Older metabolic horses need more individualized nutrition plans

A new The Horse report is putting a sharper focus on a familiar but increasingly complex case load in equine practice: older horses with metabolic disease. In its March 5, 2026 article, Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc, drew on expert guidance from Texas A&M’s Erica Macon and equine veterinarian Tania Sundra to outline how aging changes the management of horses with insulin dysregulation, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or both. The central update is practical rather than regulatory: these horses often need a tighter balance between limiting nonstructural carbohydrates to reduce hyperinsulinemia and laminitis risk, while still preserving muscle mass, body condition, and dental function as they age. The article also highlights that about 20% of horses age 15 and older are estimated to have PPID, and that forage-first, low-NSC feeding plans, ration balancers, hay testing, and individualized monitoring are now core recommendations. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, nutritionists, and practice teams, the takeaway is that “metabolic horse” protocols can’t simply be carried forward unchanged as patients enter their senior years. Older horses are more likely to develop sarcopenia, dental disease, osteoarthritis, and concurrent endocrine issues, which can make standard calorie restriction unsafe or ineffective. The Horse’s companion coverage on equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis, or EOTRH, adds another layer: when painful dental disease limits chewing, clinicians may need to shift these horses toward soaked forage alternatives, pelleted feeds, or mash-style diets while still keeping starch and sugar controlled. That makes regular reassessment of insulin response, PPID status, dentition, and body condition especially important in older horses and in conversations with the pet parent managing them day to day. (thehorse.com)

What to watch: Expect continued uptake of individualized feeding targets, including per-meal NSC limits and closer endocrine monitoring in horses older than 12, as updated Equine Endocrinology Group recommendations work their way into ambulatory practice. (thehorse.com)