METACOMBO for Horses | Structured 3-in-1 Metabolic Support for EMS & Stubborn Crests (the permanently hangry horse)

Why is my EMS horse always hungry?

It's one of the things owners tell us again and again.

"He acts as though he's starving."

The forage disappears, the feedbowl is licked spotless, and five minutes later there's a hopeful face hanging over the stable door wanting more.

It's tempting to put this down to greed, but there's something much more interesting happening underneath.

Most of us have heard of insulin , but there's another hormone involved in energy regulation called leptin . Leptin is produced largely by fat cells and acts as one of the body's energy-status messengers.

You can think of it rather like the fuel gauge on your car.

As stored energy increases, leptin should help signal to the brain, "We've got enough fuel on board."

But in some metabolically challenged horses, that message appears to become less effective.

• The fuel is there.
• The signal is being sent.
• But the brain isn't responding to it normally.

And suddenly some of those puzzling observations begin to make more sense: the horse who seems perpetually hungry, gains weight incredibly easily, stores fat around the crest and other characteristic areas, yet can simultaneously appear tired or lacking in stamina.

This is why we don't see the more complex EMS horse as simply having a "sugar problem".

There's a much bigger conversation happening between hormones, stored fat, inflammation and the way cells access and use energy.

And that's the thinking behind MetaCOMBO.

Rather than asking one supplement to cover that entire picture, we bring three different nutritional jobs together:

• MetaTonic provides the metabolic foundation.
• Acetyl L-Carnitine supports the cellular machinery involved in using fatty acids for energy.
• DuoBute adds nutritional support where everyday inflammatory processes have become part of the wider metabolic picture.

Three different jobs, one interconnected metabolic system.

That's also why MetaCOMBO isn't automatically our starting point for every EMS horse. Many do perfectly with good forage management, appropriate mineral nutrition and MetaTonic alone.

But when we hear:

"He's still ravenous."

"That crest just won't budge."

"We've done everything with his diet and something still isn't adding up..."

...that's when we start looking at whether there's another piece of the metabolic puzzle we need to think about.

And very often, that piece is leptin.

MetaCOMBO is a good fit when metabolic support needs to go beyond the basics – where insulin sensitivity is only part of the picture and you're also seeing signs that everyday inflammatory balance and cellular energy need additional support.

✔ Your horse carries a firm, stubborn crest and/or persistent fat pads

✔ They seem permanently hungry, despite an appropriate diet

✔ They're prone to footiness or become uncomfortable during grass flushes

✔ You've already addressed forage, minerals, and management, but something still feels as though it's missing

In short: if your horse's metabolic picture feels more complex than "just EMS", MetaCOMBO may be the next place we look.

Where MetaTonic provides the metabolic foundation, MetaCOMBO adds two extra layers - supporting how the body uses energy at a cellular level while helping maintain everyday comfort when inflammatory processes have become part of the wider picture.

From there, support can be adapted depending on what you're seeing.

- Building metabolic support

MetaTonic – for horses whose main priority is supporting healthy metabolic function and insulin sensitivity.

- Supporting the wider horse

LKLCARE – where you'd like to support the liver–kidney–lymph axis alongside long-term metabolic management.

- Foundation support

Healthy metabolism starts with healthy nutrition. Supporting your horse's baseline nutrition with a forage-based mineral balancer such as VitaComplete or EquiVita helps provide the nutritional foundations that energy metabolism, hoof health, muscles, and connective tissues all depend upon.

*If you're not already feeding a mineral balancer, try one of our 1kg trial bags.

In summary

Use MetaCOMBO when your horse needs more than foundational metabolic support alone. Layer additional support around the individual horse, whether that's the body's natural housekeeping systems, nutritional foundations, or careful long-term management.

MetaCOMBO is a nutritional, functional food supplement and not veterinary medicine. For more on this, see Dr Kellon's article - Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy .

MetaCOMBO brings together EquiNatural's DuoBute , MetaTonic , & Acetyl L Carnitine as one convenient 3-in-1 blend.

Berberis vulgaris, Galium aperine, Foeniculum vulgare, Galega officinalis*, Crataegus oxycanthoides , Silybum marianum, Urtica dioca, Tabebuia impeteginosa, Smilax ornata, Acetyl L Carnitine, Filipendula ulmaria, & Salix alba

* Important Note

Due to the inclusion of Acetyl L-Carnitine, this blend can naturally attract moisture from the air. To keep the product in optimal condition, please ensure it is stored in a cool, dry place and kept sealed when not in use.

A slight softening or clumping can occur in more humid environments, but this does not affect the quality or effectiveness of the product.

Feed guide

• 12g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 60g for a 500kg horse.
• A level 75ml scoop = 14g.

♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.

When it comes to herbs and herbal formulations, you may have heard herbalists talk about energetics . It's simply the way we describe how a herb or formula has been designed to support the body in a balanced and purposeful way. The science helps us understand why that structure works.

MetaCOMBO is built around one simple observation.

How MetaCOMBO works

Rather than asking one product to do everything, each part of the programme has its own distinct role.

• Supporting metabolic regulation
  - MetaTonic forms the foundation, bringing together herbs traditionally used to support healthy glucose metabolism, hormonal balance, and the body's normal response to insulin.
• Supporting cellular energy production
  - Acetyl L-Carnitine helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they're used to produce energy. It's nutritional support for how cells access the fuel that's already available.
• Supporting everyday inflammatory balance
  - DuoBute provides botanical support for normal inflammatory processes, helping maintain everyday comfort where metabolic strain and tissue sensitivity have become part of the wider picture.

Together, these three areas support one connected metabolic system - helping the body regulate, fuel, and maintain itself more effectively.

