Why Fat Ponies are Predisposed to Laminitis

It is a well known fact that fat horses and ponies are more likely to develop laminitis. Until recently the exact mechanism whereby this occurs was not known. 
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a condition in horses similar to type2 diabetes in humans. It is most commonly caused by obesity and is characterised by resistance of cells in the body to a hormone called insulin.  This leads to an increase in blood insulin levels which causes laminitis. 

EMS can be diagnosed by means of a blood sample, ideally after the horse has been fasted for at least five hours.

The two most important factors in managing EMS are dietary management and exercise.  Exercise has been shown to directly increase the sensitivity of cells in the body to insulin as well as helping with weight loss!  In the short term we can also help to manage blood insulin levels using a drug called metformin.

The moral of the story:

Horses with EMS can develop laminitis at any time of year. In the wild horses would naturally gain weight in the summer and lose weight in the winter.  Horses which are overweight at the end of the summer and fed enough to maintain this condition over autumn/winter are at very high risk of developing insulin resistance and other weight related problems the following year.  Therefore this is the ideal time of year to get your horse’s body condition back on track!