Photo: iStockManaging a horse with metabolic problems means understanding how conditionssuch asequine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and insulin dysregulation increase the risk of serious complicationsincludinglaminitis.Horses with metabolic problemsoftenbenefitfrom controlled diets low in sugars and starches, tailored to prevent spikes in blood insulin and support healthy body condition. Regular exercise and weight management should be part of a comprehensive planbecauseactivitycan helpimprove insulin sensitivity andsupportsoverall metabolic health. Whiletheresno cure forthese conditions, strategic, research-based care can help improveyour metabolic horses well-being.Tune into this AskTheHorseLive event where two experts will answer your questions about managing horses with metabolic problems.Register NowAsk The Horse Live begins on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EST Days Hours MinutesAbout the Experts: Greg Schmid, DVMGreg Schmid, DVM, originally from Canada, moved to Ohio as a teenager, where his family trained dressage and eventing horses. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science from Otterbein University, in Westerville, Ohio, and a DVM from The Ohio State University, in Columbus. After graduation, Schmid completed an internship at B.W. Furlong & Associates in Lebanon, New Jersey and then worked with Dr. John Doc Steele in a hunter/jumper-focused practice covering the East Coast. He later practiced in Portland, Oregon, working with various English and Western sport horses. Schmid joined Dechra as an Equine Professional Services Veterinarian in September 2020 and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Caitrin Lowndes, DVMCaitrin Lowndes, DVM, is a research fellow at the Van Eps Laminitis and Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, with a background in field practice. Her main area of research is the improved diagnosis and management of insulin dysregulation, with particular interest in how that research can be translated into clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of laminitis.