Big picture

One of the things we've learned about the more complex metabolic horse is that they're rarely struggling with just one biological process.

Sometimes it's not about doing more - it's about supporting the right systems together.

Advisories

• Quality meadow hay , fed 24/7, is going to be your saviour here, to help maintain the beneficial hindgut microbiome.
• Contains natural salicylates ( Meadowsweet and Willow Bark ); use caution if the horse alongside NSAIDs.

Is MetaCOMBO the right choice for my horse?

If you've reached the point where you're thinking, "We've done everything we're supposed to do… so why is he still like this?" then MetaCOMBO is well worth considering.

Most of the owners who come to us have already cut the grass, soaked the hay, increased the exercise, and watched every calorie.

Yet the crest is still there, the fat pads are still there, and their horse still behaves as though they've never seen food before.

That's exactly the horse MetaCOMBO was created for.

What's the difference between MetaTonic and MetaCOMBO?

Think of MetaTonic as the place we usually start. For many horses, getting the forage right, balancing the minerals, and supporting healthy insulin function is enough to make a real difference.

But every so often we meet a horse where something still isn't adding up.

They're still permanently hungry, the crest refuses to budge, progress has stalled.

That's when we start thinking about the bigger metabolic picture, and that's where MetaCOMBO comes in.

It combines MetaTonic with additional support for cellular energy and everyday inflammatory balance, helping tackle some of the wider patterns we often see in the more complicated metabolic horse.

Why won't my horse's stubborn crest shift?

That's exactly the sort of horse MetaCOMBO was designed for.

Many owners come to us saying, "We've sorted the diet, the grass is under control, he's losing weight… but that crest just won't shift."

A stubborn crest often tells us there's more going on than simple weight gain. It's a sign that the body's wider metabolic conversations – involving hormones, cellular energy, and everyday inflammatory balance – need a little more support.

That's why MetaCOMBO brings together three complementary approaches rather than relying on metabolic support alone.

Of course, no supplement can outwork too much grass or inappropriate feeding, so careful forage management remains the foundation. But when those basics are already in place and the crest still seems determined to stay exactly where it is, MetaCOMBO is the next place we look.

Why is my horse always hungry?

This is probably one of the biggest clues we listen out for. Owners often tell us: "It's like he's hungry all the time."

That constant feeling of "still hungry" is part of a more complex metabolic picture - and one of the hormones we start thinking about here is leptin.

Its job is to tell the brain how much stored energy the body already has. When that conversation becomes less efficient, some horses seem to behave as though they're running on empty despite carrying plenty of fat reserves.

It's one of the reasons MetaCOMBO was developed.

What is leptin resistance?

Don't worry too much about the name. The important bit is understanding what it can look like.

A horse that's always hungry, a crest that refuses to soften, fat pads that seem glued on, weight that's incredibly difficult to shift.

Within the EquiNatural approach, we see leptin as another piece of the metabolic jigsaw. It adds another layer that can help explain why some horses seem much harder to manage than others.

Why have you included Acetyl L-Carnitine?

One of the fascinating things about metabolic horses is that they usually have plenty of stored fuel, so the problem isn't about having enough energy - it's more about making good use of the energy that's already there.

And that's where Acetyl L-Carnitine comes in, as it helps support the movement of fatty acids into the mitochondria - the tiny energy factories inside every cell.

Think of it as helping the horse make better use of the fuel already sitting in the tank.

Why have you included DuoBute?

The more metabolically challenged horses often aren't just carrying extra weight. They're also footy, uncomfortable, or generally less happy in their own skin.

That's why MetaCOMBO doesn't stop at metabolism. DuoBute adds gentle botanical support for everyday inflammatory balance, making it a really useful partner within the wider programme.

Can I feed MetaCOMBO alongside MetaTonic?

There's no need. MetaCOMBO already contains MetaTonic as one of its three key components.

It's simply the next step when your horse needs a little more than metabolic support alone.

Can MetaCOMBO be fed alongside LKLCARE?

Yes - they work perfectly together.

Whilst MetaCOMBO focuses on supporting metabolism and cellular energy, LKLCARE supports the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system - the body's natural housekeeping network.

Many owners choose to use both together as part of a wider metabolic support plan.

How long does MetaCOMBO take to work?

Every horse is different, so there's no magic number.

Some owners tell us they notice little changes surprisingly quickly. Others describe a much steadier journey over several months.

The important thing is to think of MetaCOMBO as part of a bigger picture - quality meadow grass forage, appropriate exercise, a balanced mineral foundation.

And then giving the body time to respond.

Can MetaCOMBO be fed long term?

Yes - in fact, many of our clients do. Metabolic horses don't suddenly stop being metabolic.

Once you've found something that's helping your horse stay comfortable, hold a healthier shape, and generally feel more like themselves again, it often becomes part of their everyday routine.

We'll always encourage you to review your horse as the seasons change, but many owners choose to feed MetaCOMBO as part of their longer-term management.

Do I still need a mineral balancer?

Absolutely. In fact, we'd say it's one of the most important parts of the whole programme.

Healthy metabolism relies on good nutritional foundations. That's why we always recommend a forage-based mineral balancer such as EquiVita or VitaComplete alongside MetaCOMBO.

You can think of the mineral balancer as building the foundations, whilst MetaCOMBO helps support the more complex metabolic conversations happening above them.

Is MetaCOMBO suitable for every horse with EMS?

Some horses do brilliantly with MetaTonic alone. Others need nothing more than good forage management and appropriate exercise.

MetaCOMBO is really for the horses where the story has become a little more complicated - the permanently "hangry" horse, the stubborn crest, the horse that's making you question everything because you're doing everything right, yet progress has ground to a halt.

Those are the horses we had in mind when we created it.