FEED ADVICE – HEALTH
Equine Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a complex condition affecting horses and ponies, characterized by insulin dysregulation and an increased risk of laminitis. Insulin dysregulation in EMS leads to abnormal responses to dietary carbohydrates, causing increased insulin secretion and elevated blood glucose levels. This imbalance can result in clinical signs such as obesity, regional fat deposition, infertility, and laminitis.
EMS is often seen in Native breeds such as Welsh, Dartmoor and Shetland ponies, as well as in certain horse breeds like Arabian and Warmbloods. However, it can affect horses of any breed or age.
Key Highlights
EMS involves insulin dysregulation and a high risk of laminitis, especially in ponies and overweight horses.
Risk factors include obesity, breed predisposition, and high-NSC diets (e.g., sugary/starchy feeds).
Signs include a cresty neck, fat pads, and recurrent laminitis.
Management focuses on diet, weight loss, exercise, and vet care to reduce risks and support long-term wellbeing.
Understanding EMS
EMS is an endocrine disorder where horses struggle to regulate the release of insulin. In normal horses, insulin prompts tissue to absorb glucose after a meal. With EMS, fat deposits release hormones that interfere with tissue response to insulin, causing “insulin resistance”. The pancreas increases insulin release to counteract this, resulting in elevated insulin levels after meals and sometimes throughout the day. This mirrors metabolic issues in human type 2 diabetes.
Causes and Risk Factors of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) has various causes and risk factors, including both genetic predisposition and environmental influences. While the exact underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, research suggests that EMS is a multifactorial condition with complex interactions between genetics, diet, and other factors.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetics play a significant role in the development of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Certain breeds, such as ponies, donkeys and Arabians, are more susceptible to EMS due to their genetic makeup. These breeds have evolved in harsh environments where resources were limited, leading to a higher efficiency in metabolizing dietary carbohydrates and storing energy.
Within these breeds, there may be individual horses with specific genetic factors that contribute to their inability to respond properly to dietary carbohydrates. These hereditary factors can result in insulin dysregulation and increased risk of developing EMS.
While genetic predisposition is a significant factor, it is essential to note that environmental influences and lifestyle factors also contribute to the development and progression of EMS. Therefore, a holistic approach that considers both genetic and environmental factors is necessary for managing EMS in horses.
Obesity
Obesity in horses can lead to Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) primarily due to its role in promoting insulin resistance. Excess adipose tissue releases inflammatory substances and hormones, which interfere with insulin signalling pathways. This insulin resistance causes cells to become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated insulin levels as the pancreas compensates. Chronic high insulin levels are a key feature of EMS and contribute to metabolic disturbances such as increased fat deposition.
Dietary Factors
Diets high in easily digestible carbohydrates, such as cereals and rich grass, can overwhelm the horse’s digestive system and lead to spikes in blood glucose levels. This frequent exposure to high-carbohydrate meals can result in insulin resistance over time, as the cells become less responsive to insulin’s signals to take up glucose. Consequently, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, which can eventually lead to elevated insulin concentrations – a clinical sign of EMS.
Lack of Exercise
The lack of exercise contributes to EMS by reducing insulin sensitivity in horses. Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining insulin sensitivity by promoting glucose uptake into muscles, which helps regulate blood glucose levels effectively. Without adequate exercise, muscles become less responsive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance. This resistance prompts the pancreas to produce more insulin to compensate, eventually resulting in elevated insulin levels—a key characteristic of EMS. Additionally, sedentary horses are more prone to obesity as unused energy from feed is stored as fat, exacerbating insulin resistance and further increasing the risk of EMS.
