16/09/2026
FEEDING A HORSE WITH EMS: TURN THE BAG AROUND
If your horse has Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), choosing a feed isn’t about what the front of the bag says, it’s about what’s actually in it.
These horses have an exaggerated insulin response to dietary sugars and starches, which can significantly increase their risk of laminitis.
A useful starting point is to choose feeds and forage with a combined sugar + starch content below 10%.
🔍 So what should you look for on the feed label?
Turn the bag around and look at the nutritional analysis.
You may see:
- Sugar / ESC: 5%
- Starch: 3%
Add them together:
- 5% + 3% = 8% ✅
That would generally be considered an appropriate carbohydrate level for a horse requiring a low-sugar, low-starch diet.
But watch the terminology. “Low starch”, “grain free”, “laminitis friendly” or “metabolic” on the front of the bag doesn't automatically mean the feed is suitable. Check the actual numbers.
🌱 And don't forget the biggest part of the diet — forage.
For most horses, hay and pasture contribute far more carbohydrate to the total diet than hard feed does. A beautifully formulated 8% feed won't protect an insulin-dysregulated horse that is consuming large amounts of high-sugar pasture.
Ideally, hay should be tested so we know its sugar and starch content. When appropriate, soaking hay can also help reduce water-soluble carbohydrates.
For overweight EMS horses, we also need to consider total calorie intake, not just sugar. Feeding a low-sugar product in excessive quantities can still prevent weight loss.
⚠️ Why are we so particular?
Insulin dysregulation is one of the most important risk factors for endocrinopathic laminitis. Nutrition, weight management and appropriate exercise, where safe, are therefore an important part of treatment, not just an optional extra.
Our simple rule when shopping for an EMS horse:
👉 Ignore the marketing
👉 Turn the bag around
👉 Find the sugar and starch and ensure it’s
