The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Pasture on the Metabolic Profile of Horses with Laminitis
Authors: Eva Mlyneková, Stanislav Zaťko, Marko Halo, I. Imrich, Marko Halo
Journal: Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Laminitis remains a costly and often career-ending condition in equine practice, with nutritional management—particularly pasture composition—identified as a critical modifiable risk factor. Mlyneková and colleagues investigated how seasonal fluctuations in non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content of pasture affect the metabolic profiles of laminitis-prone horses, recognising that temperature, photoperiod, humidity, and plant phenology create significant variations in pasture quality throughout the year. Their findings highlight distinct seasonal periods of metabolic instability in susceptible animals, revealing windows of heightened laminitis risk that correlate with peaks in NSC accumulation, which is especially pronounced in obese or sedentary horses. Understanding these temporal patterns allows practitioners to implement targeted preventive strategies—such as timed grazing restrictions, pasture management interventions, or supplementary feeding adjustments—during high-risk periods rather than managing acute episodes. For farriers, veterinarians, and nutritionists, this research underscores the importance of individualised, season-specific dietary protocols for at-risk animals, transforming laminitis management from reactive crisis intervention to proactive, evidence-based prevention.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Monitor pasture NSC levels seasonally and restrict grazing access during high-risk periods (typically spring flush and stressed growth conditions) for horses with laminitis history or metabolic dysfunction
- •Obese, sedentary horses require closer nutritional management year-round, with particular attention to spring and high-stress growth periods when NSC concentrations spike
- •Prevention through seasonal grazing management is significantly more cost-effective and humane than treating established laminitis cases
Key Findings
- •Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content in pasture varies significantly by season, affecting glycemic response in horses
- •Obese horses with limited physical activity show greater metabolic instability in response to seasonal pasture NSC fluctuations
- •Identifying seasonal high-risk periods enables development of targeted preventive nutritional strategies for laminitis-prone horses