Skip to main content
Horse Health

EMS and a bit of stardust

By 08/03/2016April 13th, 2017No Comments

Somewhere, every micro-second in the horse’s body and brain there is a sudden shower of stardust it is momentary and although gone as quickly as it came its magic transcends life itself and if anything can be said to be the epitome of a healthy horse full of the pheno and geno potential of it parents and grandparents and a paucity of such that can be the reason why some horses never quite come up to expectation despite their owners and trainers best efforts and dreams, or even more frustratingly show signs of such realisations occurring but only a glimpse and never for long. Such horses are somehow ‘not connecting’ and the tenth tick out of ten in the box is missing.
So what are we referring to? At the end of every nerve molecules Acetylcholine are formed from choline and when released bursts into the synapses the spaces between the nerve terminus and the effector cells which are connected to either another nerve or a muscle or gland that the nerve is trying to activate and when burst in the synapse separating nerve from skeletal tissue it is responsible for converting electrical signals into chemical signals allowing movement messages to pass up the line. With the horses we encounter every day it is not a question of nerve not being able to signal to another nerve or muscle that would be very serious it is much more to do with subtle differences from genetic optimum, the message being slightly garbled or slightly late. Of course obvious connotations can be made with Equine Metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s but so too can that apply to performance horses that are subject to exertion and fatigue and of course all horses subject to stress. So what if anything can we do to help correct the messages and ensure they arrive on time? Well there is much evidence that increasing choline levels in the diet can increase both the production and use of acetylcholine and increase low levels of acetylcholine in the brain and nerve cells that can produce depression, low energy, fatigue, inability to think clearly, slow reflexes, poor memory, nervousness and anxiety; and that when adequate levels of lecithin, by far and away the best dietary source of choline is fed, the symptom diminish.

Carrying on from above if you have a horse of pony diagnosed or strongly suspected of suffering from EMS and are satisfied that he or she is back to normal with the administration of drugs or with the help of one of the various proprietary supplements available then do not bother with the next paragraphs or so.
If however things are far from ideal and coping is not the same as having freedom from metabolic problems and your horse is still young with so much yet to do then it may be that the best plan is to feed Equinourish and Western Salts with Level 1 or level 2 of Lecithin.
In a nutshell the metabolism is all about chemical changes and physical processes whereby (A.) Energy is created for the body’s vital activities and (B.) Old cells are replaced by new ones. Optimum metabolism is dependent upon a chemical interaction promoted by enzymes. A myriad number of mal-conditions may follow metabolic disturbances ranging from what can only be described as general debility to hyperactivity. Resolution of EMS (Equine Metabolic syndrome) requires attention to the liver, digestive organs and endocrinal glands hence the complexity of any dietary rescue plan. The likelihood of a horse or pony developing EMS and developing fatty plaque deposits when fed on adequate amounts of good forage and 100ml of Equinourish and a spoonful a day of Western salts are remote however if there is a suspicion that the horse or pony is already suffering from a degree of EMS then there is a compelling case for the additional benefits Lecithin. So the Plan for an EMS compromised horse or pony is
EQUINOURISH fed at 100ml/day – Life stimulus that provides an on-going liver, pancreatic and kidney function support within a broad spectrum of easily assimilatable nutrients that have already been once accepted by a previous living organism.
WESTERN SALTS – A spoonful per day to provide an extra level of vitamins and minerals
LECITHIN 50 – at 2 measures (66g per day) or if necessary 4 measures per day (132g per day).
All fed in with a suitable chop or chaff (nutrient value of no consequence)

Leave a Reply