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As our fields continue to suffer from the heat, we’re left no option but to substitute with supplementary hay and forage but what does this mean for our horses?

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a relatively newly-recognised hormonal condition linked to obesity, laminitis and insulin resistance in equines, caused by a genetic predisposition to obesity (often seen in ‘good doers’ such as native pony breeds) poor diet, and lack of exercise.

A 2016 National Equine Health Survey in the UK found that 19% of horses were considered obese using body condition scoring, and since then tackling obesity and its related health issues is gaining increasing recognition among horse owners and welfare groups. The discovery of EMS and the close links between insulin resistance, obesity and laminitis has led to several research programmes looking into ways to manage EMS through stable management changes.

One of the most critical changes that can be implemented to reduce the risk of EMS or manage the condition is dietary. Restricting or removing hard feed, limiting access to grass and soaking hay are all useful tools in carefully controlling the calorie intake of an animal suffering from EMS. Traditionally, horses and ponies suffering from laminitis would have their access to grazing cut right back, or removed entirely, and would often be fed hay in its place.

More recently, research has started to focus on the carbohydrate content of hay, as although hay is a vital source of micro-nutrients and proteins, the higher the carbohydrate content of the hay, the higher the calorie content will be. Given that strictly controlling calorie intake in a horse with EMS is critical, this is of course less than ideal. The carbohydrate content of hay can vary due to a range of factors, including grass species used, the maturity of the crop, time of harvest and the weather conditions at harvest.

It is advised to try to feed hay with a carbohydrate content level of less than 10% to equines suffering from EMS and related conditions (such as laminitis), but in reality, this can be hard for the average horse owner to implement. New studies are hoping to map predicted carbohydrate levels from hay in different areas of the UK each year, to aid the feeding of low carb hay where needed.

Where hay of indeterminate carbohydrate percentage is the only forage available, soaking it has been proven to reduce the levels of water soluble carbohydrates, creating a useful source of forage for those trying to manage horse with EMS. While this is helpful in one way, soaking does raise the levels of mould fungi and bacteria found in the hay, which can of course lead to respiratory disorders.

The current recommendation is to soak hay for nine hours to reduce carb levels as much as possible, then steam it for one hour to ensure harmful pathogens are eliminated. This should create a source of palatable forage providing much-needed dietary fibre and other nutrients, without risking the health of a horse at risk of EMS.

For more information please visit www.haygain.co.uk.

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