Well, wasn't March a surprise? Not quite shorts weather, but when the nippy easterlies weren’t blowing we hit 18-20°C more than once - we’ll take that anyday!

The ground's finally dried out, we’ve already seen the first midge clouds, and the tree pollens are well and truly blooming. But April? April is the month of the metabolics - when the imminent spring grass meets our EMS/IR horses head-on.

For many of us, April brings the worry of laminitis, making vigilance and proactice care absolutely key. So, that’s our focus for April - supporting our carb-intolerant horses.

The April Checklist

Spring Grass | Footy Hooves & Laminitis | High Blood Glucose & Insulin Resistance

Solid Crest & Uncontrolled Appetite

• We'll be exploring the intriguing roles of two lesser-known hormones, Leptin and Ghrelin, and how they affect your horse’s appetite and weight management.

• There's a spotlight on Methionine, and how groundbreaking 2022 research suggests it could be a game changer for insulin-dysregulated horses.

• We've got a “Herb Nerd” special on Berberine  – now being hailed as nature’s Ozempic and a key component in our MetaTonic.

• There's an update on the new SGLT2 inhibitor medications for EMS management – what they are, and what they mean for our horses.

• We'll also be looking at the role of carbohydrates in the equine diet – and why feeding them smartly (not cutting them out) is key to supporting energy, gut health, and metabolic balance.

And of course, we’ll be spotlighting our EMS/IR supplement range to help bolster your horse’s defences.

~ Here’s to a month of mindful management and metabolic know-how ~

Leptin resistance

Leptin resistance is a hidden driver behind many of the challenges we face with our EMS and IR horses, yet it's often overlooked. This hormonal imbalance disrupts appetite control, making horses feel constantly hungry even when their fat stores are more than adequate.

Together with its hormonal partner, ghrelin – the ‘hunger hormone’ – leptin plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance, satiety, and weight. But when the leptin message isn’t getting through, it creates a vicious cycle of overeating, weight gain, and stubborn crests that won’t shift, no matter how carefully we restrict feed.

We look at how leptin resistance works, what disrupts it, and how we can support our horses through a more functional approach.  From the impact of sugar, stress, and gut health, to the science-backed benefits of targeted support like Acetyl L-Carnitine (Alcar), it’s clear that managing leptin resistance takes more than willpower or calorie-cutting.

Instead, we look at how to reset the metabolic signals - supporting appetite regulation, reducing inflammation, and enhancing hormonal communication - so our horses can find their balance again.

Methionine & spring hooves:
a smart step in laminitis prevention

We’ll also be taking a closer look at Methionine – a key amino acid that could be a game-changer in managing the risk of laminitis. A 2022 study highlighted methionine’s potential role in supporting horses with insulin dysregulation (ID), one of the core risk factors for laminitis.

Crucially, methionine plays a vital role in the formation of keratin, the protein that forms the hoof wall. While horses usually get their methionine from grazing, common laminitis-prevention strategies like soaking hay to reduce sugars can also deplete essential nutrients - including methionine. This makes targeted supplementation a smart, proactive step, especially at this time of year.

Both our EquiVita and VitaComplete mineral balancers include 3g of premium methionine per dose, providing peace of mind for those of us navigating spring with a watchful eye on hooves, waistlines, and insulin levels.

Herb Nerd alert - it's nature's Ozempic

Our April Herb Nerd spotlight is on Berberine – the powerful plant alkaloid making waves as ‘Nature’s Ozempic’.

Found in barberry bark, berberine has a rich medicinal history and is now being explored for its role in managing blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and fat metabolism – all key factors in supporting our EMS and IR horses. Unlike pharmaceutical options like Ozempic, berberine works naturally through the AMPK pathway, helping regulate energy, glucose metabolism, and gut health without the risk of side effects.

We include barberry bark (the natural source of berberine) in MetaTonic, alongside Goat’s Rue, for a herbal, functional alternative to drugs like Metformin. It’s also a key ingredient in SiboCARE, thanks to its microbiome-supportive, antimicrobial properties.



Available in both cut herb and organic tincture form, berberine’s a brilliant example of nature doing what it does best – supporting balance, gently and effectively.

New Meds – what you need to know about SGLT2 inhibitors

We’re also taking a look at the new SGLT2 inhibitor medications – Canagliflozin and Ertugliflozin – now being explored for EMS horses with high insulin and laminitis risk.

These meds help the body excrete excess glucose via the kidneys, easing the insulin load and showing promising results in normalising insulin levels, shifting fat pads, and easing laminitis. But they’re not without caution – side effects like elevated blood fats (hypertriglyceridemia) mean close monitoring and the right diet are key to safe use.

Carbs - friend or foe?

Carbohydrates often get a bad rap in the equine world - synonymous with sugar spikes, weight gain, and the dreaded ‘L’ word: laminitis. But there’s far more to carbs than just sugar. From the simple sugars like glucose to the fibrous, slow-release energy in forage, carbohydrates are a broad group - and many of them are essential for your horse’s gut health and overall vitality.

The key is not cutting them out, but feeding them wisely. Fibre is a form of carbohydrate and a cornerstone of hindgut health - so forage-first feeding remains crucial, even for metabolic horses, and overly restrictive low-NSC diets can backfire - leading to nutrient deficiencies and compromised digestion.

Ultimately, it's about balance. Rather than chasing extremes, we need to focus on quality forage, healthy gut biomes, and smart, species-appropriate feeding that supports our horses as individuals. When done right, carbs are not the enemy - they're part of the solution.