Equine metabolic syndrome is a prevalent endocrine disorder in horses and ponies that predisposes to laminitis, causing severe suffering that is largely preventable through dietary management.
Equine metabolic syndrome represents a welfare problem that is largely human-created and human-preventable. Easy-keeper horses and ponies evolved on sparse forage in challenging environments — they are ill-suited to the rich pastures and supplementary feeding that characterize many domestic management systems. The result is insulin dysregulation that predisposes to recurrent laminitis — one of the most severe and debilitating pain conditions in equine medicine. Preventing EMS-associated laminitis through appropriate dietary management is far more effective welfare intervention than treating laminitis after it occurs. Owners of predisposed breeds have a genuine welfare responsibility to understand insulin dynamics and manage pasture access, hay quality, and body condition to protect their horses from preventable suffering.