Obesity: What the Research Says

Evidence from 111 peer-reviewed studies

8 RCT

53 Cohort Study

11 Case Report

39 Expert Opinion

What Professionals Should Know

•Hay nets can be safely implemented to reduce hay waste and manage bodyweight/body condition without compromising dental health
•Horses consuming hay from nets did not show increased dental wear or abnormalities, addressing a common concern about restrictive feeding practices
•Consider hay nets as a practical management tool for mature horses where feed efficiency and weight control are priorities
•Implement strip grazing with a lead fence moved daily to effectively control pony weight gain and prevent obesity—reduces dry matter intake by approximately 20-30% compared to unrestricted paddock access
•Adding a back fence to strip grazing (SG2) provides additional control over pasture intake and morphometric changes, with no significant difference in weight outcomes compared to lead fence only (SG1)
•Monitor body condition and girth measurements as practical tools to assess grazing management effectiveness; unrestricted grazing produced substantial increases in condition score and girth measurements within 28 days
•A structured weight loss program combining diet restriction to 1.4% body weight and prescribed exercise is effective and safe for overweight horses, achieving measurable weight loss without adverse outcomes.
•Weight loss improves intestinal microbial diversity and overall intestinal health markers, which may have long-term benefits for metabolic health and disease prevention in obese horses.
•Even the control group (maintenance diet with foraging-mimic exercise) showed improved blood pressure and metabolomic changes, suggesting that any increase in appropriate activity level benefits equine cardiovascular health.
•Exercise-based weight loss protocols may offer metabolic advantages over diet restriction alone, particularly for improving insulin sensitivity—consider recommending exercise as part of obesity management in practice
•Both approaches achieved similar morphometric improvements, so diet restriction remains a viable option when exercise is contraindicated, though metabolic benefits may be inferior
•Neck circumference measurement appears more sensitive to exercise effects than other morphometric measures, potentially useful for monitoring exercise-based weight loss programs
•Obesity itself may not be the primary driver of insulin resistance in horses—other dietary or management factors warrant investigation before assuming overweight horses are inevitably insulin-dysregulated
•High-fat diets did not confer metabolic protection against obesity-related insulin changes, challenging assumptions that low-glycaemic feeding prevents insulin problems in obese individuals
•Once-daily glucose feeding unexpectedly improved insulin sensitivity markers; feeding patterns and meal frequency may be more important metabolic factors than previously recognized
•Severe energy restriction (60% MERob) achieves weight loss goals more rapidly than moderate restriction in obese Shetland ponies, without apparent welfare compromise (no ulcers or behavioural issues observed)
•Both moderate and severe energy restriction protocols produced measurable changes in body condition and morphometric parameters, allowing practitioners to tailor restriction intensity to individual client goals and horse tolerance
•Individual baseline maintenance energy requirements must be established before implementing restriction protocols to ensure accurate feeding targets
•Chromium and magnesium supplements alone do not improve insulin sensitivity or aid weight loss in obese laminitic horses—alternative management strategies are needed
•Hyperinsulinaemia is highly prevalent in this population; clinicians should not rely on these supplements as a primary intervention for insulin resistance
•Further research is required to establish effective nutraceutical or pharmacological approaches for managing insulin resistance in horses
•When weight gain is necessary (rehabilitation, sales prep), consider fat and fibre-based supplements over high-starch concentrates to minimise systemic inflammation and associated metabolic stress
•Body condition score alone does not predict inflammatory state—diet quality matters; two horses at the same BCS may have different inflammatory profiles depending on what they're eating
•High-NSC commercial concentrates may trigger metabolic inflammation in Thoroughbreds even before obesity develops, suggesting diet choice is important for metabolic health prevention
•Monitor pasture NSC levels seasonally and restrict grazing access during high-risk periods (typically spring flush and stressed growth conditions) for horses with laminitis history or metabolic dysfunction
•Obese, sedentary horses require closer nutritional management year-round, with particular attention to spring and high-stress growth periods when NSC concentrations spike
