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Shop Metabolic Supplements for Horses
Explore Mad Barn’s metabolic health supplements, with research-backed ingredients to support insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism.
“Whether your horse has complex needs or is a cherished companion, we provide the guidance and resources to help them thrive.”
— Dr. Christine Latham, PhDEquine Nutritionist
Managing Horses with Metabolic Concerns
Whether you’re managing an easy keeper who needs to lose weight, a horse recovering from laminitis, or a senior recently diagnosed with Cushing’s (PPID), a balanced diet is a top priority. Horses with metabolic issues require targeted nutritional and management strategies to support long-term health.
Conditions such as insulin resistance (IR), equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), laminitis, and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) are characterized by impaired glucose regulation, hormonal dysregulation, and low-grade inflammation. These conditions are typically associated with obesity, regional adiposity (e.g., cresty neck), poor exercise tolerance, and laminitic episodes.
Effective nutritional management focuses on eliminating grain and high-NSC feeds, controlling caloric intake, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress, and correcting trace mineral imbalances that contribute to metabolic dysfunction.
Nutrition for Metabolic Health
Feeding a metabolic horse begins with selecting the right forage. The primary goal is to choose hay that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), which include sugars, starches, and some fermentable carbohydrates. Within this group, hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC) refer specifically to the sugars and starches that are broken down and absorbed in the small intestine, leading to a rapid rise in blood glucose and insulin—an especially important concern for insulin-dysregulated horses.
Forage analysis is the best way to confirm suitability. In addition to the type of hay, the quantity fed matters: offering the correct amount helps maintain a healthy body weight, which may require restricting intake, using a slow feeder, or adjusting turnout based on the horse’s individual needs.
Forage alone does not provide all the micronutrients required to support metabolic function, especially when calories are restricted. Deficiencies in copper, zinc, magnesium, and other trace elements can impair insulin sensitivity, affect hoof quality, and contribute to systemic inflammation. A concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement helps fill these gaps without adding unnecessary sugars or starches.
- Advanced Nutrition Formula: Horses with metabolic concerns should be fed AminoTrace+, a concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement that is free of added sugars and starches, making it suitable for calorie-restricted diets. AminoTrace+ provides enhanced levels of nutrients that support insulin sensitivity, metabolic function, hoof health, and antioxidant defenses in horses.
- Circulatory and Hoof Support: Jiaogulan is an herbal supplement that is popular for metabolic horses because it supports healthy blood flow and vascular function. It helps maintain circulation to the hooves in horses with insulin dysregulation and supports a balanced stress response.
- Insulin Sensitivity Blend: Magnesium and chromium are key nutrients that help support normal insulin function, glucose metabolism, and cellular energy production in horses with metabolic concerns. MagneChrome is a pelleted formula that provides organic chromium yeast, magnesium, turmeric, Coenzyme Q10, and additional antioxidants to help maintain metabolic balance.
- Herbal Hormone Support: Horses with PPID may benefit from Chasteberry to help maintain normal pituitary function and hormone balance. Supplementation may support seasonal shedding, behavioral regulation, and overall endocrine health.
Best Practices for Metabolic Horses
Maintaining metabolic health in horses involves more than just removing grain from the diet. It requires managing calorie intake, meeting vitamin and mineral needs, and supporting insulin sensitivity through feeding and management practices.
A balanced, forage-based diet is the foundation. Choose hay with low hydrolyzable carbohydrate (HC) content, ideally under 10–12% on a dry matter basis. For best results, obtain a forage analysis and work with one of our qualified equine nutritionists to balance your horse’s diet for free.
Light, regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and supports weight management. When soundness allows, walking or controlled exercise should be encouraged, even in older horses or those with PPID.
Work with your veterinarian to monitor your horse’s body condition and metabolic function over time. Routine assessments, including bloodwork when needed, can help guide nutrition and management decisions.
Every horse is different, and the best approach may vary based on individual needs. For help developing a personalized feeding plan, submit your horse’s information for a free diet evaluation with our nutritionists and veterinarians.
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a hormonal disorder characterized by insulin dysregulation, regional fat deposits, and an increased risk of laminitis. Horses with EMS are often easy keepers, prone to weight gain even on restricted diets. Managing EMS requires controlling sugar and starch intake to reduce laminitis risk and maintaining a healthy body condition score. Regular exercise and routine monitoring by your veterinarian can also help prevent complications.
Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, resulting in elevated insulin levels and disrupted glucose metabolism. This condition is a central feature of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and significantly increases the risk of laminitis, especially in overweight horses or easy keepers.
Managing insulin resistance starts with feeding a forage-based diet that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), ideally below 10–12% on a dry matter basis. NSC refers to the sugars and starches in the plant, while hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC) are the portion of NSC that is digested in the small intestine and can cause sharp increases in blood glucose and insulin—making them especially important to limit in insulin-resistant horses.
Grain and high-starch feeds should be avoided, and total calorie intake carefully managed to maintain a healthy body condition score. This may involve using slow feeders, restricting pasture access, or soaking hay to lower sugar content.
Daily movement helps improve insulin sensitivity and supports weight management, even if the horse is not in regular work. Nutritional strategies should also include balancing the diet to provide adequate minerals such as magnesium, chromium, zinc, and copper to support insulin function and reduce oxidative stress.
Routine monitoring by your veterinarian is recommended to assess insulin levels and adjust the management plan as needed. For individualized feeding advice, submit a free diet evaluation to discuss your horse’s needs with one of our nutritionists or veterinarians.
