Horse Metabolic Nutrition: EMS and Cushings Management

Metabolic disorders including Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction affect many horses. Nutritional management is central to their welfare.

Key Facts

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) involves insulin dysregulation and is closely associated with obesity and laminitis
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID/Cushings) is the most common endocrine disorder in aged horses
Both conditions predispose horses to laminitis, which causes severe foot pain
Dietary restriction of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) is foundational to managing both conditions
Pergolide treatment for PPID dramatically improves welfare and slows progression in most horses

Welfare Considerations

Metabolic disorders in horses cause chronic welfare harm primarily through their connection to laminitis — one of the most painful conditions in veterinary medicine. A horse with unmanaged EMS or PPID may experience repeated laminitic episodes, each causing potentially permanent damage to the sensitive laminae of the hoof. Welfare-centered management requires accepting dietary restrictions that may conflict with the instinct to allow horses to graze freely, and committing to ongoing monitoring and veterinary management.

What You Can Do

Learn to body condition score your horse regularly to detect creeping obesity early
Have horses blood-tested for insulin and ACTH annually, especially from age 15+
Remove laminitis-prone horses from lush pasture, particularly in spring and autumn
Work with an equine nutritionist to formulate a low-NSC diet for metabolic horses
Do not delay treatment for PPID — pergolide is safe and effective and improves quality of life significantly