shift her weight from foot to foot on her deep bed, unable to get comfortable, and I cried. Not delicately. Properly cried. That was no life for either of us.
The First Three Years: The Cycle That Never Ended
I tried everything that came recommended: products from forums, from my vet, from other horse owners at the yard who had been through the same thing.
Here is what I actually tried:
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Magnesium and Chromium supplement ($180) → No visible change to comfort levels
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Prescribed Bute course from vet ($90) → Short-term pain relief, no long-term improvement, concerns about gut health with continued use
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Corrective shoeing with heart bar shoes, 3 cycles ($620) → Helped with structural support but comfort was still inconsistent between visits
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Grazing muzzle and track system setup ($240) → Necessary for management but not therapeutic
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Photobiomodulation clinic sessions at the equine therapy centre, 2 sessions ($225) → Improvement during the sessions, no way to maintain it at home between appointments
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Generic infrared leg wrap purchased online ($95) → Returned after 2 weeks, poor contact with the hoof area, no obvious effect
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Epsom salt soaking kit and specialist hoof boots ($110) → Soothing in the moment but no lasting benefit
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Biotin and hoof supplement stack ($210) → Good for hoof growth but not addressing the inflammation
The pattern was always the same:
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New hope with a new product or approach
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A short period of improvement (sometimes)
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A setback, often worse than before
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Frustration and back to searching
After 3 years I was at the end. Mentally and physically, both me and Bramble simply could not carry on the same way.
Here is what I spent so you can understand how much energy and money went into trying:
The Game Changer: What I Learned About Photobiomodulation and the Laminitic Hoof
At the end of 2023, I came across an article about photobiomodulation and hoof microcirculation, and suddenly everything made sense.
I was genuinely at my lowest. Three years of trying, close to $3,000 spent, and Bramble was still not the horse she had been.
One particularly day in November, I typed "laminitis cause research" into Google. Between the usual suggestions for management changes and magnesium supplementation, I found a paper in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
The title was technical but I read every word: research into photobiomodulation and microvascular response in equine laminitic tissue.
What I read there changed how I understood everything.
The researchers had found that in horses with laminitis, blood flow to the laminar tissue is not just reduced but severely compromised at a microvascular level. The capillaries feeding the laminae, the tissue connecting the pedal bone to the hoof wall, are under sustained inflammatory pressure that conventional anti-inflammatory treatment cannot fully reach from the outside.
My brain started connecting dots I had never connected before.
What if every product I had tried was working at the surface while the real problem was happening deeper inside the hoof capsule? What if I had been managing symptoms for three years while the underlying cellular environment was never actually recovering?
I spent the next three weeks reading everything I could find. Studies from equine veterinary journals. Research on photobiomodulation in human sports medicine and its application to equine use. Papers on microcirculation and laminitis. Papers on infrared wavelengths and tissue penetration depth.
The conclusion was consistent and, for me, almost shocking: most of what I had been doing was addressing the result, not the cause.
How Photobiomodulation Works Inside the Laminitic Hoof
Here is what I learned, in plain language.
The laminar tissue in the hoof depends entirely on adequate blood supply and cellular energy to remain healthy. Every cell in the laminae contains mitochondria, the structures responsible for producing cellular energy in the form of ATP.
During a laminitis episode, and in the recovery period that follows, several things go wrong at once:
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Microvascular blood flow to the laminar tissue is severely restricted
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Cellular energy production drops because oxygen and nutrient delivery is compromised
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Oxidative stress builds up in the damaged tissue and slows repair
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The inflammatory response, while necessary initially, becomes self-perpetuating in chronic cases
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The laminae lose their ability to support the pedal bone normally, which is what leads to rotation in severe equine founder cases
The problem with most conventional approaches to treating laminitis in horses is that they work from the outside in, or they suppress systemic inflammation without addressing what is happening at the cellular level inside the hoof.
This is exactly where red and near-infrared light therapy for horses works differently.
Specific wavelengths in the 630nm to 850nm range penetrate the hoof capsule and the soft tissue structures below it. Once absorbed, these wavelengths stimulate mitochondrial activity directly. The cells start producing more ATP. Circulation in the treated area improves. Oxidative stress reduces. The environment shifts from one of chronic inflammation toward one that actively supports repair.
