EMS

[Louwills]

Hi my 20 year old highland pony was tested for cushings and EMS by the vet last month. Cushings was negative but her sugar was high! Was advised to cut out all hard feed (she was having pony nuts and chaff)and to soak hay, exercise daily. She now just has no sugar chaff and light balancer. I purchased a hay cube to soak the hay, it’s so heavy when full of water.
ive always treated her like she is at risk of lami etc, summer...always in in the day, out at night, muzzled when there is lots of grass. she is on a livery yard, so unfortunately unable to do track system The problem is now that the field has little grass, but obviously it has sugar in what is there, for that reason I keep her in when it’s sunny, she’s in at night until beginning of May! I don’t want to muzzle her at the moment as the grass is too short. Just looking for some support for EMS, vet advised me to follow this no sugar diet, see if she loses weight, and then in June have the syrup test, and that will definitely give a diagnosis of EMS if she has it. She has a huge cresty neck, not overly fat, but score of 6! Vet said will look at medication in June. I’v always exercised her regularly, but I’m increasing that by lunging for 10 mins every day, hack out couple of times per week.
any Suggestions would help me, also she likes being in, shall I keep her in most days..
thanks for reading...

 

[Zuzzie]

I have a 27 year old gelding who has Cushings and EMS. When first diagnosed his soaked hay was cut back, sugar cut out of feed and turnout limited to 3 hours daily. He was a bit overweight and had a crest. I got his weight down and made sure that his exercise was increased. He is hacked out 4 times a week and lunged. I would say that 10 mins per day lunging and 2 hacks per week is light work and she needs more to get the weight off. Bear in mind that just because the grass is short doesn't mean it's not growing - also, grass on a frosty morning is not good. Good luck.

 

[SEL]

The best thing for bringing insulin levels down after diet is a LOT of exercise. Walking isn't sufficient - I was advised to aim for 45 mins per day of trot / canter.

My friend hasn't got the hacking routes for faster work but she's hitting over 5 miles a day on her EMS cob at a decent pace and the weight is falling off.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Magnesium oxide can also help this time of year or replacing some hay with straw or chopped straw.

 

[Louwills]

I have a 27 year old gelding who has Cushings and EMS. When first diagnosed his soaked hay was cut back, sugar cut out of feed and turnout limited to 3 hours daily. He was a bit overweight and had a crest. I got his weight down and made sure that his exercise was increased. He is hacked out 4 times a week and lunged. I would say that 10 mins per day lunging and 2 hacks per week is light work and she needs more to get the weight off. Bear in mind that just because the grass is short doesn't mean it's not growing - also, grass on a frosty morning is not good. Good luck.

Thanks for this! Yes more exercise is what I’m aiming for, going to be hacking more as the light evenings are here!! I’m planning on slowly introducing a muzzle this week. You did a great job with your gelding

 

[Louwills]

The best thing for bringing insulin levels down after diet is a LOT of exercise. Walking isn't sufficient - I was advised to aim for 45 mins per day of trot / canter.

My friend hasn't got the hacking routes for faster work but she's hitting over 5 miles a day on her EMS cob at a decent pace and the weight is falling off.

I aiming in this direction ? looking forward to the challenge as I’m also in need of weight loss

 

[Wheels]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. One of mine has suspected insulin resistance not tested as he had lami when we were at the vets so didnt want to do the test at that point. The vet said it didnt necessarily matter at that stage because the treatment would be the same, diet and exercise.

He seems to have a strong reaction to grass, he had lami but was also hyper sensitive to touch at times and had really strange muscle spasms when touched along the tops of his ribs. So now unfortunately he doesnt go out in the field. He gets turned out on the arena twice a day for a roll / run about with his pal if he wishes plus they are then on the hard standing area all day and a large stable overnight. I got his weight down by weighing out soaked hay (he used to get adlib haylage when in) and getting him fitter once he was able. That was last summer and over the winter he got a bit too skinny and i had to start giving him some linseed.

Hes in great condition now, no longer needing to soak hay unless it's a bit dusty and he is really full of life and enjoying his work. This time last year he lacked a bit of zest so I think he probably had low grade lami for a while.

So after all of that, in answer to your question above I would keep completely off the grass if you can - not sure I would keep in though, can you make a pen on a hard standing area anywhere to keep her moving?

 

[Louwills]

?

 

[Louwills]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. One of mine has suspected insulin resistance not tested as he had lami when we were at the vets so didnt want to do the test at that point. The vet said it didnt necessarily matter at that stage because the treatment would be the same, diet and exercise.

He seems to have a strong reaction to grass, he had lami but was also hyper sensitive to touch at times and had really strange muscle spasms when touched along the tops of his ribs. So now unfortunately he doesnt go out in the field. He gets turned out on the arena twice a day for a roll / run about with his pal if he wishes plus they are then on the hard standing area all day and a large stable overnight. I got his weight down by weighing out soaked hay (he used to get adlib haylage when in) and getting him fitter once he was able. That was last summer and over the winter he got a bit too skinny and i had to start giving him some linseed.

Hes in great condition now, no longer needing to soak hay unless it's a bit dusty and he is really full of life and enjoying his work. This time last year he lacked a bit of zest so I think he probably had low grade lami for a while.

So after all of that, in answer to your question above I would keep completely off the grass if you can - not sure I would keep in though, can you make a pen on a hard standing area anywhere to keep her moving?

Thank you so much for the detailed reply! Glad you go your horse sorted. Took my pony on a hour hack today, she was fine. I’m planning on increasing her exercise, muzzled out at nigh, in all day, then exercised before back out in the evening

 

[brighteyes]

Facebook has a couple of really good groups for EMS and PPID. They have learnt by bitter experience but are a mine of information.