Recognising clinical signs of EMS
Recognising the clinical signs of EMS is crucial for early diagnosis and effective management. Here are some important symptoms to watch out for:
Management and Prevention Strategies
Exercise Strategies
Exercise plays a crucial role in managing EMS primarily by improving insulin sensitivity and promoting weight loss. Strategies include daily turnout in with controlled grazing, which encourages natural movement and reduces obesity risk. Incorporating regular sessions of walking, trotting, and occasional cantering helps improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone without undue stress on joints. Additional activities such as lunging, groundwork, hacking on varied terrain, and in-hand work with obstacles provide mental stimulation, enhance coordination, and promote muscle development. For horses needing low-impact options, swimming offers a beneficial alternative. It’s crucial to monitor each horse’s response, gradually increase exercise intensity to prevent injury.
While medications that improve insulin sensitivity are used in human metabolic syndrome, their efficacy in horses, such as metformin, remains uncertain due to absorption concerns. Various supplements like chromium, magnesium, cinnamon, and chasteberry extract have been suggested for EMS in horses, but current evidence does not support their efficacy, and their use cannot be recommended.
Diagnosis of EMS
Diagnosing EMS typically begins with an assessment based on the appearance of obesity and a history of laminitis. To confirm EMS and assess insulin resistance accurately, testing should be conducted after the horse has fasted and is not in pain or stressed (e.g., during a laminitis episode). Diagnostic methods include:
Dietary Strategies for a Horse with EMS
The key principles for preventing and treating Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) are straightforward: implement dietary restriction and encourage regular exercise. These measures not only promote weight loss but also enhance overall fitness, improving insulin responsiveness.
Dietary Adjustments:
Did you know all of Pure Feed’s low calorie range is suitable for horses with EMS?
Limiting field access, especially during periods of lush growth such as Spring, helps control carbohydrate intake and prevent insulin spikes.
Did you know all of Pure Feeds complete feeds already contain a balancer! So already contain all of the essential nutrients required!
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, sourced from fish oil or linseed oil, may further reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and enhance cardiovascular function in horses with EMS.
Pure Linseed is a great source of Omega 3 – and a little goes a long way! Check it out here
Managing insulin spikes with strategies like feeding frequent small meals helps promotes stable blood glucose levels, contributing to effective EMS management.
Consider weight loss strategies such as using a grazing muzzle, soaking hay and triple netting to help control obesity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing EMS requires a well-rounded approach. Early recognition of clinical symptoms, like obesity and recurrent laminitis is key for timely treatment. Effective management includes providing a low-NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) diet, limiting field access, ensuring a balanced intake of essential nutrients, and supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. Regular, appropriate exercise enhances insulin sensitivity and aids in weight loss. Consistent monitoring and veterinary guidance are essential to prevent complications like laminitis and to improve the horse’s overall health.
What we recommend for horses with EMS
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Horse owners spend a lot of time trying to fill nutritional gaps:
✅ A supplement for this.
✅ A powder for that.
✅ An extra scoop of something else.
But what if there weren`t any gaps to fill?
At Pure Feed, every complete feed is formulated to provide the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, gut support and slow-release energy your horse needs, all in one feed 🩵
Most performance feeds rely on one energy source.
Pure Performance uses two.
⚡ Bruised oats provide readily available energy for horses that need power, responsiveness and athletic output.
🌱 Oil and superfibres provide slower-release energy to help support stamina, condition and endurance throughout the session.
The result?
Energy for the jump-off.
Stamina for the last fence.
Condition to keep going all season.
That`s why Pure Performance is the only feed in our range to contain cereals; carefully combined with fibre, oil, prebiotics, probiotics and live yeast to support digestive health alongside performance 🩵
Horse nutrition has become surprisingly complicated, and somehow we`re still left wondering if we`ve missed something.
At Pure Feed, we started with a different question:
**What if one feed could do the whole job?**
Every complete feed is built around the fundamentals of equine nutrition:
🌱 A high-fibre foundation for digestive health
🧬 Quality protein to support topline and muscle function
⚖️ Balanced vitamins and minerals for everyday health
⚡ Premium oil sources for slow-release energy
🦠 Gut and hoof support built in as standard
No nutritional gaps.
No complicated feeding plans.
