What is it? How is it remedied?

Simply put, laminitis is the painful inflamation, weakening and destruction of the laminae which connect the horse's coffin bone to the hoof wall. 

While not all episodes of laminitis lead to founder (rotation or sinking of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule), all foundered conditions are preceeded by laminitis, as it is the weakening of the laminae which allows the coffin bone to rotate and sink.

A more in depth explanation of the causes and consequences of laminits can be found online. However, in keeping with our purpose of returning the laminitic horse to a sound and pain-free condition, let me say this:

FAT HORSES FOUNDER

90% of the horses that I treat with acute laminitis and/or founder are OBESE. Successful rehabilitation of these horses involves correcting the hoof deformities and imbalances that resulted in or from the laminitic episode or founder and, as an essential factor, getting rid of the excess weight that brought about the condition in the first place. 

The remaining 10% of laminitic/foundered horses that are not obese have other conditions which predisposed them to these maladies, and they will need to be evaluated by both myself and the attending vet to determine whether or not Rehab is an option.