Open AccessPrevalence of Overconditioning in Mature Horses in Southwest Virginia during the Summer
Author(s) -
Thatcher C.D.,
Pleasant R.S.,
Geor R.J.,
Elvinger F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00995.x
Subject(s) - withers , medicine , breed , obesity , horse , population , body mass index , circumference , zoology , veterinary medicine , body weight , demography , biology , paleontology , geometry , mathematics , environmental health , sociology
Background The prevalence of obesity in horses in the eastern U nited States is not well documented. Objective To determine body condition and risk factors for obesity in horses in S outhwest V irginia during summer. Animals A sample of 300 mature (4–20 years old), light breed horses (140 mares, 151 geldings, and 9 stallions) from the VMRCVM E quine F ield S ervice practice equine database. The horses were from 114 farms and 138 owners. Methods Horses were evaluated over a 60‐day period in this cross‐sectional, prospective study. A questionnaire was completed for each horse. Body condition score ( BCS ) was assigned using a scale of 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) by 2 independent scorers. Morphometric measurements included average neck circumference ( ANC ), girth, body length, and height at the withers. Horses were categorized based on BCS as underconditioned ( BCS < 4), optimal condition ( BCS 4–6), overconditioned ( BCS 7), and obese condition ( BCS 8–9). Results Five horses (1.7%) were underconditioned, 142 horses (47.3%) were optimally conditioned, 97 horses (32.3%) were overconditioned, and 56 (18.7%) were obese. Estimated body weight ( EBW ) ( r = 0.14, P = .015), body mass index ( BMI ) ( r = 0.46, P < .001), and neck circumference to height ratio ( NCHR ) ( r = 0.50, P = .001) increased with increasing BCS . Conclusions and Clinical Importance The prevalence of overconditioned and obese horses in this population was higher than reported in previous studies and indicates that obesity might be an emerging problem in horses.