What is Equine Metabolic Syndrome?
It is a disorder associated with obesity and insulin resistance that predisposes horses to laminitis.
Detailed explanation
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a metabolic disorder that primarily affects horses and ponies prone to gaining weight easily. It is characterized by obesity or localized fat deposits, insulin resistance, and, as a more serious consequence, a high predisposition to laminitis. Management involves controlling weight through a low-sugar and low-starch diet, limiting access to rich pastures, encouraging exercise, and veterinary monitoring. It is an increasingly recognized problem, linked in part to overfeeding and lack of movement.
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