For a horse with equine laminitis, this means addressing what is happening at the level of the laminae themselves, not just at the surface of the foot.
The vicious cycle: most conventional laminitis therapies work against the symptoms at surface level, which means the underlying cellular environment inside the hoof stays compromised. Each episode or setback hits harder because the tissue has never fully recovered between events.
The Solution: Equine Red Light Therapy at Home, Every Day
Instead of continuing to manage symptoms, I needed to support cellular recovery in the hoof itself.
After weeks of research, I finally understood what had been missing from everything I had tried. Every soaking session, every Bute course, every corrective shoe had been working around the inflammation rather than addressing it at the source.
The clinic photobiomodulation sessions had been genuinely helpful, but two sessions a month was nowhere near the consistent daily input that research suggested was most effective for chronic laminitis and founder in horses.
The solution was not in fighting my horse's feet. It was in supporting them.
I started searching for equine red light therapy products I could use at home, every day, on my own schedule. Within days I realised that 90% of what was available was either designed for large body areas rather than the hoof and lower leg specifically, prohibitively expensive, or making claims without any wavelength specifications I could verify.
I became almost obsessive about specifications.
What wavelengths?
What power output?
Did the device actually make proper contact with the hoof capsule and lower leg?
Because that is where Bramble needed the work done.
Then I found HorseHalo.
What was immediately different: instead of marketing language about "healing" and "transformation," their website explained the science. They talked about specific wavelengths, about photobiomodulation, about why device design matters for equine use. It read like it was written by people who understood the problem, not just people trying to sell a product.
I spent two days reading every red light therapy for horses review I could find on their site, on forums, and in Facebook groups dedicated to laminitis management. The consistency of what horse owners were reporting was hard to dismiss.
What finally convinced me:
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The HaloLegs Mini is designed specifically for the lower leg and hoof capsule, not adapted from human panels or large body pads
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It combines red wavelengths at 630 to 660nm and near-infrared at 830 to 850nm, the range supported by the research I had spent weeks reading
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The wrap design allows hands-free use so daily sessions are actually achievable in a normal stable routine
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HorseHalo works with equine physiotherapists and veterinary professionals on their device design
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A 30-day money back guarantee meant the financial risk was manageable
On the 14th of November 2023, I ordered the HaloLegs Mini.
I was nervous pressing the button. After three years and close to $3,000, trust was not something I had in abundance. But I had done my research in a way I had never done before. If this did not work, I told myself, I would finally accept that Bramble was a horse I would be managing forever.
Four days later it arrived. Compact. Well made. Properly designed to wrap around the lower leg and sit in contact with the hoof wall.
I put it on Bramble that evening for the first session. She stood quietly. For a horse who had become increasingly sensitive about her feet being handled, that told me something on its own.
My Results: Week by Week
Weeks 1 and 2: The First Signs
Day 1:
First session went smoothly. Bramble stood without fussing through the full session.
Days 3 to 7:
By day 5, I thought I noticed her walking out of the stable with slightly less of that characteristic pottery movement. I was careful not to read too much into it. I had been wrong before.
Days 8 to 14:
Her digital pulses felt slightly less pronounced by the end of week two. I asked my farrier to check them without telling him what I had started. He agreed they seemed a little calmer. I said nothing more.
Weeks 3 and 4: The Shift
Days 15 to 21:
Bramble started walking across the concrete apron outside her stable without hesitating. Not confidently, but without the obvious reluctance that had been normal for two years.
Days 22 to 28:
I trotted her up for the first time in months. My yard owner watched from the gate. At the end of the line she said: "She is moving better."
Weeks 5 to 12: The Change
Days 29 to 56:
The improvement was no longer something I had to look for. She was actively walking out to her track paddock without being led carefully. Her appetite, always a gauge of her comfort, improved noticeably.
Days 57 to 84:
At the 10-week farrier visit, he stood back after trimming and said: "Whatever you have changed, keep doing it. The white line is tighter and there is new growth at the toe that looks healthy."
After 3 months: Bramble was not just the horse she had been before her worst episode. She was better. For the first time in three years, I felt like we were moving forward instead of just holding the line.
Product Comparison: Why HorseHalo Outperformed Everything Else
I researched over a dozen equine red light therapy products during three years of looking. Here are my honest top three.
