Equine Metabolic Syndrome is an increasingly prevalent condition linked to obesity and carbohydrate overload, with laminitis as the primary welfare consequence.
Equine Metabolic Syndrome welfare management is centred on laminitis prevention — because laminitis in EMS horses is often severe, recurrent, and resistant to treatment once the acute phase is established. The chronic nature of the metabolic dysfunction means that management must be sustained indefinitely, not applied reactively when laminitis occurs. Dietary management — soaking hay to leach non-structural carbohydrates, restricting pasture access particularly during high-sugar risk periods (spring flush, autumn), and eliminating grain feeding — is the primary welfare intervention. Weight management through appropriate feeding reduction and regular low-intensity exercise improves insulin sensitivity and reduces laminitis risk. The welfare challenge is that many EMS horses live in management systems designed for horses with normal metabolic profiles, and individual dietary management requires commitment and owner education.