Understanding Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Laminitis: Essential Insights for Horse Owners

Equine Metabolic Syndrome Horse's-Typical Fat Deposit Areas

To understand the EMS horse who has laminitis flare-ups, we must first understand the role of insulin:

Insulin is more than just a hormone; it’s the gatekeeper of energy for your horse. When your horse eats anything, blood glucose levels rise, prompting the pancreas to release insulin. This hormone then helps cells absorb glucose, providing the energy they need to function optimally while keeping blood sugar levels in check at normal levels.

However, in horses with EMS, this process is disrupted, which we call insulin deregulation, or ID, leading to a host of potential health issues.

Over the last decade, EMS has become much more common in domestic horses, which we can theorize is because of multiple reasons such as it being genetic, often due to pedigree breeds and small breeding pools, as well as more regular use of man-made packaged feeds and unsuitable farming grasses that both contain high levels of sugars, which challenge the horse's body further.

Although the science hasn't shed any definitive light on why it happens to some horses and not others, we still aren't 100% sure of the reasons yet.

What we do know is when EMS manifests in a horse, the body struggles to regulate insulin properly, and this malfunction can set the stage for serious complications, notably laminitis, which is a painful condition that affects the hooves and can be fatal.

Horses with EMS may have noticeable fat deposits, especially around the neck, giving them a distinctive cresty look, as well as fat pads on the top of the tail, rump, thighs, and shoulder areas, with some having fat pockets above the eyes. However, while some of these horses might appear overweight, it’s important to note that not all EMS-affected horses carry extra weight, and some can even present underweight, so it's not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis and only blood tests will give the true picture.

However, what a lot of these horses suffer from is the inability to feel satisfied by their food due to the insulin dysfunction, so they often experience increased hunger due to their body's inability to manage insulin effectively, and due to this, they tend to be ravenous all the time and overeat. Coupled with a sluggish metabolism that complicates weight loss, all of which can lead to further health challenges for these poor horses.

Susceptible Breeds: Who’s at Risk?

Certain breeds are more prone to EMS, particularly those labeled as being able to live off the smell of an oily rag, or the “good doer,” such as miniature horses, ponies, donkeys, cobs, and some feral breeds like Kaimanawas, Mustangs, and Brumbies, though all breeds can develop EMS.

These more hardy breeds suffer because they have evolved to thrive in environments where food is scarce, efficiently utilizing glucose for energy and eeking a living from sparse terrains like scrubland and tussocks, etc.

So, it’s understandable that complications happen when they have access to rich pasture grasses, often amplified and crossbred for the beef and dairy industry to be hardy and fattening for cows, along with haylage, baleage, and even some hays, or commercial feeds that don't always have your horse's best interest at heart, especially without sufficient exercise. All of this can easily overload the EMS horse’s caloric intake, leading to a host of health problems, including the dreaded laminitis.

The Dangers of Laminitis:

One of the most significant threats associated with the EMS horse is most definitely laminitis. This painful hoof condition results from inflammation, often triggered by high blood sugar levels from horses eating unsuitable grass and concentrates, and can easily escalate to stage 2 of laminitis if not corrected early enough, which we call founder.

This is where the hoof's outer wall structure separates from the inner bone, causing rotation and sinking of the coffin bone. This stage can result in severe pain, crippling lameness, and even pose life-threatening complications.

Horses with EMS are particularly vulnerable to laminitis, especially when they graze on green pastures or consume high-carbohydrate diets. Even minor increases in their caloric intake, such as new grass growth or certain hay types, can heighten this risk, and often owners are caught out by these minor changes that trigger a laminitis attack.

The Risk of Hyperlipemia:

Another serious concern linked to EMS is hyperlipemia. When horses eat significantly less, such as when they have laminitis, and the owner reduces their calorie intake too severely, their bodies typically draw on fat reserves for energy. However, in horses with EMS, excess fat can flood the bloodstream, overburdening the liver and leading to significant health risks. This creates a vicious cycle where the horse eats less, releases more fat, and worsens their condition, often requiring urgent veterinary care.

Thankfully soaked adlib hay fed through a slow feeder haynet can help to prevent this.

Diagnosing EMS:

Veterinarians typically diagnose EMS through blood tests that measure glucose and insulin levels, with samples taken in the morning before feeding to achieve the most accurate results.

A Path Forward:

In summary, while EMS poses serious health challenges, early detection and effective management through a good grass management plan such as track grazing, with low sugar, well balanced diet that consists primarily of suitable hay below 10% of Non Structured Carbs to reduce sugars furter, and regular exercise with a good multi mineral blend, all of which can significantly enhance your horse's well-being and lead to many happy years with your EMS horse..

To effectively manage EMS in your horse, it is important to avoid processed feeds and provide low-sugar hay such as through a slow feed haynet, soaked if necessary to reduce sugars further.

Seeking guidance from individuals experienced in managing Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and laminitis can be beneficial, to create a tailored dietary and management plan for your horse and also get support for you as we understand owners of EMS horses can feel overwhelmed, so don't be afraid to reach out to us as we will always offer a friendly and supportive ear.

Additionally, collaborate with an experienced veterinarian to accurately diagnose and help manage this condition.

We hope this helps you with your EMS horse.

For a suitable laminitis recovery plan and EMS suitable diet, please see this link

https://www.naturalhorse.co.nz/laminitis-recovery-info