•Prevention through seasonal grazing management is significantly more cost-effective and humane than treating established laminitis cases
•Overweight horses (higher BCS) show structural changes in the oropharynx and nasopharynx that may predispose to upper airway obstruction similar to conditions seen in obese humans and brachycephalic dogs—weight management may be important for airway health
•Larger tongues are associated with increased soft palate angles, suggesting tongue size contributes to airway geometry; monitor heavier horses and those with suspected enlarged tongues for potential breathing difficulties
•These findings suggest obesity-related upper airway changes in horses warrant further clinical investigation to determine if they cause respiratory symptoms or exercise intolerance in practice
•Don't assume all overweight horses are metabolically abnormal—check insulin and glucose levels; obesity and hyperinsulinemia are independent risk factors requiring separate management strategies
•Hyperinsulinemia appears to be the primary driver of metabolic dysfunction rather than weight alone; focus diagnostic and management efforts on insulin status regardless of body condition
•Laminitis cases showed unexpected metabolic patterns (lower glucose, higher IGF-1); consider individual biochemical profiling rather than relying solely on body weight or condition scoring
•Current EMS diagnosis relies on limited tools (basal insulin, OST); new plasma biomarkers may offer more reliable detection in field settings
•Understanding EMS pathophysiology at the protein level may lead to better preventive strategies and earlier intervention before laminitis develops
•Consider that multiple factors (diet, age, stress, season, medications) affect insulin testing—new biomarkers could provide more consistent results
•Monitor adiponectin and insulin response in native-breed ponies on pasture, as obesity-independent insulin dysregulation can develop rapidly; six of seven ponies developed problematic adiponectin levels despite starting with normal baseline insulin
•Pasture management is critical for insulin sensitivity—avoid both overgrazed short grass and rank lush growth; intermediate pasture quality appears optimal for maintaining tissue insulin sensitivity
•Ponies can develop insulin dysregulation and laminitis risk factors before reaching obese body condition scores (ID appeared at BCS 7/9), so early metabolic screening is warranted during weight gain phases
•Criollo horses in morphological events represent a high-risk population for laminitis development due to excessive body condition and associated hoof changes; farriers should monitor distal phalanx descent and hoof angle closely in this population
•Universal presence of tarsal joint degeneration in this cohort suggests that intensive management promoting early adiposity in young/competing horses may predispose to early-onset osteoarthritis
•Body fat management is critical not only for metabolic health but also for preventing musculoskeletal complications; nutrition and conditioning protocols should prioritize weight control in Criollo breeding/showing programs
•Connemara ponies show high prevalence of obesity and metabolic dysfunction; breed-specific screening and management protocols should be considered routine practice
•Oral sugar testing detected hyperinsulinaemia more effectively than basal insulin measurement alone—clinicians should use both methods for comprehensive assessment in at-risk ponies
•Nearly half of these ponies have laminitis history; aggressive weight management and metabolic monitoring are essential preventive strategies for this breed
•BCI offers a more objective and repeatable alternative to subjective body condition scoring, particularly useful for staff with limited experience in condition assessment
•BCI appears more sensitive than traditional BCS for tracking weight changes in individual animals over time, supporting early detection of unwanted weight gain or loss
•Current BCI method may need refinement for Shetland and miniature ponies due to their distinctive body proportions—use caution or seek validation before applying to these breeds
•Obesity assessment in native-breed ponies should consider adiponectin status as part of metabolic syndrome evaluation, as dysregulation may contribute to laminitis risk independent of insulin alone
•Weight management and metabolic monitoring are critical preventive strategies, as insulin dysregulation occurs in all affected animals and may be linked to adiponectin abnormalities
•Veterinarians should consider adiponectin testing alongside traditional insulin and glucose assessments when evaluating obese ponies for metabolic syndrome risk
•Arthrospira-based feed additive enriched with chromium, magnesium, and manganese may help manage insulin resistance and weight in metabolically affected horses as part of a comprehensive EMS management program
