Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a devastating disease characterized by the three main features of obesity (cresty neck and fat deposits are characteristic), insulin resistance, and laminitis. Certain breeds or individual horses and more than often middle-aged horses are predisposed to EMS, and are often referred to as "easy keepers."

Dr. Amanda Adams and two of her research horses.

While statistics disclosing the percentage of horses suffering from EMS are scarce, there is a myriad of articles on the subject of "obesity" and/or "EMS," indicating that EMS is a major concern for the U.S. horse population. One of the factors that make EMS a devastating condition for the horse is its association with increased laminitis risk. Laminitis is a degenerative inflammatory condition of the hoof that is very painful to the horse, is difficult to treat, and often leads to euthanasia