Could my horse have EMS?

GinaGeo said:
My Connemara was diagnosed with EMS last year. Whilst he's in full work I can manage him relatively well - for it to really work he needs to really puff once a week - lots of long canters out hacking that sort of thing. As soon as he's off work his Insulin Levels spike. Unfortunately he sustained a Check Ligament Injury last year and couldn't be worked, he came off grass and hasn't been back out since (the smallest amount seems to be a trigger these days). After a lot of struggling to keep the weight off, as his metabolism slowed with lack of work, the weight just piled on, we ended up having him blood tested and that's when he came back positive. We managed him initially, but I really struggled to bring him back into work, as despite our best efforts he was pottery. I couldn't feed him any less, he wasn't turned out on grass and in the end I asked the vet about Metformin.

For him it really worked, and within a few days he was walking out fine and the weight finally started to creep off again, and it meant I could bring him back into work properly. I am lucky to have an all-weather non grassy track - which is ideal for him. Grass, especially at this time of year is a no go.

In your situation I would be tempted to use the bare field, but put a muzzle on (the grass will be too short to eat through the hole) and then feed soaked hay, fed in lots of little piles to get him moving. As we get later in the year and the grass goes stalky and less sugary you might find he will cope a little better - the grass at this time of year really is at its most dangerous - especially the overgrazed stressed stuff in a starvation paddock.

But certainly the first priority is to strip a significant amount of weight off him, limit his intake and exercise him as much as you are able. Can you lead him off another horse if you can't ride him?
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thanks, unfortunately riding and leading him isnt an option as he is far too strong and i fear it would be an accident waiting to happen! , however i am going to think about investing in some hoof boots so i can long line him (this he would be brilliant at) however the hacking around me isnt great and to get to anywhere decent you have to go down really long stoney tracks, which he is way too footy to do, he would be off his feet without any form of boots on. after he was diagnosed with his collateral ligament damage and arthritis and soft tissue changes around the navicular, he was initially shod for the first three months but after research and getting the feet first book, i decided to remove his shoes. he now lands heel first which he didnt when he came out of shoes, however has in the last 18months become much more footy and i think this is why.
 
these pictures were taken last evening if anything so i can look back in time to come to see if hes lost anything. i dont think they really show how large he is and his fat pads etc. although you can clearly see his cresty neck in the second photo where is hair has fallen onto the other side, his crest is approx 3/4 inches high/thick i would say.
billy 1.jpg


billy 2.jpg
 
So just to update on this thread. I had the results from the blood test back today, he is negative for Cushings but is positive for EMS as his readings were 190 and normal range is apparently anything under 32. He is already on a very strict diet as recommended by the people that posted on here, we have made the entire yard accessible to only him so he’s not currently on grass or at risk of breaking out! He’s on soaked hay, oat straw and he is now on equimins advance complete. He’s due to start a 6 week course of metformin to get his bloods under control and retest in 6 weeks time.
 
You are doing the right thing keeping him off grass and it will allow you to weigh his feed so you know exactly what he is eating. Good luck with him.
 
Gloi said:
You are doing the right thing keeping him off grass and it will allow you to weigh his feed so you know exactly what he is eating. Good luck with him.
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thankyou. Unfortunately the yard set up won’t be a long term thing and tbh I don’t want it to be as he’s can only see other horses from a distance, however once we get his weight and bloods under control, he can go on a bare bit of field following the other horses to ensure he’s on very minimal, and be managed more appropriately now I know what I’m dealing with.
 
Update for anyone interested or going through the same thing!

So my chap had his final bloods around 5 weeks ago following horrendous levels diagnosing him with EMS. He was on metformin, and had a massive diet change, and me a massive wake up call on his weight!

He was weaned off the medication so bloods were taken without any medication in his system. He’s been off the metformin for around 7 weeks now and considering his levels were originally in the 180’s, his final reading was 2.3!!!!!

I introduced him back to grass as this was always the plan, so his bloods were also taken when he was grazing and he was still continuing to lose weight due to proper more suitable restriction of grazing. He is honestly half the horse he used to be, and he looks AMAZING!!!
He had the vet out yesterday for routine vaccs and the vet was in utter disbelief of the changes even from when he last saw him 7 weeks ago when he took the final bloods. He said I had done an outstanding job and admitted he didn’t think It would be possible for him to lose the weight he has done in that time. He said I should be very proud of what I have done for him and said he is an advocate of what a healthy, lean cob should look like (considering he’s retired) and said he wishes all owners of good doers would understand what a healthy weight condition for a cob should look like. He doesn’t want him losing any more and said Tom maintain his weight now. I could of cried I was so happy.

I will add pictures but my Phone is being unhelpful!
 
Well done, EMS can be very hard to manage especially with a non ridden good doer. Although my boy is ridden he has never been on drugs and I send him swimming if I’m having trouble shifting stubborn weight. Would love to see the final photos when you are able to upload them.
 
Thanks for updating and really well done!

I suspect my mini shetland has EMS. I've tried absolutely everything to get her to lose weight and she still looks like a barrel on legs. Ive been absolutely tearing my hair out.

Vet is going to run bloods next time he's out but hopefully I can get the weight off her over winter and get her off grass quickly come spring.
 
Well done! Having been there and done it, I know the absolute slog it can be to get them to shift the pounds. You should be really proud!
 
Well done, sounds like you've done a fantastic job! My parents bought a mini shetland last year who has now been diagnosed with EMS and is on Metformin. He is looking better but still much fatter than I would like, so hard to get weight off them. Both vet and farrier felt he would be better living out so he is on a pretty bare paddock with a bit of Happy Hoof (Molasses Free) to get the drugs in and some lite balancer. He can be ridden but my young nieces are emigrating this weekend and actually he isn't sound in front anyway, doh (unrelated to EMS I think). May look into TopChop Zero to try and cut any calories possible but keep the forage aspect.

Keep up the good work with your cob! :)
 
HollyWoozle rather than TopChop have a look at HoneyChop Lite and Healthy. It is better than the TCZ for many reasons, lower starch and sugar, wild flowers and cinnamon which is supposed to help with EMS ponies and it isn’t processed. I have just rehabbed a mini Shetland after she went down with laminitis and have managed to get about 25 kilos off her over the summer with the HoneyChop and soaked hay.
 
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