•This supplement shows promise for reducing inflammatory markers and improving body condition in horses with EMS, potentially reducing reliance on other management interventions
•Consider this as a complementary strategy alongside diet management and exercise for horses struggling with metabolic syndrome
•Monitor vitamin D status in horses, particularly those with metabolic or endocrine disorders, as deficiency may contribute to disease pathogenesis
•Consider seasonal variations and management factors (likely pasture turnout and sun exposure) when assessing vitamin D adequacy in individual horses
•Further research is needed to establish optimal vitamin D supplementation strategies and target concentrations for horses
•EMS is highly prevalent in Nigeria affecting 43% of sampled horses; farriers and veterinarians should screen horses for laminitis signs (divergent rings, widened white lines) and conduct insulin testing to identify at-risk individuals
•Obesity is the primary modifiable risk factor, but not all EMS cases are obese—ensure regular exercise beyond walking only, with frequency at least monthly rather than every 5 months, as infrequent exercise significantly increases EMS risk
•West African Barb breed and stallions require heightened vigilance for metabolic issues; examine for abnormal neck crest as a clinical indicator and avoid constant tethering management that limits movement
•Ponies with insulin dysregulation have disproportionately elevated biologically active cortisol relative to total cortisol, suggesting breed-specific hormonal mechanisms that may require different monitoring or management strategies
•Baseline ACTH is naturally higher in healthy ponies, so reference ranges should not be directly compared between horses and ponies when evaluating HPA axis function
•Assessment of insulin dysregulation risk in ponies should consider that breed-related hormonal differences may amplify cortisol's antagonistic effects on insulin signaling
•Forage choice (hay vs haylage) has measurable effects on gut microbial communities and metabolic profiles in ponies, which may influence health outcomes and weight management
•For ponies prone to weight gain, understanding these metabolic and microbial differences could inform feed selection decisions to support better metabolic health
•The distinct urinary biomarkers (hippurate and ethyl-glucoside) associated with each forage type suggest different metabolic pathways are activated, warranting further investigation into long-term health implications
•NEFA levels may serve as a practical biomarker for identifying metabolic dysfunction in overweight horses, complementing visual assessment tools like body condition and cresty neck scoring
•Adipokines (omentin and chemerin) warrant investigation as additional diagnostic markers for equine metabolic syndrome across different breeds to improve early detection
•Clustering analysis revealed distinct metabolic phenotypes; understanding these relationships could help tailor nutritional and management interventions for individual horses
•Obese horses with insulin dysregulation have increased clotting tendency, which may elevate thromboembolism risk—weight management and metabolic control become cardiovascular risk reduction strategies
•Body condition assessment is relevant to thrombotic risk; horses scoring ≥7.5/9 on the Henneke scale warrant metabolic evaluation and closer clinical monitoring
•Consider hypercoagulability as an additional systemic consequence of equine obesity and metabolic syndrome when assessing comorbidity risk in these patients
•Resting plasma amino acid concentrations, particularly citrulline, GABA, and methionine, differ significantly between obese horses and those with insulin dysregulation and laminitis, potentially offering a new diagnostic tool for laminitis risk assessment
•These findings suggest amino acid metabolism is altered in hyperinsulinemic states and laminitis, which may warrant investigation of targeted dietary supplementation strategies for at-risk horses
•Current evidence is preliminary; larger prospective studies are needed before plasma amino acid profiling can be reliably used in clinical practice for laminitis prediction or prevention
•Resistin measurement may be useful as a biomarker for inflammatory status in horses with metabolic conditions, but should not be used as a standalone indicator of insulin dysregulation severity
•Horses presenting with metabolic syndrome should be evaluated for concurrent inflammatory conditions, as resistin elevations suggest inflammation-driven pathology rather than pure metabolic dysfunction
•Serum amyloid A measurement alongside resistin may provide complementary inflammatory markers for monitoring horses with metabolic and inflammatory disorders
•Obese horses develop elevated blood pressure and cortisol levels that persist even after pasture access, suggesting these metabolic changes may require active management strategies beyond weight loss alone
