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Ward AB, Harris PA, Argo CM, Watson CA, Burns NM, Neacsu M, Russell WR, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. Confidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292886. [PMID: 37824555 PMCID: PMC10569591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Native ponies are at increased risk of obesity and metabolic perturbations, such as insulin dysregulation (ID), a key risk factor for endocrinopathic laminitis. Management and feeding practices can be adapted to maintain healthy body condition and support metabolic health, but owners may inadvertently provide their ponies with inappropriate management leading to obesity and exacerbating risk of metabolic disease. Adoption of preventative weight management approaches (WMAs), including regular monitoring of body condition, providing appropriate preserved forage, promoting seasonal weight loss, and using exercise accordingly, are key in supporting native ponies' metabolic health. The factors influencing the adoption of WMAs, such as owners' experience and confidence, require exploration. The aim of the current study was to understand factors influencing owners' likelihood to undertake certain WMAs, to develop our understanding of suitable intervention targets. A total of 571 responses to an online cross-sectional questionnaire were analysed. Mediation analysis revealed that whilst long term (≥20 years) experience caring for native ponies was associated with owners increased, self-reported confidence in identifying disease and managing their native ponies, this did not translate to an increased likelihood of implementing WMAs. Conversely, respondents who managed ponies with dietary requirements related to obesity, laminitis, or equine metabolic syndrome were more likely to use WMAs related to feeding, seasonal weight management and exercise. Owner confidence was assessed and rejected as a mediator of the relationship between experience and WMA use. These results highlight the need for further work that elucidates the pathways leading owners to undertake action against obesity without the need for ponies to develop overt disease, as well as suggesting a need for long term managers of native ponies to update management practices with preventative care as the focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B. Ward
- Scotland’s Rural College, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia A. Harris
- Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Neil M. Burns
- Department of Rural Economy, Environment and Society, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Madalina Neacsu
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy R. Russell
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Dai Grove-White
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Wirral, United Kingdom
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Moore-Colyer M, Westacott A, Rousson L, Harris P, Daniels S. Where Are We Now? Feeds, Feeding Systems and Current Knowledge of UK Horse Owners When Feeding Haylage to Their Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081280. [PMID: 37106843 PMCID: PMC10135377 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite our improved understanding of equid digestive health and accurate rations formulations, obesity in the UK horse population remains high. Study aims: (1) to determine how owners are feeding their horses and what influences their choices, (2) to understand owners' knowledge of haylage and (3) to identify key areas that require additional education. Data were collected in 2020 from 1338 UK horse owners via two online surveys. Survey 1 was on general feeding practices, and Survey 2 was specifically on the feeding of haylage. Data were processed using chi square analyses + Bonferroni tests, with a significance p < 0.05. Equal numbers of leisure and performance horse owners completed both surveys. For Survey 1, 67% fed hay as the only forage, 30% fed forage (hay/haylage) + balancer, 36% fed haylage and hay to manage energy intake, 84% added a cube or coarse mix, 88% did not do forage analyses, 74% did not see the need for it and 16% did not know analyses could be done. In Survey 2, those who were not feeding haylage, 66% were not sure how to feed it, 68% worried about aerobic spoilage and 79% said the bale size was unsuitable. Body weight measurements (Survey 1 and Survey 2) were rarely performed (11%). Aspects of ration formulations, the value of feed analyses and how to interchange hay and haylage require additional education to owners for improved ration compilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriel Moore-Colyer
- School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Road, Cirencester GL7 6JS, UK
| | - Amy Westacott
- School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Road, Cirencester GL7 6JS, UK
| | | | - Patricia Harris
- Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham-on-the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
| | - Simon Daniels
- School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Road, Cirencester GL7 6JS, UK
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Uldahl M, Dahl J, Clayton HM. Body Condition Score in Danish Horses Related to Type, Use, and Training Level: Patterns, Risk, and Protective Factors. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071219. [PMID: 37048475 PMCID: PMC10093332 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Body condition in horses is a growing concern that has different patterns of development in horses that are above and below the ideal range. This study used professional and para-professional evaluators (veterinarians, farriers, trainers, Danish Equestrian Federation (DEF) officials) who were trained and certified in the use of a modified Henneke scoring system to assign a body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1–9. Scores of 5–6 are regarded as ideal, and 78.6% of the evaluated horses were in these groups. Only 4.8% of horses were below ideal BCS but 16.5% were above ideal BCS, and this was influenced by type, age, and training. A significant protective effect towards above ideal BCS was shown for horses trained at higher intensities. Cold-blooded horses and traditional ponies had increased risk for being above ideal BCS. Although BCS increased with age, a large proportion of geriatric horses were both above and below ideal BCS. Discipline was not related to BCS. Patterns of BCS distribution for horses attended by different professionals were investigated. Veterinarians attended more horses with BCS above and below ideal values, farriers mostly saw horses that were above ideal BCS, and officials at competitions mainly saw horses with ideal BCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Uldahl
- Vejle Equine Practice, Fasanvej 12, 7120 Vejle Øst, Denmark
| | - Jan Dahl
- Jan Dahl Consult, Østrupvej 89, 4350 Ugerløse, Denmark
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Busechian S, Turini L, Sgorbini M, Pieramati C, Pisello L, Orvieto S, Rueca F. Are Horse Owners Able to Estimate Their Animals' Body Condition Score and Cresty Neck Score? Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100544. [PMID: 36288157 PMCID: PMC9611487 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and overconditioning are becoming more prevalent in horses, and are influencing the animal's health, activity, and reproductive efficiency. Body condition score (BCS) and cresty neck score (CNS) have been correlated with the development of various diseases. Many of the papers in the literature evaluate the prevalence of obesity and overconditioning in horse populations considering BCS given by owners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the owners' estimation of the degree of equine obesity or overconditioning by comparing BCS and CNS provided by each owner and a board-certified vet to a cohort of 259 horses and their agreement based on age, breed, sex, and activity of the animals. Overconditioning was present in 29% and 24% of horses according to the owners and the vet, respectively, and obesity in 2% and 1%, respectively. Agreement between BCS and CNS given by the owners and the vet was slight, with owners scoring horses either lower or higher than the vet. Agreement between the owners and the vet assessment was also influenced by age, breed, sex, and activity of the animals. Education of owners and caretakers to correctly assess BCS and CNS and regular evaluation of the animals throughout the year is important to prevent the development of obesity and overconditioning and related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Busechian
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Luca Turini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Micaela Sgorbini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Camillo Pieramati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pisello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Rueca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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Galinelli NC, Bailey SR, Bamford NJ, Harris PA. Nutritional considerations for the management of equine pituitary
pars intermedia
dysfunction. EQUINE VET EDUC 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eve.13593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. C. Galinelli
- Melbourne Veterinary School The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - S. R. Bailey
- Melbourne Veterinary School The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - N. J. Bamford
- Melbourne Veterinary School The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - P. A. Harris
- Equine Studies Group Waltham Petcare Science Institute Melton Mowbray UK
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