What do overweight, insulin resistant (IR) horses at risk for lifelong, recurring bouts of laminitis need? According to one group of equine nutritionists, more food!

Not just any food, though. These horses might need a special dietary supplement called short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS), which are short chains of sugar molecules linked together. These scFOS are metabolized not by the horse himself, but rather the microorganisms residing in the horse's gastrointestinal tract.

"Feeding scFOS alters the composition and activity of the microorganisms in such a way that insulin resistant horses are benefitted," explains Frederique Respondek, PhD, scientific affairs manager of SYRAL, a European company that processes corn and wheat to manufacture a wide range of value added products for both humans and animals..

Horses that do not respond to the effects of the hormone insulin (which helps control blood sugar levels) are referred to as insulin resistant. These horses are usually overweight and have a higher risk of developing laminitis than non-IR horses