METATONIC *Organic herbal blend for horses - EMS-managing, insulin-balancing, metabolism-supporting

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) has been widely recognised since the mid-2000s, often linked to obesity, fat deposits, and chronic laminitis. However, research shows that even non-obese horses can develop insulin resistance (IR), making careful dietary management essential.

Sensitive horses struggle with carbohydrate-rich diets, especially from lush grass loaded with natural sugars. These sugars, if unmanaged, can trigger a cascade of metabolic issues- from inflammation to insulin resistance and even laminitis.

MetaTonic provides targeted nutritional support to help manage these challenges naturally and effectively.

Notable key benefits

🌿 Helps balance EMS/IR metabolic challenges.

🌿 Supports hoof integrity and recovery from laminitis.

🌿 Aids hormone balance and circulation.

🌿 Maintains a healthy hindgut environment and liver function.

🌿 Nutrient-rich with naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

For the latest EMS insights, see our A-Z Equine Condition/EMS/IR page in the Advice Centre above.

MetaTonic is formulated for horses navigating EMS, insulin resistance, cresty neck changes, or the early metabolic warning signs that often precede laminitis. If your horse struggles with any of the patterns below, MetaTonic is very likely the right fit.

🌿 Ideal for horses who…

• Show metabolic sensitivities such as a firm crest, fat pads, or fluctuating weight despite a careful diet.
• Experience spring or autumn flare-ups linked to rich grass, weather shifts, or stress.
• Have had laminitis before and need ongoing nutritional support for metabolic stability and hoof comfort.
• Show inconsistent digital pulses, warm feet, or sensitive soles - even without a full laminitic episode.
• Are on a low-NSC diet but still struggle with energy dips, inflammation flare-ups, or slow recovery
• Become footy or less forward during sugar spikes, weather swings, or stabling changes.
• Have a history of EMS/IR diagnosed by your vet and need daily support for steadier glucose–insulin rhythms.

If your horse feels cresty and/or foot-sore, MetaTonic offers a targeted, natural way to stabilise the metabolic axis.

⚠️ Not suitable for horses who…

• Are pregnant or nursing, due to hormonally active or cleansing botanicals (e.g., Galega, Smilax, Berberis, Lapacho ).
• Are on steroid medication (including inhalers) or prescription metabolic medication, unless under veterinary guidance.
• Are experiencing an acute laminitic episode - stabilise the emergency phase first, then introduce MetaTonic during the recovery window (when the horse is comfortably walking for at least two weeks)

Which blend - MetaTonic, Acetyl L-Carnitine, or MetaCOMBO?

Each plays a distinct role in metabolic balance:

→ MetaTonic - Your foundational daily metabolic support. Ideal for EMS/IR horses needing help with crest firmness, circulation, hoof comfort, toxin load, and stable glucose–insulin rhythms.

→ Acetyl L-Carnitine - Invaluable for cresty-neck tension, stubborn regional fat pads, and leptin-resistant patterns - supports fatty-acid utilisation and metabolic flexibility.

→ MetaCOMBO - The ultimate 3-in-1 support system for EMS horses, combining MetaTonic + Acetyl L-Carnitine + DuoBute into one comprehensive blend. Perfect for horses with inflammation + metabolic sensitivity + crest/neck tension/leptin resistance.

If your horse is showing combined signs of sugar sensitivity, footiness, crest changes, or metabolically-linked inflammation, MetaCOMBO is the best place to start.

Each herb in MetaTonic supports the body’s natural glucose–insulin balance, healthy circulation, liver function, and hindgut stability - key pillars for metabolic harmony.

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

Composition Glossary

1. Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) - A naturally bitter, biome-balancing herb traditionally used to support metabolic harmony. Its alkaloid-rich profile helps maintain a healthy gut–liver axis, supporting clearer glucose signalling and steadier insulin patterns - key for EMS/IR horses.
2. Galium aparine (Cleavers) - A gentle lymphatic tonic that supports fluid balance and toxin clearance. Helps ease metabolic congestion and assists the body’s natural elimination pathways.
3. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) - A soothing carminative that supports digestion, comfort, and smooth gut motility. Helps counter gas, tension, and digestive disruption often seen in insulin-resistant horses, while offering antioxidant nourishment.
4. Galega officinalis (Goat’s Rue) - A historic metabolic-support herb known for its role in balancing glucose handling. Traditionally used to support healthy insulin dynamics, Galega offers targeted nutritional reassurance for EMS and leptin-resistant horses. Ecologically grown for us - biodynamic & organic.
5. Crataegus oxyacanthoides (Hawthorn) - A time-honoured circulatory botanical that supports healthy blood flow to hooves and peripherals. Its gentle tonifying action helps nourish the hoof capsule, supporting long-term metabolic resilience.
6. Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) - Renowned for liver nourishment, supporting detoxification pathways and cellular protection, helping the liver process metabolic waste more efficiently - an essential pillar of EMS care.
7. Urtica dioica (Nettle) - Nutrient-dense, rich in plant-based minerals, chlorophyll, and natural antioxidants. Supports metabolism and circulation, alongside cleansing support to the kidneys and lymphatic system.
8. Tabebuia impetiginosa (Lapacho/Pau d’Arco) - A powerful botanical known to support microbial balance, helping maintain a healthy internal terrain, complementing the metabolic, inflammatory, and immune aspects of EMS management.
9. Smilax ornata (Sarsaparilla) - A harmonising herb that supports toxin clearance and maintains a balanced internal environment. Traditionally used to aid skin, hoof, and metabolic health - especially beneficial for the adipose fat crest areas and glucose sensitivity.

Feed Guide

🌿Organic Dried Herb Blend

Human grade, produced to ecological standards and free from agro-chemicals. See our Quality page for Organic Certification Documents.

• Feed 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
• 1 x level 75ml scoop = 12-grams.

💧Organic Tincture Blend

• Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Human grade.
• ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
• 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.

Advisories

• Feed alongside a low-NSC, fibre-based diet with 24/7 access to quality meadow hay, to support stable glucose and insulin rhythms.
• Consider pairing MetaTonic with Acetyl L-Carnitine(for crest/neck tension and metabolic fatty-acid utilisation) and DuoBute(for inflammatory comfort during EMS flare-ups). See our MetaCOMBO .
• Support circulation and hoof function through daily movement, even in-hand, to encourage glucose uptake via muscle pathways.
• Monitor body condition, water intake, digital pulses, and crest firmness during the first weeks as the metabolic axis responds.

Contraindications

• Not suitable for pregnant or nursing mares due to hormonally active and cleansing botanicals (e.g., Galega, Smilax, Berberis, Lapacho).
• Use caution alongside prescription metabolic medications, steroid medications, or hormone-modifying drugs; veterinary guidance is advised.
• Not advised during an acute laminitic episode- stabilise the acute phase first (ice, vet, strict forage-only regime), then introduce MetaTonic during recovery once your horse has been comfortably walking for at least 2-weeks.
• Not recommended for horses with significant hepatic compromise unless under professional supervision, as cleansing herbs increase liver workload.

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