•Pasture turnout improved insulin sensitivity in obese mares despite persistent hypertension and cortisol elevation, indicating multi-system benefits of exercise and grazing
•Monitor blood pressure and cortisol in obese horses as independent risk factors; improvements in one parameter do not guarantee normalization of others
•Overfeeding high-energy diets to ponies produces measurable cardiovascular changes within 1-2 years; monitor body condition and caloric intake carefully to prevent metabolic disease progression
•Blood pressure and cardiac wall thickness changes appear to develop sequentially in equine metabolic syndrome, suggesting early intervention before structural cardiac changes could be beneficial
•The absence of arrhythmias despite hypertrophy and hypertension indicates subclinical disease may be present—regular cardiovascular assessment is warranted in obese/overfed horses even without clinical signs
•Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are modifiable risk factors; increasing exercise and pasture time can reduce EMS risk and laminitis incidence in susceptible ponies
•Screen female native ponies and cobs aged 3-14 years with a history of laminitis for EMS, as they carry substantially elevated risk
•Monitor hoof growth rings and supraorbital fat scores as clinical indicators of EMS; these are more frequent in affected animals and warrant further investigation
•Overfeeding horses rapidly induces metabolic dysfunction including elevated cholesterol and insulin dysregulation within 5 months, indicating feed management is critical for metabolic health
•Monitor blood biomarkers (cholesterol, lipoproteins, fructosamine) and glucose tolerance testing in horses receiving high-calorie diets to detect early metabolic changes before clinical disease develops
•Restrict caloric intake in horses to prevent obesity-related metabolic complications; even moderately overweight horses (BCS 2.9) can develop significant lipid and insulin abnormalities
•Obese donkeys are at higher risk of developing dyslipidemia during periods of negative energy balance (illness, fasting, stress), requiring proactive nutritional management and monitoring
•Monitor plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels in obese donkeys under metabolic stress, as they mobilize fat faster than lean animals and may require intervention to prevent severe dyslipidemia
•Body condition management in donkeys is critical for metabolic health—obesity increases vulnerability to energy-deficit conditions that trigger pathological lipid mobilization
•Avoid overfeeding breeding mares—excessive energy intake increases embryonic loss risk even when outward fertility markers appear normal
•Extended cyclicity in overfed mares may appear beneficial but masks underlying reproductive dysfunction and compromised embryo quality
•Monitor body condition strictly in breeding programs; obesity-related embryonic death may not be detected without embryo transfer studies, so maintain mares at appropriate weight for their type
•The equine microbiome changes with dietary restriction for weight loss—understanding these shifts may help explain why some horses lose weight more effectively than others on the same diet
•Microbiome profiling could potentially become a tool to predict individual weight-loss responses and tailor feeding programs accordingly
•Gut bacterial composition may be a welfare indicator during weight management in obese horses and warrants monitoring alongside traditional weight metrics
•Regular body condition scoring (BCS ≥8 indicates elevated risk) should be implemented as a practical monitoring tool to identify horses at risk of insulin dysregulation and subsequent laminitis
•Owner education on obesity recognition and management is critical, as 60% of this Finnhorse population was overweight or obese, suggesting widespread underrecognition of the problem
•Consider oral sugar testing for overweight/obese horses to identify insulin dysregulation before clinical laminitis develops, allowing for preventive management interventions
•Ponies and horses respond differently to overfeeding at the microbial level; weight management strategies may need to be species-tailored, particularly for 'easy keeper' ponies
•Microbiota changes during weight gain may contribute to metabolic complications like insulin dysregulation and laminitis risk; monitor high-risk individuals more closely
•The relationship between microbiota composition and obesity-related diseases in equines is still emerging—microbiota assessment could become a useful diagnostic tool for metabolic health in the future
•Overfeeding energy to ponies rapidly causes insulin dysregulation and obesity within weeks; restrict concentrate intake and ensure diet matches maintenance requirements
•Insulin dysfunction can develop in healthy, non-obese animals on high-energy diets—metabolic health requires dietary control independent of current body condition
