It's only really since the mid-2000s that vets have recognised the Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), usually accompanied by obesity/fat pads and an high risk of chronic laminitis. I say 'usually', but recent science (2016) is now showing this isn't necessarily always the case.

As Dr Eleanor Kellon has recently posted ,

"Obesity is widely believed to cause insulin resistance in people but that's not necessarily the case in horses. ... (Banase et al 2016) found that markers of inflammation in skeletal muscle were actually lower in horses that were obese, and lowest of all in obese horses with elevated insulin – the exact opposite of what would be expected in a human."

What is an absolute given, though, is that the metabolic horse is uncompromisingly carb-intolerant, which means a lifestyle on our neon-green UK grass is the metabolic horse’s enemy, because grass is carb-rich in what's commonly known as simple sugars, namely fructose, sucrose, glucose, and a relatively new one - pectins , part of the grass leaf cell wall, which are also full of their own sugar nutrients because they're the fuel to make the blade grow to a stem and seedhead.

Collectively these create the single biggest hormonal disorder a horse faces - insulin resistance, aka IR. This means the body has become resistant/unable to perform the insulin hormone instruction, which then creates a damaging domino cascade in the body. It drives all those excess sugar calories into fat cells that produce other hormone messages that increase hunger, slow down metabolism, prevent fat burning, and spike inflammation. ⁣

Tincture

Our human-grade, certified organic tinctures gives you a ready-to-absorb potent source of phytonutrients at the highest-strength available, for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.

Feed Guide

• Pony 15-20ml / Horse 30-40ml, daily in feed.
• Always shake the bottle to disperse any sediment.
• 3-yr shelf life.

Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) Bark Decocted 1:3 35%, Galium aparine (Cleavers) Herb Infused 1:3 35%, Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) Seed Dist /Dec 1:3 35%, Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair) , Galega officinalis (Goat’s Rue) Herb Infused 1:3 25%, Carduus marianus (Milk Thistle) Seed Decocted 1:3 65%, Urtica dioica Folia (Stinging Nettle) Leaf Decocted 1:3 35%, Tabebuia impeteginosa (Lapacho/Pau D'Arco) Bark Decocted 1:3 35%, Smilax ornata (Sarsaparilla) Root Decocted 1:3 25%

Herb Blend

Produced to ecological standards and free from agro-chemicals. See our Quality page for for Organic Certification Documents.

Feed Guide

• 5g/100kg bodyweight per day (i.e. 25g daily for a 500kg horse), in daily feed.
• 1-yr shelf life.

Berberis vulgaris (Barberry), Galium aperine (Cleavers), Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel), Galega off. (Goat’s Rue), Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair), Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle), Urtica dioca (Nettle), Tabebuia impeteginosa (Lapacho/Pau D'Arco) Bark, & Smilax ornate (Sarsaparilla)

Recommended

• Feeding Acetyl L Carnitine is thought to support the symptoms of leptin resistance.
• I keep Murf permanently on our DuoBute anti-inflammatory as a footy/warm hoof preventative.
• Psyllium has also been a game-changer for us with Murf's gut, especially during grass flush times.

Supplements of any kind should be fed with caution to the pregnant or nursing mare so always seek veterinary advice.

• 16.8.24- I’ve mean meaning to message you to say thankyou. I honestly cannot believe the difference in my pony since starting the VitaComplete and MetaTonic. She struggled so much on the stones after going barefoot after her first and only ever lami episode last march (2023) and was still struggling with thin soles in Feb (2024) when I contacted you. Since then and with time and patience and trying to get her diet as good as I possibly can, whilst also keeping her quality of life with the options I have at my livery yard (aka still at grass most days) she can walk across stones without her boots on now if need be. I’m over the moon. I genuinely can’t believe she’s managed to be barefoot 17 months later. So thankyou very much. I will always vouch for Equinatural where I can! Leanne Davis
• Shanti now has no pulses and cool hooves, the lameness has now passed. Her MetaTonic, L-Carnatine arrived yesterday so put her straight on it. I'm going to order your cool gel on my next order. Definitely believe it's down to all your advice and supplements that have got her back to health so quickly which I cannot thank you enough for. Toni H.
• My mare usually has white line separation in Spring. This spring she's been on the MetaTonic and the DuoBute for a good month before grass really came in, and has not had any issue with her white line this year (cue several party emojis!). Kim
• I took my mare off the MetaTonic for winter and she got laminitis. Even my vet told me to put her back on it. This is a gamechanger. Jane & Princess
• I’m having amazing results with the Metatonic and Duobute with our little BRP pony. The change in her is amazing. I syringe it, she loves taking them so much that she’s waiting over her stable door and will open her mouth for me to squirt it into her mouth. Bee and Tia
• Foxy has been doing brilliantly on the MetaTonic with the Tyrosine and Acetyl L carnitine. For an old, arthritic and retired mare she’s looking the best she has been for several years! Karen, NI
• Hi, I can't believe what a difference I am seeing. I have tried many different supplements over time to help him return to health, he had a hard crest and swollen glands under his jaw as well as a swollen sheath, a general all round look of puffiness and currently footy in his right fore but to no avail. Within two weeks of being on the metatonic his crest softened up beautifully and now nearly two months in it has decreased substantially (nearly gone). His glands have come right down too. Emma