If you’ve ever run your hand along your horse’s neck and felt a firm, thickened ridge along the crest, you have possibly felt one of the symptoms of a metabolically challenged pony or horse. Cresty necks, difficulty losing weight and stubborn fatty deposits in areas such as the shoulders or top of the tail are often your first clue that there could be something going on metabolically.
Why fat deposits aren’t just about weight
In horses with normal metabolic health, excess calories distribute evenly and lead to overall increased body condition. However, in a metabolically challenged pony or horse, the excess calories that lead to weight gain and fat production are often seen as localised fatty deposits.
In some cases, a moderately fit horse with metabolic issues, can still have unexplained fatty deposits like a hard cresty neck. These fatty deposits are linked to how the horse’s body is processing sugar and insulin.
Where these deposits typically show up
Fatty deposits associated with metabolic issues can be seen in a few classic, localised areas:
- The top of the neck, also known as a cresty neck
- On the shoulders
- The top of the tail
- Sometimes even around the eyes
It’s important to note that not every horse will show all of the these signs
What this is telling you metabolically
It’s important to distinguish between general weight gain and localised fatty deposits that may indicate an issue with metabolic health. Localised fatty deposits are visible expressions of an invisible problem, insulin dysregulation. They are clear indicators that the body is not processing sugar or insulin normally. Insulin dysregulation is directly linked with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID; Cushing’s disease). It is important to diagnose these conditions with your vet as they can cause the serious condition of laminitis. View our full guide on Equine Metabolic Syndrome.Â
Should you be worried?
A cresty neck does not automatically mean your horse is metabolically challenged or has EMS or PPID. Some breeds can naturally carry a cresty neck, but it is an important sign to be aware of that is linked to metabolic issues, especially if it’s:
- New or worsening over time
- Persistent even with weight loss
- Paired with hoof soreness, fatty lumps above the tail, shoulders or eyes
If you notice any of the above, it’s important to contact your vet immediately to help with a diagnosis and treatment plan as it can often predispose your horse to laminitis, which can be life threatening.
What to do about it
The great news is, like the rest of the metabolic disorders in horses, they are manageable with appropriate veterinary treatment, diet and exercise plans.
Diet will always be the foundation of health for all types of horses. Through veterinary and equine nutritionist guidance, helping to reduce sugar and starch intake, controlling pasture access and calculating the amount of calories your horse is consuming each day, can help with overall body condition.
Exercise can greatly help with insulin sensitivity and managing weight loss.
Continual body condition scoring can help with identifying any issues early on and help you monitor whether the diet and exercise program is working for weight loss.
Targeted nutritional support through a supplement that is designed to take a complete, multi-system approach to metabolic health, like PROTEKMDTM, can enhance your current management routine.
Targeted Support: PROTEKMDTM
When a horse’s metabolic health isn’t functioning as it should, it can lead to unhealthy weight, poor insulin regulation, inflammation, hoof sensitivity, stiff movement and ongoing metabolic stress that affects overall health.
PROTEKMDTM helps create the ideal conditions within your horse’s body to enhance metabolic health naturally. It’s designed to support the biological pathways that influence metabolism every day, helping your horse maintain healthier metabolic function over the long term.
Specifically for weight management, PROTEKMDTM helps support your horse’s natural ability to break down and utilise stored fat, and helps with normal appetite regulation, making healthy weight management easier when combined with appropriate feeding and exercise.
The bottom lineÂ
A cresty neck or stubborn fat can be your horse’s body sending a signal about what’s happening metabolically. Catching it early, understanding what it means, and addressing the underlying cause is the most effective path forward.
If your horse is showing these signs, start with a conversation with your veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment, and look at how PROTEKMDTM can support a comprehensive weight and metabolic management plan.
