Equine Metabolic Syndrome is a growing welfare concern in horses and ponies. Understanding its relationship to diet, obesity, and laminitis enables prevention and effective long-term management.
EMS welfare significance lies in its direct link to laminitis — one of the most painful equine conditions. Horses with unmanaged EMS are at continuous risk of laminitis from dietary carbohydrate exposure that their insulin system cannot regulate normally. The welfare management of EMS is primarily dietary and environmental: low-sugar, low-starch forage, elimination of grass access during high-sugar periods (spring and autumn), appropriate exercise, and weight management. The challenge is that EMS affects native breeds and ponies with strong evolutionary drives towards forage consumption — restricting grass access requires consistent owner commitment and creative management solutions. Regular veterinary monitoring with insulin testing enables management optimisation.