Has your horse developed fat deposits along the neck or rump? Or have you noticed him drinking or urinating more than usual? If so, insulin resistance (IR) is likely to blame. It’s one of the most common metabolic problems occurring in horses today.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin Resistance is a condition in which the tissues become less responsive to the hormone, insulin. Insulin is important because it helps to regulate glucose (sugar) metabolism by instructing tissues to take in glucose from the blood after a meal is consumed. Insulin also stimulates tissues to use glucose to make glycogen, a form of stored energy.
In IR horses, blood glucose levels remain high, which signals for the body to produce even more insulin. This can cause chronically high insulin concentration which may lead to further health issues.
What are the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance?
Symptoms of IR can vary and not all horses show the typical symptoms. With that said, the classic symptoms include:
- Fatty deposits over the neck, rump, and/or above the eyes;
- Excessive drinking and urinating;
- Laminitis; and
- Loss of muscle tone.
Diagnosing Insulin Resistance in Horses
IR can be diagnosed with blood tests that measure levels of glucose and insulin. This could be a glucose-insulin test but more likely, serum insulin tests. If it is an older horse, Cushing’s disease should be ruled out (though horses can have Cushing’s and IR simultaneously).
How to Feed Your Insulin Resistant Horse
Feeding IR horses appropriately is crucial in controlling the disease and also preventing laminitis episodes. You may need to limit pasture grazing time or use a grazing muzzle since the sugar in grasses can cause a problem for IR horses. However, this doesn’t mean you should withhold all hay and grass from them. Instead feed a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) hay or soak your hay for 30-60 minutes prior to feeding to reduce the sugar content.
Avoid feeding grains or sweet feeds. Instead, feed a hay-based diet with either a small amount of low NSC feed to add minerals to or feed a ration balancer, which is typically low in sugar and contains most needed minerals.
Helpful Supplements for IR Horses
If you aren’t feeding a ration balancer, ensure that your IR horse is receiving a balanced ration of minerals and vitamins in their diet, as deficiencies may worsen the condition. Our Organic Organic Icelandic Kelp is a good option.
Magnesium is an important mineral involved in insulin secretion and often needs to be supplemented as well. We recommend our Su-Per® Mag Pro powder.
Organic Ceylon Cinnamon has also been shown to help horses with insulin resistance and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS).
For a more complete IR supplement, Osoleen—Support for Glucose Metabolism in Horses can help to reset your horse’s insulin metabolism and support healthy metabolic function. It is part of our signature herbal line.
Insulin resistance isn’t necessarily a death sentence for horses, but it is something to take seriously. Then good news is that with the right diet and management, your IR horse can still have a good quality of life.