Equine metabolic syndrome is a common hormonal disorder causing laminitis risk and welfare compromise that requires dietary management and monitoring.
Equine metabolic syndrome welfare involves managing a lifelong condition that requires permanent dietary vigilance to prevent painful and potentially fatal laminitis episodes. The welfare tension between dietary restriction necessary to prevent laminitis and the horse's natural desire to graze is managed through grazing muzzles, restricted turnout, and soaked hay - each a compromise between competing welfare considerations. Early diagnosis and management before severe laminitis occurs provides dramatically better welfare outcomes than reactive management after painful episodes have occurred.