Insulin resistance has profound consequences for affected horses, yet there are currently no licensed treatment options. Management of the condition is primarily aimed at modifying the affected horse's diet, maintaining a healthy body condition score, and instituting a regular exercise program.

”There is a distinct lack of equine-specific research (on IR),” said Glenys Noble, BAppEquineSci, PhD, a lecturer in Equine Science at Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga campus in Australia.

In response, Noble and her colleagues reviewed the use of herbal remedies that have been researched for the treatment of IR in humans. According to Noble, “The aim of the review is not to advise clinicians or horse owners about what to use, but to inform equine scientists contemplating research in this field.”

Research on the safety and efficacy of potential treatments in horses/ponies is the focus of Noble’s PhD student Kellie Tinworth’s work with insulin-resistant ponies, carried out in collaboration with WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition