24/08/2026
Are we getting weight loss wrong in metabolic horses?
When a horse has high insulin, the instinct is often simple: they need to lose weight, so feed them less.
Comment GUIDE below for the link to read it.
But push restriction too far and you may create a different set of problems.
Too little forage can mean too little protein, minerals and essential nutrients. Prolonged restriction may encourage the body to protect blood glucose by making muscle less responsive to insulin, while ponies, minis and donkeys can be particularly vulnerable to hyperlipemia.
And soaking hay for hours? Longer isn’t necessarily better. You may be washing away valuable nutrients without achieving the reduction in sugar you expect.
Weight loss and underfeeding are not the same thing.
The goal is enough forage to meet the horse’s needs, while controlling the carbohydrates that drive excessive insulin.
Want the full guide?
Comment GUIDE below for the link to read it.
Save this post for the next time you’re tempted to simply cut the hay or feed straw, AND share it with someone managing a metabolic horse.