Cushing’s disease, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a progressive hormonal disorder caused by dysfunction of the pituitary gland. It results in excessive production of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), leading to elevated cortisol levels and widespread effects on metabolism, immune function, and coat shedding. PPID most often affects senior horses and can increase the risk of infections, muscle loss, laminitis, and insulin resistance.
Management begins with veterinary diagnosis and regular monitoring. In many cases, a dopamine agonist such as pergolide (Prascend) is prescribed to regulate pituitary function. Nutritional support is equally important. Horses with PPID benefit from a forage-based diet that avoids grains and added sugars. Calorie intake should be adjusted to maintain a healthy body condition without promoting obesity or muscle wasting.
Minerals such as magnesium, chromium, zinc, and copper play important roles in supporting glucose metabolism, antioxidant defense, and endocrine function. Supplements like AminoTrace+ and Chasteberry can help maintain metabolic balance, hormone regulation, and support normal coat shedding.
Work with your veterinarian to track ACTH levels and adjust treatment as needed. For personalized nutrition planning, submit a free diet evaluation to discuss your horse’s needs with one of our nutritionists or veterinarians.
EMS and PPID are distinct conditions but can overlap in older horses. Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) typically affects younger to middle-aged horses and involves insulin resistance and fat accumulation. PPID, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (also known as Cushing’s disease), results from pituitary gland dysfunction and is more common in senior horses. Horses with PPID often have abnormal shedding, muscle loss, and may also have insulin dysregulation. A veterinarian can help diagnose and differentiate between the two through clinical signs and bloodwork.
Horses with metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance (IR), equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), or PPID are highly sensitive to dietary sugar and starch. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) include the sugars and starches in forage, while hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC) are the fraction of NSC that is broken down in the small intestine and can trigger spikes in blood sugar and insulin. Choosing hay with a low HC content is essential to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of laminitis.
Hay for metabolic horses should test below 10–12% HC on a dry matter basis. There is wide variation between individual hays, and appearance alone is not a reliable indicator of sugar content.
A forage analysis is the most accurate way to determine HC levels and confirm that a hay is appropriate for your horse’s needs. If HC is too high, soaking hay in cold water for 30–60 minutes before feeding can help remove water-soluble sugars and reduce the glycemic content.
It’s also important to feed the right amount of hay to maintain a healthy body condition score. Many metabolic horses require strategies like slow feeders or hay nets to regulate intake without compromising fiber availability. Our nutritionists will help interpret your hay analysis and create a personalized feeding plan for free.
Insulin resistance (IR) occurs when the horse’s cells become less responsive to insulin, resulting in elevated insulin levels and disrupted glucose regulation. Horses with IR are often easy keepers and may develop abnormal fat deposits, particularly along the neck (cresty neck), shoulders, or tail head. Other common signs include unexplained or recurrent episodes of laminitis, excessive weight gain despite a restricted diet, and reduced energy or exercise tolerance.
Diagnosis is confirmed through bloodwork performed by your veterinarian, which may include fasting insulin and glucose levels or a dynamic test such as the oral sugar test (OST). Identifying IR early allows for proactive management to reduce the risk of complications like laminitis.
Horses with insulin resistance should be fed a forage-based diet that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). While NSC includes all sugars and starches, the most important fraction to limit is hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC), since these are digested in the small intestine and can trigger sharp spikes in blood sugar and insulin.
Along with controlling calorie intake and providing balanced mineral supplementation, this feeding strategy helps support healthier metabolic function. For personalized guidance, submit a free diet evaluation with our nutritionists and veterinarians.
AminoTrace+ is a concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement specifically formulated to support horses with insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), PPID, or a history of laminitis. It does not contain added fillers, sugars or starches, making it ideal for calorie-restricted, low sugar and starch feeding programs.
AminoTrace+ provides elevated levels of key nutrients such as magnesium, chromium, zinc, copper, and vitamin E that are involved in insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, antioxidant defense, and endocrine function. These minerals are commonly deficient in forage-based diets and play a critical role in managing metabolic health.
Feeding AminoTrace+ helps ensure your horse receives the essential micronutrients needed to support metabolic function without adding excess calories or triggering insulin spikes. AminoTrace+ also supports hoof health, coat quality, topline and muscle development, immune function and overall well-being. For personalized recommendations, submit your horse’s information for a free diet evaluation with our expert nutritionists and veterinarians.
Following a laminitis episode, the goal is to support metabolic health, improve hoof integrity, and control inflammation. Horses that develop laminitis often have underlying insulin dysregulation or endocrine disorders such as PPID or EMS, which must be addressed through management, diet, and veterinary care.
Horses with a history of laminitis benefit from a concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement to support insulin sensitivity, antioxidant function, and hoof tissue repair. AminoTrace+ delivers enhanced levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, and vitamin E—key nutrients that support hoof growth, soundness, and blood sugar regulation. AminoTrace+ is free from added grains, sugars, and starches, making it safe for horses on low-NSC or calorie-restricted diets.
Many laminitic horses also have compromised circulation to the feet. Jiaogulan is an herbal supplement that supports healthy blood flow and vascular function, helping maintain hoof perfusion in horses with metabolic dysfunction. It may also support a balanced stress response, which can influence hormonal regulation.
All horses recovering from laminitis should be managed on a forage-based diet with controlled sugar and starch intake. For a personalized plan, submit a free diet evaluation with our equine nutritionists and veterinarian.
