Feeding the older horse with EMS or Cushing's
As your horse ages, their nutritional requirements often become more complex. For senior horses diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), commonly known as Cushing's disease, careful dietary management plays a crucial role in supporting long-term health, maintaining condition and reducing the risk of laminitis.
While every horse should be managed as an individual, there are some key nutritional principles that can help support older horses living with these conditions.
Understanding EMS and PPID
EMS is a hormonal disorder characterised by insulin dysregulation, obesity or abnormal fat deposits, and an increased risk of laminitis.
It is most commonly seen in horses and ponies that gain weight easily. Effective weight management and dietary control are fundamental to managing the condition.
PPID is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting older horses.
Horses with PPID may experience muscle loss, changes in coat condition, increased drinking and urination, recurrent infections and laminitis.
Some horses maintain good body condition, while others struggle to hold their weight as the disease progresses.
Because both conditions can increase laminitis risk, nutrition should focus on supporting metabolic health while providing adequate fibre, vitamins, minerals and quality protein.
Fibre First
Regardless of whether your horse has EMS and/or PPID, forage should remain the foundation of the diet. Horses are designed to consume fibre little and often, making access to suitable forage essential for digestive health and wellbeing.
Horses with EMS, those prone to laminitis or overweight horses are generally best managed on a forage first diet supported by a suitable feed balancer for thier needs.
Soaking hay can help reduce water-soluble carbohydrate and calorie levels.
For older horses with poor dentition or difficulty chewing long-stem forage, alternative fibre sources such as soaked fibre feeds or forage replacers may be necessary.
Supporting the senior good doer
Many older horses with EMS or early-stage PPID continue to hold their weight extremely well. In these cases, the goal is not to add calories but to ensure your horse receives balanced nutrition without increasing sugar and starch intake.
For these good doers, Blue Chip Senior Feed Balancer can be an excellent option. Formulated specifically for horses aged 14 years and over, it provides essential vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, quality protein, digestive support and joint-supporting ingredients in a low-calorie formulation. The balancer is also formulated to support age-related hormonal changes, including those associated with PPID, making it particularly suitable for senior horses that maintain condition easily.
You can provide balanced nutrition while maintaining controlled calorie intake, helping to support healthy body condition and metabolic health.
When maintaining weight becomes a challenge
Not all horses with PPID remain good doers. As horses age, some begin to lose topline, muscle mass and body condition despite receiving adequate forage. Weight loss and muscle wastage are recognised clinical signs of PPID and often require nutritional intervention.
In these situations, increasing calories should be achieved through highly digestible fibre, quality protein and appropriate fat sources, rather than relying on high-starch feeds.
Blue Chip Senior Plus Feed Balancer is formulated specifically for older horses requiring additional nutritional support. It contains elevated levels of high-quality protein to help maintain condition, muscle tone and topline, alongside digestive support, joint-supporting ingredients and nutritional support for horses with PPID.
Senior Plus can be particularly beneficial for:
- Older horses showing signs of muscle loss
- Horses struggling to maintain weight
- Seniors recovering from illness or winter weight loss
- Horses with PPID requiring additional nutritional support
When necessary, the diet can also be supplemented with additional fibre-based calorie sources such as soaked beet pulp, fibre mashes other highly digestible forage products or calorie rich natural oils, always alongside veterinary or nutritionist advice.
Monitoring is key
Whether managing EMS, PPID or both conditions together, regular monitoring remains essential.
Owners should:
- Body condition score regularly
- Monitor weight using a weigh tape
- Review forage quality/quantity
- Arrange routine dental examinations
- Work closely with their vet to monitor hormone levels and medication requirements
- Adjust feeding programmes according to changes in condition and workload
A balanced approach for healthy senior years
Many horses with EMS or PPID continue to enjoy active, comfortable lives well into their senior years when their nutritional needs are carefully managed.
Senior good doers who maintain weight easily - Blue Chip Senior Feed Balancer provides comprehensive nutritional support without unnecessary calories.
Senior horses who need extra help maintaining condition, muscle and topline - Blue Chip Senior Plus Feed Balancer offers additional nutritional support tailored to the challenges often faced by veteran horses.
Combined with a fibre-based diet, appropriate weight management and regular veterinary care, the right feeding programme can help support health, comfort and quality of life throughout your horse's senior years.
