What Do You Feed A Horse With Equine Metabolic Syndrome?

Horses and ponies with EMS do not need large amounts of a concentrate feed but they still require a fully balanced diet to support health and well-being. Feeding a low intake, low calorie, protein, vitamin and mineral balancer is ideal.

How do you feed an EMS horse?

According to a recently published article on EMS*, horse owners should consider these four factors when devising a diet for a horse diagnosed with EMS:

1. Offer hay with less than 10-12% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC).
2. Avoid pasture intake.
3. Activate weight management.
4. Add a ration balancer.

How do you treat a horse with equine metabolic syndrome?

Because most horses with EMS are overweight, the mainstay of treatment involves management changes that promote weight loss. These include reducing overall calorie intake, dietary sugar restriction, and increased exercise. Typically, grain and pasture grazing are eliminated during the initial weight loss phase.

Can EMS horses have oats?

Sugar and starch are rapidly broken down in the horses’ small intestine while structural carbohydrates must be fermented by bacteria in the horses’ large intestine. For this reason, this quick and efficient fuel, such as oats, corn and barley are important for performance horses.

Is alfalfa OK for metabolic horses?

“Alfalfa is one component that can be safely removed from the diet of metabolic horses. In its stead, a mid-quality grass hay should be fed in appropriate quantities,” Whitehouse said.

Can horses with EMS have carrots?

We know of many owners of horses with EMS and laminitis who give their horses a small amount of carrot (generally less than 100 g/day) with no problems.

Is beet pulp safe for metabolic horses?

Any horse can be given beet pulp as part of the diet, but it is especially suitable for horses with several specific conditions. For insulin-resistant horses, beet pulp is a good choice because it does not cause a significant glycemic response as it is being digested.

Can you reverse equine metabolic syndrome?

The good news is that EMS can be reversed. Due to the complex nature of EMS, there is likely to be weight loss resistance.

What can I feed my pony with EMS?

Feed vitamins, minerals and antioxidants:
Horses and ponies with EMS do not need large amounts of a concentrate feed but they still require a fully balanced diet to support health and well-being. Feeding a low intake, low calorie, protein, vitamin and mineral balancer is ideal.

Can a horse recover from EMS?

Prognosis. The major threat to ponies with EMS is laminitis, and the majority of cases we diagnose will be suffering at the time of diagnosis. As long as recovery from the laminitis is achieved, then with appropriate diet and exercise the prognosis for Equine Metabolic Syndrome is good.

What type of horse should not be fed oats?

Even though oats are the grain lowest in sugar and starch, at around 45 to 50% starch they are still far too high in starch for horses on a low sugar and starch diet, eg insulin resistant horses, horses prone to laminitis, those with disorders like Cushings or PSSM etc, as well as many horses who are prone to ulcers,

What treats can you give a horse with EMS?

If you have a horse with IR, EMS, Cushing’s, or another metabolic concern, here are the proper treats for insulin-resistant horses:

• Strawberries.
• Celery.
• Apple Peels.
• Commerical Low Starch Treats.
• Pumpkin Seeds.
• Chopped Low-NSC Forage.
• Watermelon Rinds.
• Molasses-Free Beet Pulp.

Is cinnamon good for horses with EMS?

One of interest is the use of cinnamon to aid in the treatment of EMS. Cinnamon has been shown to exert some beneficial effects on humans with type 2 or adult-onset diabetes, and it is unlikely to have any negative or harmful side effects on your horse.

What do you feed a metabolic horse?

Feed hay and incorporate appropriate feeds. Metabolic horses not on pasture need to meet their roughage requirement through hay. In general, the minimum amount of hay offered should be 1.2 percent of body weight, split into multiple meals.

What hay has the lowest sugar content?

In a recent study, Teff hay proved beneficial for laminitic horses because of its low sugar and starch content, making it safe for horses with certain conditions or diet restrictions to consume. Teff hay is usually grown in warm seasons that originate from Ethiopia as a grain.

Is timothy or alfalfa better for horses?

Alfalfa hay is typically higher in protein and essential nutrients than timothy hay, making Alfalfa a better option for more active animals that need a high-protein diet. Alfalfa also has more calories per pound than timothy, so it’s generally the preferred choice of sport horse owners.

Can horses with EMS have grass?

Grass is high in sugar content, and thus potentially dangerous for horses with EMS. Grass tends to have the most sugars in spring and fall and tends to accumulate sugar throughout the day on sunny days.

What hay is best for insulin-resistant horses?

Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those that are insulin resistant (IR). I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horse’s muscle tone, immune system and overall health.

Can a horse with Cushings eat apples?

Because insulin and blood sugar absorption may not be functioning properly in Cushing’s horses, dietary management is a must. Horses with PPID are not to be fed high sugar or high starch foods such as traditional grains, treats – like apples and carrots, or pasture grass.

Can you give a horse too much beet pulp?

Due to beet pulp’s relatively high calcium and low phosphorus levels, feeding too much could imbalance the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the diet, which could interfere with normal bone development in young horses.

Which is better beet pulp pellets or shreds?

I feed pellets. I find no difference in their consistency once soaked–pelleted beet pulp is identical to shreds, with enough time. Pellets are cheaper and cleaner IMO–the shreds always had dust and gunk, while the pellets are just, well, pellets.