Ice boots can be used for short-term or long-term management of laminitis. An ice boot is a simple design that is used to cool the fetlock and pastern areas of a horse. An ice pack is placed into the boot, and cooled water is circulated through the boot. The circulation of the water cools the boot and the horse's pastern and fetlock area.
Using ice boots on a horse with laminitis constricts the blood vessels in the lower leg, reducing circulation within the hoof. This helps to ease pain and inflammation, and reduce the long-term damage caused by a laminitic episode.