Why Keeping Records Helps Manage EMS/Cushing’s and Laminitis

When your horse is diagnosed with EMS, Cushing's disease or laminitis, life can suddenly become very complicated. One day you're simply caring for your horse as usual. The next, you're trying to remember medication doses, monitor grazing time, check digital pulses, weigh hay, schedule blood tests and follow veterinary advice. It can feel overwhelming.

Many owners quickly discover that managing these conditions isn't about one big decision. It's about hundreds of small ones made every day. And often, the difference between improvement and setback lies in details that are easy to forget. Keeping records may seem like a simple task, but it can become one of the most valuable tools in protecting your horse's health—and their feet.

The Problem with Relying on Memory

Most of us assume we'll remember important information. We tell ourselves we'll remember when the medication changed, when the last blood test was taken, or exactly when the horse became footy. But weeks and months pass quickly. Questions begin to appear:

• When did the weight gain start?
• Has the digital pulse been stronger recently?
• Did the medication change before or after the last blood test?
• Was the grass particularly rich during the last flare-up?
• How long has the horse been wearing those pads?
• When was the farrier visit?

Without written records, it can be surprisingly difficult to spot what has changed.

Small Changes Often Matter Most

EMS, Cushing's disease and laminitis rarely remain completely static. Small changes can occur gradually:

• Slight weight gain.
• Increasing cresty neck.
• Stronger digital pulses.
• Reduced movement.
• Changes in drinking or eating habits.
• Seasonal changes in grass growth.
• Adjustments to medication.
• Changes in turnout.

Individually, these changes may not seem significant. Together, they can help explain why a horse improves, remains stable, or experiences another laminitis episode. Keeping records allows owners to spot patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. This where I partly went wrong – I was relying on my own (rather inefficient) memory and had information stored on emails that got lost into the ether or got left behind on devices that were being upgraded or replaced. I think nothing beats a good record book.

The EMS/Cushing's/Laminitis Journal

Patterns Help Prevent Problems

Now, if I had had access to something tailor made for what I was trying to mage, I could have looked back at these notes very easily and tracked certain symptoms and behaviours;

 

Perhaps foot soreness appears every spring, maybe digital pulses become stronger after increased turnout, perhaps weight gain starts during periods of restricted exercise.These observations can be incredibly valuable. The earlier a problem is recognised, the earlier management changes can be made. While no diary can prevent every laminitis episode, recognising trends may help owners take action sooner.

Better Communication With Your Vet and Farrier

Veterinarians and farriers often rely on owner observations between appointments. Being able to say: "His digital pulses have been stronger for the past five days." Or "He has gained  20 kilograms since March." provides far more useful information than trying to remember events from several weeks ago. Accurate records can help your veterinary team understand what is happening and make informed decisions about treatment, medication and management. It also helps everyone involved work together more effectively.

Tracking Progress Matters Too

When caring for a horse with EMS, Cushing's disease or laminitis, it can sometimes feel as though progress is painfully slow. Owners often focus on setbacks while overlooking improvements. Written records can reveal positive changes that are easy to miss:

• Weight loss over several months.
• Improved comfort levels.
• Better digital pulses.
• Increased movement.
• More stable blood results.
• Successful management through difficult seasons.

Looking back can provide reassurance that the hard work is making a difference. These small victories deserve to be recognised.

Turning Information into Action

Keeping records does not need to be complicated. The most useful information often includes:

• Weight or weight tape measurements.
• Body condition scores.
• Digital pulse checks.
• Medication doses.
• Blood test results.
• Farrier appointments.
• Turnout times.
• Exercise sessions.
• Changes in diet.
• Signs of discomfort or soreness.
• Added complications

Having everything in one place makes it easier to identify trends, monitor progress and make informed decisions.

A Simple Tool for Daily Management

Many owners discover that having a dedicated place to record information brings a sense of control during what can otherwise feel like a very uncertain time. The EMS/Cushing's Laminitis Journal was created to help owners keep important information together, monitor changes over time and support conversations with their veterinary team. It isn't about creating extra work. It's about making the information you already collect easier to use. Because sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest difference.

Final Thoughts

Managing EMS, Cushing's disease and laminitis is a long journey. No owner can remember everything. But by recording the details, tracking changes and recognising patterns, you give yourself the best possible opportunity to support your horse's health. And sometimes, those records may help protect the one thing every owner wants to preserve most: their horse's soundness and comfort.

Explore our Journal for helping horse owners keep on top of these three conditions