Metabonomic analysis is a powerful tool for identifying and characterizing metabolic disorders, for example type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an essential tool for such analysis, with special benefits. The review assesses the current status and potential of NMR-based metabonomics of type 2 diabetes. The horse is proposed as a possible model for studying this condition and disease. Some examples are shown of horse blood analyses by NMR.