No guesswork.
Just confidence that every feed is helping your horse get what they need 🩵
Most horse owners think about gut health when there`s a problem, but a healthy hindgut influences far more than digestion alone.
In fact, around 80% of the immune system is associated with the gut, and the hindgut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help break down fibre, produce energy and support normal immune function.
That`s why gut health can have a knock-on effect on:
🛡️ Immunity
🥕 Nutrient absorption
🌱 Condition
⚡ Performance
💪 Recovery
🧠 Behaviour
The challenge is that modern horses face plenty of pressures that can disrupt the hindgut environment; from travel and competition schedules to changes in grazing, forage quality and routine.
That`s why gut support isn`t an add-on at Pure Feed, it`s built into every complete feed through:
✔️ Prebiotics
✔️ Probiotics
✔️ Live yeast
✔️ High-quality fibre sources
Want to start feeding Pure, but not sure where to start? Comment down below to recieve a link to our diet plan service 🔗🩵
The biggest summer feeding mistake? 👉 Assuming that because a horse is gaining weight, they`re getting everything they need. 🌱
Grass is brilliant at supplying calories, but calories aren`t the same as nutrition.
In fact, summer grazing can often be:
☀️ High in energy
⚖️ Low in certain minerals
🧬 Variable in quality protein
🦠 Missing the gut support that many horses benefit from
That`s why it`s not unusual to see horses carrying plenty of condition whilst still struggling with things like topline, hoof quality, recovery or overall performance.
The goal isn`t necessarily to feed *more*, it`s to make sure what`s missing gets replaced.
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains vitamins & minerals, amino acids, pre & probiotics, fibre, salt and oil-based slow-release energy, all in one feed!
Me during the heatwave: "Drink."
My horse: "No."
Me: "DRINK."
My horse: "No."
Me: makes a bucket of Refuel
My horse: "Well, why didn`t you say so " 🍒
"I can`t believe how good my horse feels."
Not sharper.
Not stronger.
Not more explosive.
Just more consistent.
More consistent energy.
More consistent focus.
More consistent condition.
Because for most horses, performance isn`t limited by a lack of energy 👉 it`s limited by how efficiently that energy is supplied and utilised.
That`s why Pure Feed uses fibre and oil as the foundation of its feeding philosophy, supporting horses that can work, perform and recover without the highs and lows often associated with traditional high-starch diets 🩵
Most feed rooms get more and more complicated.
A balancer, chaff, nuts, supplements, gut products, a hoof supplement, oils, and even more!
Before long, you`re feeding half a dozen products just to create a balanced diet.
At Pure Feed, we took a different approach.
What if the feed already contained everything most horses need?
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains:
✔️ Vitamins & minerals
✔️ Pre & probiotics
✔️ Amino acids
✔️ Biotin
✔️ Salt
✔️ Fibre
✔️ Oil for slow-release energy
All combined into one simple feeding system.
And because we believe horses thrive on fibre-based nutrition, our feeds are free from:
✖️ Molasses
✖️ Alfalfa
✖️ Soya
✖️ Wholegrain cereals
✖️ Artificial mould inhibitors
The result?
Less time worrying about what`s missing from the diet. More time enjoying your horse 🩵
"He`s living out on good grass, so he doesn`t need any feed."
It`s one of the most common things we hear this time of year.
The challenge? Grass provides calories. It doesn`t always provide balanced nutrition.
Even good doers can benefit from additional vitamins, minerals, amino acids and gut support! That`s why many owners choose a balancer or low-calorie complete feed during the summer months.
🌱 Pure Balance – concentrated nutrition with minimal calories
🌱 Fibre Balance – ideal for horses needing a little more fibre in the bucket
🌱 Pure Easy – higher in slow release energy and fibre, still low calorie
Not sure where to start? Comment diet plan below to recieve your FREE diet plan 👇
The Pure Feed range is built around one simple principle: work with the horse’s digestive system, not against it.
