The Equine Science Society Symposium (ESS) is a gathering place for researchers involved in all aspects of equine health and well-being. For more than two decades, Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has presented findings from its nutrition and exercise physiology studies. At this year’s event, more than 160 studies were presented at this symposium in the areas of nutrition, exercise physiology, genetics, reproductive physiology, production and management, and teaching and extension.

A major focus of the symposium was equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), one of several disorders affecting horses that is either triggered or aggravated by excessive starch and sugar intake. EMS is characterized by obesity, regional adiposity, and insulin resistance (IR), and it has become a hot topic of late for a number of reasons.

First, as in humans, obesity has become a major problem in the modern equine population. In a recent survey conducted by Virginia Tech’s veterinary college, 19% of a randomly selected population of mature horses was considered obese. Similar studies in Scotland of pleasure riding horses reported an even higher prevalence of obesity.

Secondly, EMS is similar in many ways to metabolic syndrome in humans, which is also characterized by obesity and which often results in diabetes. The most significant clinical manifestation of EMS is laminitis. Ponies and certain horse breeds such as Morgans and Paso Finos are particularly vulnerable to EMS although it can occur in any breed