11 min read Last updated: January 2026 Struggling with a cresty, laminitisprone mare who wont slim down? This guide shows you exactly how to manage EMS safelyfeed 1.5% of bodyweight in forage, introduce 3050% clean straw, shift turnout to night/early morning, and add gentle exerciseso she loses weight, steadies insulin, and stays sound. Quick Summary Short on time? Here are the key takeaways. Area: Forage Quantity What To Do: Feed 1.5% of bodyweight in total forage per 24 hours. Weigh with a hanging scale and split into multiple small nets to avoid gaps. Why It Matters: Creates a safe calorie deficit without fibre deprivation, helping reduce insulin and weight. Common Mistake: Guessing portions and allowing long periods without forage. Area: Straw Inclusion What To Do: Replace 3050% of daily forage with clean barley, oat or wheat straw. Introduce over 24 weeks and mix thoroughly through hay. Why It Matters: Lowers calories and sugars, extends chewing time, and can reduce insulin responses. Common Mistake: Exceeding 50% or switching suddenly, causing gut upset or selective eating. Area: Hay & Soaking What To Do: Choose lowNSC hay and soak in fresh water for at least 1 hour, then drain well. Avoid highsugar chaffs and cereal mixes. Why It Matters: Reduces sugar intake to support insulin control and laminitis prevention. Common Mistake: Inconsistent or tooshort soaking that leaves sugars high. Area: Grazing Management What To Do: Turn out overnight to early morning; restrict daytime grazing with a muzzle, track, or stripgrazing, especially in spring/autumn. Why It Matters: Avoids grass sugar peaks that drive insulin spikes and laminitis risk. Common Mistake: Daytime turnout after frosty nights and sunny days. Area: Exercise Plan What To Do: Start with 15 minutes walking 34 days/week on level footing; build to 3045 minutes most days, adding trot only with vet approval. Why It Matters: Improves insulin sensitivity and increases calorie burn safely. Common Mistake: Ramping up intensity too fast or working on tender feet. Area: Ration Balancing What To Do: Add a lowcalorie feed balancer and plain salt to meet nutrients on restricted forage. Keep starch and sugar low. Why It Matters: Maintains protein, vitamins and minerals without adding unnecessary calories. Common Mistake: Cutting nutrients along with calories or using molassed feeds. Area: Monitoring & Adjustments What To Do: Weightape and bodyscore weekly, photograph, and adjust forage (e.g., more straw or longer soaks) if no change after 23 weeks. Why It Matters: Ensures steady progress and timely tweaks to avoid stalls. Common Mistake: Changing multiple variables at once or not logging data. Area: Vet Involvement What To Do: Involve your vet early to confirm EMS/laminitis, set target weight, and review regularly; consider medication if strict diet and exercise stall. Why It Matters: Provides a safe, tailored plan and protects hoof health during weight loss. Common Mistake: Delaying veterinary input or relying on meds without tight diet control. In This Guide What is EMS in mares? Exactly how much forage should an overweight EMS mare get daily? Should you feed straw to EMS horses? How do you build a safe UK feeding plan for EMS? How should you manage grazing and turnout in the UK? What exercise is safe and effective for EMS horses? How do you monitor progress and keep weight loss on track? When should you involve your vetand is medication needed? If your mare just wont shift the weight, keeps flirting with laminitis, and seems lethargic, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a likely culprit. The good news: EMS is manageable, and with the right plan many mares return to soundness, fertility and a safer weight.Key takeaway: For overweight or insulindysregulated horses, feed 1.5% of bodyweight in forage per day, introduce up to 3050% clean straw to lower calories and insulin, manage grazing to night/early morning, and add gentle, regular exercise.What is EMS in mares?EMS is a metabolic disorder most common in overweight horses and ponies, and the primary treatment is weight management. Typical signs in mares include difficulty losing weight, recurring laminitis, increased drinking/urination, lethargy and even infertility.In the UK, the British Horse Society (BHS) summarises the cornerstone of care clearly:The primary treatment for EMS is weight management. This can be difficult as horses with EMS are often resistant to weight loss... Seeking support from professionals, friends or yard mates can help to maintain weight loss routines. British Horse SocietyThat resistance to weight loss is why a purposeful plan matters. Focus on controlled forage, reduced sugars and starches, consistency, and movement. Partner with your vet to rule out or manage laminitis and to tailor any medication if needed.Exactly how much forage should an overweight EMS mare get daily?Feed 1.5% of bodyweight in forage per day for significant weight loss, ensuring no long gaps between feeds. Keep the ration balanced with adequate protein, vitamins and minerals via a lowcalorie feed balancer.For a 500 kg mare, 1.5% equals 7.5 kg of total forage over 24 hours. If shes obese and youve set a target weight (e.g., 450 kg), use 1.5% of the target weight (6.75 kg/day) once your vet agrees its safe. UK vets echo this approach:When initially treating EMS and trying to achieve significant weight loss you should aim to feed 1.5% of your horses body weight per day. It is important that the diet remains balanced and contains adequate levels of protein, vitamins and minerals. The