{"id":116119,"date":"2025-05-06T12:06:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T17:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/?p=116119"},"modified":"2025-05-06T12:06:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T17:06:57","slug":"the-metabolic-horse-where-to-begin-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/index.php\/articles\/116119-the-metabolic-horse-where-to-begin-part-two","title":{"rendered":"The Metabolic Horse; Where to Begin? Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first part of this article series<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, I discussed equine metabolic syndrome and the true underlying causes.\u00a0 Then, I went into the first aspects of true management or treatment of EMS, to benefit your horse now and into the future.\u00a0 The goal of this article series on equine metabolic syndrome is to provide true education as to the underlying causes which are contributing to the epidemic of metabolic ailments in the horse, and then, knowing these causes, you can then make changes to start the process of recovery for your horse.\u00a0 Health for your horse is a true option, but seeking it is just one part.\u00a0 To achieve this recovery, it is important to not only understand what is taking place inside of your horse, but how to target therapy to reverse or improve that condition instead of just seeking a medication or following what others tell you.<\/p>\n

Equine metabolic syndrome is not a disease, but as the name suggests, it is a syndrome or grouping of clinical problems in the horse which then together open the door for future health problems.\u00a0 Essentially, these clinical problems make the horse more susceptible to various health ailments from feet problems and lameness, to performance issues, colic, insulin dysfunction, and even Cushing’s disease.\u00a0 The condition of metabolic syndrome is reversible, which has been demonstrated in many clinical cases and supported by research, if it has not progressed too far.\u00a0 Even then, the condition can always be improved as can the health of the horse.\u00a0 It is just a matter of when you choose to intervene that makes the difference.\u00a0 The earlier the better.<\/p>\n

There is no ONE<\/strong> thing to do in these horses that will benefit them, but instead, there are MULTIPLE<\/strong> things that need to be done because there are many factors that together created the condition in your horse.\u00a0 In the first part of this article series, I discussed two concepts that must be addressed.<\/p>\n

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  1. Lifestyle and the need for movement in the horse<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. The Benefits of a Proper Diet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Now, let’s look at a few other factors that greatly contribute to the development of equine metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n

    Equine Metabolic Syndrome; Fixing the Feet<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The feet or hooves in the horse with metabolic syndrome are often in horrific shape and many are contending with chronic lameness or soreness concerns.\u00a0 The health of their feet are both contributing to and being affected by the condition of equine metabolic syndrome.\u00a0 It is a two-way street and thus, if it is a factor or contributor, then it must be addressed for true long-term health and recovery in the horse.<\/p>\n

    The feet that belong to your horse are very important.\u00a0 Not only do they require all four feet to ambulate and move around daily, but their feet impact their overall wellbeing as well.\u00a0 Keep in mind that a horse cannot walk around on 3 legs for long, unlike a dog or cat.\u00a0 Their center of gravity is different and thus, they require all 4 feet to move about and those feet ideally need to be working and healthy.<\/p>\n

    In order to ambulate properly, the horse’s feet must be in balance.\u00a0 The front feet and how they are health wise, impacts the rear feet and vice versa. How the front limbs travel impacts the rear limbs and the overall gait of your horse.\u00a0 The fact is that a high percentage of metabolic horses have sore feet, mainly the front feet, but over time, their rear limbs are impacted.\u00a0 Some are just mildly sore, but others are very lame and suffer from conditions ranging from laminitis to navicular syndrome.\u00a0 Stress, both mental and physical, is a main contributor to the development of equine metabolic syndrome, and when a horse’s feet are sore, there is stress.\u00a0 So, every moment that horse contends with pain in their feet, their level of physiological stress increases and with that, so does the metabolic component.\u00a0 Stress itself, whether from pain or lifestyle factors, impairs cellular function, which is how stress literally kills.<\/p>\n

    Given this, it is imperative that your horse’s feet be addressed and properly balanced.\u00a0 I realize that most would likely agree that their horse is ‘foot sore’ but they would also say that they are doing what they can for the feet, often through special shoes or pads.\u00a0 My response would be that if the horse is still ‘foot sore’ despite these efforts, then there is much to gain.\u00a0 Even if your horse is not perceived as being sore in the feet, more than likely their feet are in bad shape health and balance wise.\u00a0 Fix them now, rather than later.<\/p>\n

    How to correct the equine foot is beyond this article, but it has been addressed elsewhere in other articles on our websites.\u00a0 I also have an online course<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>to educate the average horse owner on how to recognize the problem and how to correct it, often themselves by trimming if you are that motivated.\u00a0 The feet are an item that I address in every one of my consultations, whether if it is perceived as being a problem or not.\u00a0 If the owner corrects the issues, then that is one contributing factor removed.\u00a0 The horse will move better, more freely, and most importantly, with less pain.\u00a0 Therefore the condition of metabolic syndrome becomes more manageable.<\/p>\n

    Now, lastly, please keep in mind that the feet are also the result of EMS, meaning that the feet are often very unhealthy overall.\u00a0 This lack of health in the equine foot is due to the presence of the metabolic syndrome in the horse.\u00a0 Remember, every cell is impacted in EMS, which includes the feet or cells in the hoof.\u00a0 These cells are unhealthy as well and thus, the overall health of the foot in the average horse is poor.\u00a0 As you make changes to improve the metabolic status, the feet will likewise make progress in their overall health.<\/p>\n

