19/06/2026
Great post by Stable-Ised Equine
We've learnt so much about horse health over the past few decades.
๐ด ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐?
If youโve spent any time in the horse world, youโve probably heard someone say:
โ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฎ, ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ข๐จ.โ
These days it seems like every second horse has a diagnosis. Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Insulin Dysregulation. Laminitis. Gastric Ulcers. Headshaking. Grass Affected. Queensland Itch. The list goes on.
So, are horses genuinely becoming less healthy?
Maybe.
But perhaps not for the reasons many people think.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐
Modern horses often have access to more calories than ever before.
Improved pastures, hard feeds, supplements, oils, treats and conditioning products are readily available, even for horses in light work or retirement. At the same time, many horses are doing considerably less exercise than horses of previous generations.
A horse that once spent its days mustering cattle, travelling long distances or performing physical work may now be ridden a few times per week while grazing productive pasture for the remaining 23 hours of the day.
Itโs not difficult to see how obesity, insulin dysregulation and laminitis can become more common under these circumstances.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐
Not that long ago, many conditions simply didnโt have a name.
The horse that was described as โa bit footsore on hard groundโ may today be diagnosed with subclinical laminitis.
The pony that was โjust fatโ may now be recognised as having Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
The older horse that was โgetting shaggy with ageโ may be diagnosed with PPID.
The mare that pinned her ears when being saddled may have gastric ulcers, ovarian pain or a musculoskeletal issue that previously went undetected.
In many cases, the condition isnโt new. Our ability to identify it is.
๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Years ago, if a horse developed an unusual condition, only a small group of people would hear about it.
Today, one post in a Facebook group can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of horse owners around the world.
Suddenly, hundreds of people comment:
โMy horse has that too.โ
What once appeared rare can now seem incredibly common simply because we are seeing experiences from across the globe in real time.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐โ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Modern horse owners are often far more proactive when it comes to investigating discomfort.
We test insulin levels. We scope for ulcers. We assess saddle fit. We investigate subtle lameness. We utilise advanced diagnostic imaging.
Many behaviours that were once dismissed as a horse being lazy, naughty or grumpy are now recognised as potential signs of pain or discomfort.
Thatโs not a sign that horses are becoming weaker.
Itโs a sign that welfare standards are improving.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ
Many horses now routinely live into their late twenties and thirties.
With longer lifespans comes a greater likelihood of age-related conditions such as arthritis, dental disease, PPID and metabolic dysfunction.
Quite simply, more horses are living long enough to develop diseases that previous generations may never have had the opportunity to see.
๐ฆ๐ผ, ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต๐?
The answer is probably both yes and no.
Some conditions may genuinely be increasing due to changes in management, nutrition, pasture type/quality and exercise levels.
At the same time, many conditions likely existed long before they had names, diagnostic tests or social media discussions dedicated to them.
The more we learn about our horses, the better equipped we are to improve their health, welfare and quality of life. The important part is that we donโt intentionally remain ignorant or blur the lines between what humans think is nice and what horses actually need to thrive as a species.
