16/04/2022
Foals thrive on the nutritionally rich spring grass, but adult horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) may develop pasture laminitis because sugars are high at this time. Clover and alfalfa in pastures are also dangerous to EMS animals as both sugar and starch can be high.
Multiple studies have documented that approximately 90% of laminitis cases are caused by elevated insulin and insulin elevations are the only predictor of which horses will develop laminitis. Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Warmbloods, Quarterhorses and purebred Drafts are at low risk of EMS but may develop elevated insulin if they have PPID, aka Cushing’s Disease. Pregnant mares of any breed also become insulin resistant in the last half of pregnancy. Examples of breeds at high risk of EMS include ponies, minis, donkeys, Arabians, Morgans, Haflingers, Icelandics and Paso Finos.
Insulin blood tests will identify most horses at risk of pasture laminitis. If the horse has high insulin there is really no safe way to allow grazing these high-risk spring pastures, as it has been shown that horses given limited grazing time will eat as much as 3 times faster to make up for it.
Many people are understandably resistant to the idea of keeping their at-risk horses off pasture, but you have to ask yourself what would you rather have — grass access or laminitis and the smoldering damage it causes. The good news about EMS is that exercise is the best way to control it, so saddle up and you will probably be able to treat your Metabolic Syndrome horse to some grass after work!
As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and for any questions specific to your horse’s situation. To read more about spring grass, see: https://wp.me/p2WBdh-op . For detailed information on Equine Metabolic Syndrome and its diagnosis, visit: www.ecirhorse.org.
Thank you Dr. Eleanor Kellon Vmd for sharing these important facts about spring grass and horses affected by EMS!
