Horse Equine Metabolic Syndrome Welfare

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) causes insulin dysregulation and significantly increases laminitis risk. Understanding and managing EMS prevents one of the most painful conditions affecting horses.

Key Facts

EMS is characterized by regional adiposity (cresty neck, fatty deposits), insulin dysregulation, and predisposition to laminitis
Easy keepers and ponies are disproportionately affected due to evolutionary adaptation for sparse forage
Laminitis secondary to EMS causes severe, chronic hoof pain that can be career-ending and life-limiting
Dietary management - restricting sugar and starch intake through tested low-NSC hay - is the cornerstone of EMS management
Exercise, where lameness permits, improves insulin sensitivity and aids weight management

Welfare Considerations

EMS itself causes ongoing physiological disruption, but its primary welfare threat is laminitis - one of the most painful conditions in equine medicine. Horses and ponies that develop EMS-related laminitis experience severe hoof pain that restricts movement and affects every aspect of their daily life. Prevention through dietary management, body weight control, and exercise is far more welfare-positive than managing established laminitis. Owners of easy-keeper breeds should proactively test hay NSC levels and restrict grazing to prevent EMS progression before laminitis occurs.

What You Can Do

Test hay for non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and aim for under 10% NSC for EMS-affected horses
Use a grazing muzzle to restrict grass intake during the spring and autumn high-sugar periods
Assess your horse's cresty neck score and body condition regularly as EMS monitoring tools
Work with your vet to develop an insulin testing protocol for any horse with EMS risk factors