That’s why our range is cereal-free (with the exception of Pure Performance).
Instead of relying on traditional cereal grains as a primary energy source, we prioritise highly digestible fibre and superfibres. These ingredients provide a more natural route to energy production in the hindgut, supporting a steadier release of fuel rather than the rapid spikes often associated with starch-heavy diets.
Cereals have long been used in horse feeds for energy density, but they can place a greater digestive load on a system that is fundamentally designed for forage fermentation. By reducing reliance on them, we aim to support a more stable gut environment and more consistent overall condition.
The result is a range designed to be suitable for a wide variety of horses, from leisure horses to performance types, without compromising digestive health or nutritional balance.
Want to learn more about our cereal-free feeds? Tap the link in bio to learn more 🩵
“Mine lives out 24/7 on good grass… do they really still need a balancer?” 👀🌱
Short answer: very often, yes.
Because grass supplies calories brilliantly… but it doesn’t always supply nutrients in the right balance for modern horses, especially those in work, restricted grazing, poor doers or horses with higher nutritional demands.
The tricky bit?
Grass quality changes constantly depending on:
☀️ Sunshine
🌧️ Rainfall
🌱 Growth stage
🧪 Soil mineral levels
🐴 Grazing pressure
So while your field may look rich and healthy, key nutrients like copper, zinc, selenium, amino acids and vitamin E can still be lacking.
That’s where a balancer or complete feed comes in 🩵
At Pure Feed, our feeds are designed to help fill the nutritional gaps that forage and grazing alone may not cover, without unnecessary sugar, molasses or feeding huge bucket feeds.
Why that matters 👇
✔️ Supports hoof quality & skin condition
✔️ Helps maintain topline & muscle function
✔️ Supports immunity & recovery
✔️ Helps balance forage-based diets
✔️ Supports gut health & fibre digestion
Think of grass as the base of the diet…
and balanced nutrition as the part that helps everything function properly around it 🌾🧬
Hoof supplements are one of the most commonly purchased products in the horse world.
But what if the nutrients that support hoof growth were already in your feed? 👀
Every Pure Feed complete feed contains added biotin as standard, alongside the amino acids, vitamins and minerals needed to support hoof growth and horn quality.
Because whilst hoof oils, dressings and supplements all have their place, hooves are built from the inside out.
✔️ Added biotin in every feed
✔️ Essential amino acids
✔️ Balanced vitamins & minerals
✔️ Complete nutrition in every bucket
Your horse can stand in a field full of grass…and still be missing key nutrients 👀🌱
Because while grazing looks “natural”, modern pasture isn’t always nutritionally complete, especially for horses in work, restricted grazing, mixed grazing systems or poorer-quality field conditions.
Grass nutrient levels constantly change depending on:
☀️ Weather
🌱 Growth stage
🌧️ Rainfall
🐴 Grazing pressure
🧪 Soil mineral content
Which means the same field can provide very different nutrition throughout the year.
That’s why many horses can still benefit from targeted vitamin & mineral support, even when the grass looks lush or if they`re a good doer 🩵
At Pure Feed, we believe forage should always come first… but it shouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting alone.
A well-balanced diet helps support:
✔️ Hoof quality
✔️ Muscle function
✔️ Energy metabolism
✔️ Immune health
✔️ Skin & coat condition
✔️ Gut health and fibre digestion
Need help figuring out which feed would suit your horse? Check out our diet plan service, link in bio 🩵
If you turned your horse’s feed label over… would you actually know what you’re looking at? 👀
A lot of feeds focus on calories first. At Pure Feed, we focus on what those calories are bringing with them 🌱
Because a horse’s bucket should support far more than just weight maintenance ⬇️
🧬 Amino acids to help support muscle repair, topline and recovery
🦠 Pre & probiotics to support a healthy hindgut microbiome
⚡ Oil-based slow-release energy for stamina without the starch spikes
💧 Salt & hydration support to help maintain fluid balance during work and warmer weather
🌾 Highly digestible fibre sources to support gut function and digestive health
🦄 Vitamins & minerals balanced to support normal bodily function, immunity and performance
🐴 Added biotin to support hoof quality and skin condition
And the best bit?