    Step Three<\/strong>:\u00a0 Fix the feet in your horse.<\/p>\n

    Equine Metabolic Syndrome:\u00a0 Managing the Stress<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Stress, both mental and physical, is a huge component of equine metabolic syndrome.\u00a0 The stress response is real and as research will tell us, it can be lethal.\u00a0 The stress response is complicated, but overall, is a state of heightened physiological activity to protect the body of the horse (or person) against a perceived stressor.\u00a0 This heightened physiological state includes altered cortisol release into the blood stream, as well as many other detrimental hormones ranging from epinephrine to glucose, insulin, and altered pituitary function.\u00a0 In fact, one of the main effects of long-term stress is an altered HPA axis, which involves the pituitary and adrenal gland axis.\u00a0 This can lead to an altered release of ACTH from the pituitary gland and an increased release of cortisol by the adrenal glands.\u00a0 All of this together can actually easily mimic insulin dysfunction or Cushing’s disease, and likely in my opinion is the true cause behind the rise in both of these conditions.<\/p>\n

    Stress comes in many shapes and sizes.\u00a0 If you ask most horse owners if their horse is stressed, they would reply ‘no’ because they view stress as being wired or out of control.\u00a0 In fact, depression is a state of mental stress, and so, all of those horses that are housed on dry lots with little movement and socialization are actually stressed, despite them standing around with their heads down.\u00a0 The same goes for the average horse that is kept in a stall most of the day, or simply deprived from the life that a horse should lead.\u00a0 Much like taking a large breed dog and restricting their lifestyle to a 1000 square foot apartment on the second floor.\u00a0 It is an unnatural state for the animal and it will create health problems due to the stress.<\/p>\n

    In addition to lifestyle stress, the condition of equine metabolic syndrome creates its own cellular and physiological stress upon the body.\u00a0 In fact, in any state of ‘disease’ there is stress.\u00a0 Just by definition, ‘dis-ease’, implies a lack of ‘ease’ or contentment.\u00a0 The cells in the body of that horse are not working optimally and not producing energy.\u00a0 This impacts them on a physical and mental level.\u00a0 Then we have other factors such as foot pain or soreness, which as mentioned above, will contribute to more stress and exacerbate the equine metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n

    Stress and the stress response can be altered, but it is a choice by the owner.\u00a0 I highly encourage the EMS horse owner to evaluate these factors and make adjustments to improve the stress response in their horse.\u00a0 As you make changes, the stress response level will drop and thus, health will improve for your horse, but those changes must be made.\u00a0 In many cases, if not all, I highly recommend using herbal adaptogens to aid in curbing the horse’s response to stress.\u00a0 There are two formulas that I will recommend, using one or the other.\u00a0 These herbal formulas help to control the negative effects of stress, improve the horse’s mood, and by the nature of the herbs, they also impact overall health and metabolic function.\u00a0 I will choose either the Cur-OST EQ Adapt & Calm<\/a><\/strong><\/span> or the Cur-OST EQ Adapt & Recover<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>in every case of EMS, making this herbal choice a once daily addition to their horse’s regimen, if not twice daily.<\/p>\n

    Step Three<\/strong>:\u00a0 Manage the Stress<\/p>\n

    Equine Metabolic Syndrome;\u00a0 Use of Medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

    This section will be brief.\u00a0 There are many medications, some old and some that are newer, that are being used to ‘manage’ equine metabolic syndrome and its effects in the horse.\u00a0 These can include some for circulation purposes, such as pentoxifylline,\u00a0 and other for pain, such as Non-steroidal medications.\u00a0 Then there are those more specific to the condition of EMS including metformin and more recently, GLP-1 agonists, being used ‘off label’.\u00a0 When it comes to Cushing’s syndrome, which in my opinion is an offshoot of EMS, the medication of choice is pergolide or Prascend<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>in the horse.<\/p>\n

    The bottom line is that I try not to use any medications in my EMS patients.\u00a0 My goal is to restore their health and most medications do not achieve this, but are more palliative at best.\u00a0 This is true for many medications in fact.\u00a0 It is a rare situation to find a horse on these medications that is improving and clinically makes a recovery to the point where they no longer contend with EMS or Cushing’s disease.\u00a0 So, if that is the case, then the medications are not tackling the underlying cause of the condition of metabolic syndrome.\u00a0 I am targeting that underlying cause and with that said, I do not require any medications in most of my patients, aside from maybe a short course of a NSAID medication to aid in foot pain management.<\/p>\n

    Keep in mind that most of these medications are damaging the gut microbiome, not to mention other organs potentially.\u00a0 So, in my world I am aiming to rebalance that gut microbiome in the EMS horse so that the body is healthier.\u00a0 Most of the medications, should I continue them, would work against me and impact the progress that is possible.\u00a0 It is a choice, but to choose properly as the horse owner, you have to be aware of what you are seeking.<\/p>\n

    Step Four<\/strong>: Eliminate or greatly reduce the medications in your horse.<\/p>\n

    Equine Metabolic Syndrome:\u00a0 The Proper Use of Herbs<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    I have outlined most of the factors that need to be addressed in the average EMS horse, if you are truly seeking solutions and recovery.\u00a0 Every step or factor that you address will positively impact your horse’s health to the degree that it is altered.\u00a0 With that being said, by changing those factors, you will be improving cellular health for the long-term, but to further create benefit, herbs can pack a real punch when used properly along with diet.<\/p>\n

    I have outlined many potential pathways for herbs to impact the average EMS horse.\u00a0 Actually, I have likely created so many pathways or options that most horse owners are confused and for this I apologize.\u00a0 There are many ways to get to that center of that Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop, but for now, I wish to keep things simple.\u00a0 If you dig deep enough into the science, you can see the different pathways, and this is what keeps me motivated on one end, but yet, frustrated on the other.\u00a0 There are so many options to help tackle the problem, but we often act as if there are no options.<\/p>\n

    I try to use simple approaches with herbs in the beginning with any metabolic horse.\u00a0 I try to aim and target:<\/p>\n