horse just been diganosed with ems. HELPP!!

[bca13]

Hi all, i have recently aquired a native pony (breed unknown however likely highland). She was overweight when I got her a few months ago. She came in very slightly footy a few days ago and was due her jabs this day (luckily!) and when the vet came she asked if she had ems type ir. We did a insulin test which came back saying she did infact have ems, however was on the lower end of the scale when it came to the level on insulin. She is now out in the day with a grazing muzzle from about 10-4, then in at night with 4 kg of soaked hay. She also gets 2 stubbs scoops of baileys light chaff soaked in a bucket in her stable to keep her nibbling for as long as possible. Im trying to exercise her at least once a day and thinking of upping it to lungeing in the morning before she goes out to get her metabolism going them riding when she comes in. Does anyone else have any tips how to get them to lose weight or have any experience with ems, thank you!!

 

[bca13]

also wondering whether i should clip prematurley before her winter coat comes just a Irish clip to help her use her fat to lose weight more?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have a WB pony with EMS, summer is a complete nightmare and I can’t wait for winter to arrive. His regime is in at 7.30am until 4pm, out overnight in a muzzle, small amount of hay not soaked at the moment, a cup of Pure Easy mixed with a mug of HoneyChop, mug of Speedibeet, salt, LiverAid and HoofPlus from Science Supplements. In winter he has in the past had an Irish clip and stayed out naked at night until Christmas and only wears a rainsheet if it’s raining and windy. This year they are both being fully clipped and rugged but still out at night until the end of December and I will be interested to see if it affects his weight. He will never be slim but I can feel ribs and he is fit. I also send him swimming when I can.

You need to put a weigh tape on her to find out how heavy she is. In order to lose weight she needs a total of 1.5% of Forage for her bodyweight so a 500kg horse needs 7.5kg of food. Personally I would ditch the Baileys and feed HoneyChop Lite and Healthy as it is low in starch and sugar. Definitely lots of exercise to keep the metabolism moving and yes clip and while you shouldn’t leave her cold don’t over rug either.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Your doing the right things reducing grass and mire exercise magnesium oxide can help shift fat pads I buy mine from intra labs it's very cheap.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Your doing the right things reducing grass and mire exercise magnesium oxide can help shift fat pads I buy mine from intra labs it's very cheap.

I had forgotten the MagOx ? I also get mine from intraLabs, very high grade purity and as you say cheap.

 

[Carlosmum]

My NF gelding was diagnosed last summer. Though not too fat he was definitely overweight. As he had laminitis at the time he was also on box rest. The vet prescribed Metformin. Kept him on it for about 2 months, he lost loads of weight. Came off it over the winter as there was no 'goodness' in the grass, back on in the spring. Now back in work but i still keep a 'half' dose of Metformin going, it keeps his weight manageable and I will do the same over winter, coming off in October and back on in April.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I had forgotten the MagOx ? I also get mine from intraLabs, very high grade purity and as you say cheap.

It's the cheapest I could find