3rd Place: Gospel's Small Light Therapy Pad by Equine and Canine Light Therapy
My verdict: A well-built, US-made general purpose light therapy pad with genuine credentials, but the small size and corded design create real limitations when it comes to consistent hoof-specific use at home.
Why it gets chosen: Equine Light Therapy has been around for years and has a strong reputation among equine therapists and rehab professionals. The pad is flexible, built to last, and comes with everything you need in the box.
Cons
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The pad is designed to work across multiple body areas: back, shoulder, neck, legs. That versatility sounds appealing, but it also means it is not built specifically for the hoof capsule and lower leg. When you are managing laminitis, a general-purpose tool is exactly what you do not need
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The Small pad (9.5 x 7 inches, 66 LEDs) is a general-purpose size, not purpose-built for the hoof capsule and lower leg specifically. Some horse owners who purchased it through SmartPak noted the small pad alone did not deliver the coverage they needed for hoof conditions, with one describing it as "not powerful enough on its own to really make a difference" for their horse
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Corded design requires a power outlet nearby or a separately purchased battery pack. Not barn-proof for everyday stable use without extra accessories
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The pad needs to be secured with velcro straps, bandages, or in some cases duct tape, which is not ideal for a horse that is already sensitive about its feet being touched
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At $273 for the Small with case, it sits at a higher price point for what is a general-purpose, non-hoof-specific tool
Pros
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Good quality build
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660nm and 850nm wavelength combination
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Repairs done in-house
2nd Place: ClinicPBM Red Light Therapy Hoof Boots for Horses
My verdict:
A serious, hoof-specific red light therapy device with strong technical specs and cordless convenience. The wavelength combination and LED count are genuinely impressive. However, the price and some practical handling restrictions make daily home use more complicated than it looks on paper.
Why it gets chosen:
ClinicPBM has designed a product that is clearly intended for the equine hoof rather than adapted from a general-purpose pad. The cordless battery design and the 660nm plus 850nm combination make it a legitimate option for horse owners who want clinical-grade specs without needing a power outlet in the stable.
Cons
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At $499 per single boot, the price point is significant. Treating all four legs would require a considerable outlay
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The product instructions state the horse must remain tied while the wraps are in use. For a laminitic horse already stressed and uncomfortable, being required to stand tied for every session adds a management challenge
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The pad cannot be folded, as this risks disconnecting the LED diodes from the power source. This limits how the boot can be stored and transported
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Battery life is rated at 6 rounds per charge. For owners using the device daily across multiple feet, recharging frequency becomes a practical consideration
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Customer support and brand presence are less established in the equine community compared to longer-standing brands
Pros
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Purpose-built for the equine hoof and lower leg
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80 red (660nm) and 160 near-infrared (850nm) LEDs across 240 total chips per boot
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Cordless and battery powered, no cords to manage in the stable
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30-day trial period
My 2026 Winner: HorseHalo HaloLegs Mini
My verdict:
After three years of trying everything on the market, the HaloLegs Mini is the only equine red light therapy product I found that was actually built around the problem I was trying to solve. Not a general-purpose pad adapted for the leg. Not a clinic device repackaged for home use. A wrap designed from the ground up for the lower leg and hoof capsule, the exact structures that take the damage in laminitis and equine founder.
What sets it apart in practice is not just the wavelengths or the LED count. It is the fact that I can use it every single day without it becoming a chore. No cords. No outlet hunt. No standing there holding something against a foot for 15 minutes. No tying a horse that is already uncomfortable and on edge.
I wrap it on, secure the velcro, press the button, and get on with mucking out. That is what daily consistency looks like in a real stable, and daily consistency is exactly what photobiomodulation requires to work at a cellular level.
The price matters too. At $99.95, it sits well below both competitors I tested.
The Gospel's Small pad costs $273 and was not designed for this job. The ClinicPBM hoof boots start at $499 per single boot and come with restrictions that make daily home use genuinely difficult.
The HaloLegs Mini costs less than either, does the job better for this specific condition, and backs it up with 605 reviews and a 30-day money-back guarantee.For anyone managing laminitis, equine founder, or chronic hoof issues at home, this is the one I would buy again without hesitation.
