Can anyone recommend me a book on EMS management?

[HorseMaid]

I'm not sure if there's such a thing, but are there any very good books on EMS and its management (or books with a good chapter on the subject)? For a relative that lives abroad, has got no internet and likes reading, and has one very VERY overweight non ridden mare who's already had a bout of laminitis. I'm thinking something that talks about track systems etc also, any pointers gratefully received!

 

[Morgan123]

There aren't really any EMS books I don't think, but this guide for weight management might help: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacuk/equine/documents/Equine,Weight,Management.pdf

Big report on different types of management systems (not just for managing weight tho): chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacuk/equine/documents/The,use,of,alternative,grazing,systems,in,the,UK.pdf

And a great new book specifically about track systems: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-Track-Systems-Guide-Healthier/dp/0993504833

None of them are exactly what you want but hopefully they might help a little!

 

[Floofball]

Loads of good info on The laminitis site and pdfs from Liphook and other equine hospitals. Could you print them off and post them to her? I’ve never really heard of any books specifically and none (that I can remember) have come up on my many many too many internet searches on the subject

 

[HorseMaid]

Thanks for that, yes I may need to go down the road of printing stuff off and posting it, how very old fashioned! I will check out those links though and the track system book looks very useful - relative is/was a scientist so hopefully there's some evidence based stuff available. It's a frustrating situation but hopefully these will help!

 

[Highmileagecob]

EMS is basically type 2 diabetes. If you can study the information available around human diabetes, and get your head around insulin levels and blood glucose levels, it is a good starting point. Research has shown that when a horse's metabolism forces insulin to rise, it will go into laminitis quite quickly. Management consists of trickle feeding, and preventing the horse from stuffing itself. Do not restrict food - the aim is to slow down the intake so that optimum insulin can do it's stuff. Find a grazing muzzle that will be tolerated, double net forage, and split forage into four or five nets around the stable. Good luck!

 

[HorseMaid]

The issue is that my relative, who owns the horse, lives in France and has very little/no access to the internet (through choice, but that's a different matter!) I've spoken to him briefly about the basics of EMS (yes described it as diabetes), I've pointed out his horse's crest and fat pads, I've spoken to him about track systems, but I'm not sure how much of it was absorbed, hence thinking I could send him a book on the subject as he does like to read. Horse is still turned out on a massive field of lush grass and has never done a day's work in her life, but I feel as if I'm banging my head against a brick wall trying to impress on him how important it is - she had a severe laminitis attack last year and is still just as fat!