best way to achieve this is to feed a comprehensive feed balancer. BW Equine VetsAs a rule of thumb, daily forage for healthy maintenance sits around 2% of bodyweight, but for overweight horses you reduce to 1.751.5% under professional guidance. Nutritionist Lisa Elliott MSc explains:Daily forage recommendations are generally around 2% daily, but for overweight or obese horses and ponies, the amount of forage can be reduced to supply 1.75% or 1.5% of bodyweight. Lisa Elliott, MSc Equine Nutrition SolutionsQuick tip: Weigh forage with a hanging scale initially. Once youve calibrated by eye, keep auditing weekly so creeping portions dont undo your hard work.Should you feed straw to EMS horses?Yesreplacing 3050% of daily forage with good hygienic straw safely reduces calories, extends chewing time, and can lower insulin in insulindysregulated horses. Introduce it gradually over 24 weeks and do not exceed 50% of total forage as barley or oat straw.Highquality wheat straw has been studied as a partial forage replacement for overweight horses. Researchers reported no gastric ulcers when clean wheat straw replaced up to half of the daily ration, alongside real behavioural and metabolic benefits:Good hygienic quality wheat straw can be included for up to 50% of the diet without causing gastric ulcers and it can extend feeding time and promote a metabolic profile more suitable for overweight horses. Peerreviewed studyWhy it helps: straw dilutes dietary sugar and calories while keeping the fibre bulk and chewing time your horse needs. One study example showed foraging time extending to around 11.2 hours per 24 hours on straw mixes, compared with about 6.2 hours on grass foragevital for satiety and gut health.How to start: swap in up to 30% straw first (barley, oat or wheat straw of good hygienic quality), then increase to a maximum of 50% if needed. Introduce over 24 weeks to let the gut adapt and monitor droppings, appetite, and demeanour. Always ensure constant access to fresh water.Pro tip: Mix straw thoroughly through the hay so your mare cant sort it out. Doublelayered hay nets further slow intake and support 24/7 trickle feeding without long forage gaps.How do you build a safe UK feeding plan for EMS?Base the diet on 1.5% bodyweight in forage, reduce sugars and starches by soaking hay, replace 3050% of forage with clean straw as needed, and add a lowcalorie feed balancer to meet vitamins and minerals.Put it together step by step:Calculate forage: 1.5% of current bodyweight (or target bodyweight once safe) spread across the full day and night. Example: 500 kg mare = 7.5 kg total forage per 24 hours.Choose the forage: LowNSC hay if possible. Soak for at least 1 hour in fresh water to reduce sugar. Drain well.Straw inclusion: Start by replacing around 30% of the hay with good, hygienic barley, oat or wheat straw. Build to a maximum of 50% if further calorie reduction is needed and your vet agrees.Avoid long gaps: Use multiple small nets or slowfeeders to keep your mare nibbling. Avoid meal feeding or stretches without fibre.Balance the ration: Add a lowcalorie feed balancer for protein, vitamins and minerals on restricted forage. Explore our lowcalorie feed balancers and supplements to keep nutrients topped up without extra calories.Keep starch and sugar low: Avoid cerealbased mixes and highsugar chaffs. For laminitisprone horses, choose lowNSC options only.Hydration and salt: Ensure free access to fresh water and offer plain salt daily if appropriate.At Just Horse Riders, we often see the biggest wins when owners combine soaked lowNSC hay with 3050% straw and a balancer, delivered via slowfeedershorses are calmer, less hungry, and steadily lose weight. For practical slowfeeding hardware, many owners choose durable nets from trusted brands; browse stable staples from Shires.Quick tip: Log every forage allocation for the first 23 weeks. Consistency is everything with insulindysregulated horses.How should you manage grazing and turnout in the UK?Turn out overnight to early morning when grass sugars are lower, restrict or muzzle daytime grazing in spring and autumn flushes, and use tracks or stripgrazing to control intake.In the UK, bright days followed by cool nights drive sugar peaks in grassespecially in spring and autumn. To control calories and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs):Time turnout: Favour night and early morning. Avoid sunny daytime turnout during peak growth flushes.Control access: Once weight is trending down, consider a grazing muzzle for measured pasture time. Use only when laminitis signs are absent and under your vets guidance.Create a track: A perimeter track with sparse grass encourages movement and limits intake. Top or crossgraze lush areas with sheep if available on your yard.Weather watch: After frosty nights and sunny mornings, grass NSC can spiketighten restrictions on those days.Comfort on the yard matters too. Night turnout may be cooler or wetchoose suitable layers so you can stick to your grazing plan. For changeable British weather, see our range of lightweight turnout rugs and, in fly season, protective fly rugs for summer turnout.Pro tip: Weigh your netted forage before turnout, even on poor paddocks. EMS horses are expert grazers and a nibble soon adds up.What exercise is safe and effective for EMS horses?Start with 15 minutes of walking exercise 34 days per week on even, supportive surfaces, and increase duration and intensity gradually if there are no laminitis signs.Movement improves insulin sensitivity and calorie expenditure. Begin