It’s all already built into the feed 🩵
Just complete, fibre-focused nutrition designed around what horses actually need to thrive.
Halfway through the season and suddenly your horse feels… flat? 👀
By mid-summer, many competition horses are working harder, travelling more, sweating more and burning through energy reserves faster, but simply throwing more starch at the problem isn’t always the answer. ⚡
At Pure Feed, we focus on controlled, fibre-based energy to support horses through the busiest part of the season without the unnecessary fizz. 🌱
Why fibre-first refuelling matters 👇
✔️ Slow-release energy supports stamina and consistency
✔️ Added oils provide safe calories without huge starch spikes
✔️ Essential amino acids help support muscle recovery and topline
✔️ Electrolytes & gut support become increasingly important as workloads and temperatures rise
✔️ Highly digestible formulations help horses maintain condition even during intense competition periods
The goal isn’t just more energy 👉 It’s usable energy, sustainable condition and horses that recover well enough to go again next weekend 💪
Most horse feeds are built around adding things in. At Pure Feed, we built ours around taking the confusion out 🩵
No separate chaff.
No balancing products.
No complicated feed charts stuck to the tack room wall.
Just scientifically balanced, fibre-based nutrition designed to support the horse as a whole 👉 from gut health and energy metabolism to muscle recovery and condition.
What makes us different? 👇
✔️ Complete nutrition in every feed
So every mouthful contributes towards a balanced diet; not just calories.
✔️ Low sugar & starch, no molasses, no alfalfa
Carefully formulated to support horses needing a more controlled, fibre-focused diet.
✔️ Gut-first formulation
With high fibre levels, pre & probiotics, and highly digestible ingredients to support the hindgut microbiome.
✔️ Real-world feeding that actually works
From happy hackers to top-level competition horses, we create feeds that are practical, consistent and easy to feed correctly.
Because feeding well shouldn’t mean feeding more products 👀
🏇 Worked hard. Sweated hard. Recovered properly?
When your horse exercises, they don`t just lose water. They also lose electrolytes, burn through nutrients and create muscle fatigue that needs supporting before the next ride.
That`s why we created Pure Refuel 🩵
Refuel combines:
⚡ Electrolytes to replace what`s lost through sweat
💪 Essential amino acids to support muscle recovery
🦠 Live yeast to support gut health
🍒 Cherry for to tempt the fussiest of horses
🌱 Low sugar & starch formulation
💧 Quick-soaking mash to encourage fluid intake
Whether you`ve just finished a competition, a training session, a fun ride or a long day travelling, Refuel helps support recovery from the inside out 🩵
🚨 Good doers need nutrients too 🚨
One of the biggest feeding myths we see? 👀
"My horse gains weight easily, so they don`t need hard feed."
The reality is that calories and nutrition aren`t the same thing.
A horse can be carrying plenty of condition while still falling short on important nutrients needed for healthy hooves, muscle function, immunity, coat quality and overall wellbeing 🌱
That`s where a feed balancer comes in 🩵
Designed to provide concentrated nutrition without unnecessary calories, a balancer helps support your horse`s diet when they don`t need large bucket feeds.
Why do owners choose Pure Balance? 👇
✔️ Low calorie, nutrient-dense formulation
✔️ Vitamins & minerals to help balance forage and grazing
✔️ Added amino acids to support topline and muscle maintenance
✔️ Pre & probiotics for digestive support
✔️ Biotin for healthy hooves
✔️ No molasses or added sugar
Think of it like this...
Your horse may not need more feed 👉 they may just need more nutrition. 🧬
Perfect for good doers, native types, horses on restricted grazing, and anyone looking to support a balanced diet without adding unnecessary calories 🩵
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