Welcome to part 2. We’re revisiting the complex world of muscle myopathies, specifically focusing on Myofibrillar Myopathy (MFM) in both Arabian and Warmblood horses. If you missed our previous episodes on PSSM Type 1 and the initial breakdown of other muscle myopathies, we highly recommend you go back and catch up. In this episode Dr. Katie Young, a leading equine nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, returns to help us navigate the nuances of MFM-ER in Arabians, characterized by elevated muscle enzymes and desmin aggregates, and MFM-WB in Warmbloods, which presents with performance issues without elevated enzymes. Specifically, we discuss:
- Diagnostic differences between conditions,
- The progressive nature of MFM in Warmbloods, and what it means for diagnosing younger horses versus older horses.
- What we think the metabolic issues are that cause these conditions and how these differ significantly from PSSM, RER and MFM.
- Specific feeding recommendations for each conditions based on their metabolic differences.
- Common misconceptions about high-fat diets, and play a game of “Feed that Horse!” to apply what we’ve learned to real-life scenarios.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of muscle myopathies and provide practical advice for managing these conditions.
https://ker.com/ – KER discount code: CT001
Kentucky Equine Research https://ker.com/nmdl/resources/
Pagan JD, Valberg SJ. The Role of Nutrition in Managing Muscle Disorders. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2025 Apr;41(1):151-163. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2024.11.007. Epub 2025 Jan 27. PMID: 39875249.
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Thanks for riding along with us!