with inhand or ridden walk on a sand arena, firm track, or smooth field margin. Add short bouts of trot only when your vet confirms the lamellar structures are safe.Week 12: 15 minutes, 34 days per week (mostly walk; gentle hills if sound).Week 34: 2030 minutes, 45 days per week (introduce brief trot if vetapproved).Beyond: Build towards 3045 minutes most days, mixing walk/trot, poles, and light schooling.Safety first: choose level footing and avoid tight turns if theres any foot tenderness. Support limbs if needed and fit tack correctly. For protection during inhand or ridden work, explore horse boots and bandages. If youre roadwalking to build time, wear rider hivis so youre clearly seen in early mornings or dusky evenings.Quick tip: Count steps. A simple pedometer target helps you add 510 minutes a week without overthinking it.How do you monitor progress and keep weight loss on track?Use a weigh tape and body condition scoring weekly, log changes, and adjust forage by small increments while maintaining fibre intake. Partner with your vet if progress stalls or if laminitis flares.Routine keeps EMS plans honest. Each week:Weigh tape and fatscore: Record girth and neck crest measurements plus a 05 or 19 condition score.Photograph: Same pose, same lightyour future self will spot changes better.Adjust forage: If theres no movement after 23 weeks, review hay analysis, soaking time, straw proportion (up to 50%), and step count.Review comfort: Check feet daily for heat, pulse, or short steps; pause increases in workload if anything worries you.At Just Horse Riders, we recommend setting one simple weekly goal (e.g., Replace 40% of hay with straw, or Add one extra 10minute walk). Small, consistent actions compound into real change.When should you involve your vetand is medication needed?Involve your vet from the outset to confirm EMS, check for laminitis, and design a weightloss plan; diet and exercise are primary, while medication such as metformin may be added for severe insulin dysregulation under veterinary supervision.Vets help you prioritise safe weight loss without triggering laminitis. They may also investigate related issues, including reproductive performanceremember, EMSrelated infertility in mares often improves as weight and insulin normalise. If your mare wont lose weight despite tightly controlled forage and added exercise, ask your vet to reassess: some horses are markedly resistant, and the plan may need a tweak.Quick tip: Share your feeding log and step counts at each checkupit speeds decisions and shows your consistency.Finally, dont forget the kit that makes routines easy. Slowfeeder nets and stable organisers reduce waste and keep you consistent; and a comprehensive balancer keeps nutrition sound on restricted rations. Youll find proven options in our supplements and feed balancers and targeted support from NAF supplements, with stable standbys from Shires to help you stay organised.Bottom line: Controlled forage (1.5% bodyweight), strategic straw (3050%), night/earlymorning turnout, and steady exercise form the proven path to reversing EMS signs and protecting your mare from laminitis.FAQsHow much forage should an overweight EMS mare get daily without gaps?Feed 1.5% of bodyweight (or target bodyweight when safe) in total forage per 24 hours. For a 500 kg mare thats 7.5 kg/day, ideally split into multiple slowfed nets so there are no long periods without fibre. Keep the ration balanced with a lowcalorie balancer.When should I use straw for weight loss?Use straw when your mare is an easykeeper, overweight, or insulindysregulated and you need to create a calorie deficit without leaving her hungry. Replace up to 30% initially, building to a maximum of 50% of total forage with clean barley, oat or wheat straw over 24 weeks. Monitor droppings and comfort as you transition.Does straw increase ulcer risk?Research shows good hygienic wheat straw can make up to 50% of the ration without causing gastric ulcers and can extend feeding time while improving the metabolic profile in overweight horses. Quality and gradual introduction are keyalways ensure free access to water.Is a grazing muzzle suitable for EMS mares in the UK?Yesonce weight loss is underway and there are no laminitis signs, a wellfitted grazing muzzle can allow controlled turnout, especially through spring and autumn when daytime grass sugars peak. Combine with night/earlymorning turnout to keep sugars lower.What if my mare wont lose weight despite diet changes?EMS horses are often resistant to weight loss. Tighten the plan: verify 1.5% forage by weight, consider increasing straw to 4050%, soak hay for at least 1 hour, add gentle exercise 34 days a week, and ask your vet to reassess for underlying issues or to consider medication such as metformin if appropriate.Can EMS cause infertility in maresand will weight loss help?Yes, EMS is associated with reproductive issues including infertility. As weight normalises and insulin sensitivity improves, fertility can improve toowork with your vet to pair weight management with reproductive planning.What gear helps me stick to an EMS plan?Slowfeeder hay nets, a reliable weigh tape, and a simple logbook are essentials. For safe exercise and turnout, consider leg protection, hivis for road walking, seasonappropriate turnout rugs and fly rugs, plus nutrient support from feed balancers and supplements including options from NAF. Shop the Essentials Everything mentioned in this guide, ready to browse. Shop SupplementsShop NAF SupplementsShop ShiresShop Turnout RugsShop Boots & Bandages