Pros
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Built for the lower leg and hoof capsule specifically
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Red and near-infrared wavelengths (630 to 660nm and 830 to 850nm)
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Cordless and hands-free, velcro wrap stays secure
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All four legs treatable in one yard visit
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Safe for horses on box rest, no tying required
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4.8 stars, 605 verified reviews
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Free tracked shipping to US, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe
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$99.95
Cons
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Results build over weeks, not days. That is photobiomodulation. Anyone promising faster should be questioned
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Works best alongside veterinary care, corrective farriery, and dietary management, not instead of them
After 8 Months: Where Bramble Is Now
Before (November 2022):
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Daily reluctance to walk across hard or uneven surfaces
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Bounding digital pulses in both front feet most mornings
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Hoof wall separation visible at the toe on the left front
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Limited to short, careful walks on soft ground only
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Mood and appetite affected by ongoing discomfort
Today:
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Walking freely across all surfaces at the yard without hesitation
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Digital pulses calm and within normal range at every farrier visit
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Hoof wall growing in tighter and healthier at the toe
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Back in light work on soft ground for the first time in over two years
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Appetite and demeanour fully back to her normal self
⚠️ Important Note on Availability
HorseHalo products sell out regularly. As equine red light therapy becomes better understood and more widely recommended by equine vets and physiotherapists, demand has grown faster than production can keep up with.
Last month, the HaloLegs Mini was out of stock for almost two months.
If you are heading into a high-risk laminitis season, do not wait.
🎁 Exclusive Reader Discount
The HaloLegs Mini starts at $159.95 for a single wrap. Through the link below, the current sale pricing is applied automatically.
Save now up to 58%
✅ Hoof and lower leg specific design
✅ Free tracked shipping
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
✅ Discount applied automatically at checkout
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How quickly does it actually work?
A: For chronic laminitis, most horse owners report noticing changes in comfort and digital pulse levels between 3 and 6 weeks of consistent daily use. Photobiomodulation is not a quick fix. It works by supporting cellular recovery over time. If anyone promises results in days, be skeptical.
Q: Does it work for horses with severe or rotational laminitis?
A: The HaloLegs Mini is not a replacement for veterinary care in acute or rotational founder cases. It is a tool that supports the body's natural recovery processes and works best as part of a broader management plan alongside veterinary guidance, corrective farriery, and dietary control. Most users managing severe or chronic equine laminitis use it as a complement to, not a replacement for, professional care.
Q: Is this just more marketing noise?
A: The science behind photobiomodulation is not new or fringe. It has been studied in human and equine medicine for over two decades. The application to equine laminitis and hoof microcirculation is supported by peer-reviewed research. What HorseHalo has done is build a device that is actually designed for the equine hoof rather than repurposed from human applications.
Q: What if it does not work for my horse?
A: HorseHalo offers a 30-day money back guarantee. Use it consistently for a month and if you see no change at all, return it. In my experience, and in the experience of every horse owner I have spoken to who stuck with it, the change does come. It just comes gradually, which is actually a sign it is working at a cellular level rather than masking symptoms.
My Final Word: Stop Managing the Surface and Start Supporting Recovery
I know what you are thinking. Another product. Another promise.
I thought exactly the same thing for three years.
But here is what those three years actually cost me: $2,860 in products and treatments that did not address the real problem. Three years of watching Bramble be uncomfortable. Three years of cancelled plans, guilt, and uncertainty about whether she would ever be fully sound again.
You do not have to repeat that.
What does it cost you if nothing changes?
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Another laminitis season managing symptoms instead of supporting actual recovery
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Another farrier visit where progress is slower than it should be
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More money spent on approaches that work around the problem instead of addressing it
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More days watching your horse be uncomfortable when there is a tool that reaches what is actually happening inside the hoof
What do you gain by choosing the right approach?
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A horse who walks out of the stable freely instead of carefully
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Digital pulses that calm down and stay calm between farrier visits
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Hooves that are growing healthier instead of just being maintained
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A horse who is comfortable enough to be brought back into work
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The feeling of actually getting ahead of laminitis instead of always chasing it
*This report reflects the personal experience of one horse owner. Individual results will vary. The HaloLegs Mini is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Always consult your vet and farrier as part of your laminitis management plan.