“It is excellent that research like this is under way” H&H vet Karen CoumbeMost cases of laminitis are related to high levels of insulin in the blood. In many, it is triggered by an equine eating enough non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) or “starch and sugar” to raise insulin levels. Spring grass was shown to contain consistently high levels of NSC through the day and overnight, resulting in high insulin levels in horses with insulin dysregulation (ID) and some non-ID horses. In late summer, NSC levels in grass peaked at 7pm and were lowest early in the morning. Grazing muzzles may help reduce insulin response in some horses, although their effectiveness varies between individuals and may be influenced by grass NSC levels.