The pituitary is a small gland at the bottom of the brain that regulates many hormones in the horse. Without it, the body of every mammal (horse and human) would become unbalanced and eventually destroy itself. And it is only the size of a pea!

The pituitary disease in horses is called PPID or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. But I can’t entirely agree that the pituitary is “dysfunctioning.” Instead, it is functioning perfectly – but a neurodegenerative disease overworks the gland, causing several diseases in horses, most notably Cushing’s Disease but also diabetes insipidus and a non-shedding hair coat.

Join me as I discuss what this tiny organ does to horses, my ideas as to why it often becomes broken, and why the term “Cushing’s” is a hot button for Doc T.

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