•While insulin abnormalities improve with hay-only feeding, susceptibility to rapid relapse means long-term dietary management is essential for metabolically predisposed animals
•Genetic testing based on these four candidate regions may eventually help identify horses predisposed to EMS before clinical signs develop, enabling earlier preventative management
•Metabolomic biomarkers identified in this study could lead to faster, more accurate diagnostic tools than current insulin assays, improving the timeliness of EMS diagnosis and treatment
•Understanding the genetic basis of EMS susceptibility may inform selective breeding decisions to reduce the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in at-risk populations like Arabians
•Weight loss programs directly improve insulin regulation—track body weight changes alongside monitoring laminitis risk in susceptible horses
•Oral glucose testing can objectively measure whether your weight loss intervention is actually reducing insulin dysregulation, not just pounds
•For high-risk breeds like Icelanders, even modest weight reduction yields measurable metabolic improvements
•Monitor body condition score carefully in companion donkeys, as obesity significantly elevates basal insulin and may impair insulin sensitivity, increasing laminitis and metabolic disease risk
•Donkeys' naturally higher digestive efficiency and lower energy expenditure compared to horses makes them prone to rapid weight gain—adjust feeding and activity accordingly
•Elevated basal insulin in overweight donkeys is a measurable metabolic warning sign; consider glucose-insulin testing for donkeys with moderate to high BCS as part of preventive health screening
•Metabolic and microbiome dysfunction appears central to equine obesity and EMS—managing these horses requires attention to both diet and the bacterial ecosystem of the hindgut
•Future diagnostic tests based on circulating lipids or fecal metabolites may allow earlier detection of metabolic dysfunction before clinical signs like laminitis appear
•Current findings suggest potential therapeutic targets in bacterial metabolism and mitochondrial function; probiotic or dietary interventions targeting these pathways warrant investigation
•Paso Fino horses should be considered at higher risk for insulin dysregulation and endocrinopathic laminitis regardless of apparent body condition; breed-specific screening may be warranted
•Weight management is critical in Paso Finos, as even moderate obesity significantly worsens insulin dysregulation and laminitis risk
•Veterinarians should perform baseline insulin and glucose testing in Paso Fino horses presenting with laminitis or as part of preventative health assessment, particularly for overweight individuals
•Overweight and obese horses (BCS ≥6/9) show elevated inflammatory markers; weight management may reduce joint disease risk and lameness incidence
•Both absolute body weight and body condition score correlate with systemic inflammation (plasma PGE2); consider both metrics when assessing joint disease risk
•Activity level modulates the inflammatory effect of excess body fat; investigate whether controlled exercise programs can mitigate obesity-related joint inflammation in your clients' horses
•Frog-supportive shoes show measurable biomechanical benefits within 72 hours, particularly for obese ponies that naturally load the toe area less during movement
•These shoes may help normalize loading patterns between normal and obese animals, potentially reducing laminitis risk in high-risk populations
•Consider frog-supportive shoes as part of management strategy for obese ponies, though welfare considerations limit evidence from acute laminitis cases
•Owner perception of body condition significantly underestimates obesity risk; use objective scoring systems alongside owner assessment to identify at-risk horses
•A breed-specific quantitative scoring system combining physical measurements and blood work (insulin, leptin, ACTH, glucose, lipids) may improve early detection of EMS in Arabian horses before severe clinical signs develop
•Simplified field-applicable diagnostic protocols using common variables can effectively risk-stratify horses for metabolic syndrome without complex testing
•Obesity in horses is associated with altered gut bacterial communities; managing feed intake and energy density may help restore healthy microbiome balance and reduce metabolic dysfunction.
•Monitoring blood markers (leptin, glucose, triglycerides) alongside weight management can help identify metabolic changes linked to obesity and associated conditions like laminitis.
•Future therapies targeting specific bacterial populations may offer novel approaches to preventing obesity-related complications, though clinical applications require further development.
•Feeding cereal-based concentrates poses greater insulin dysregulation risk than equivalent caloric fat-based feeds, even at the same body weight gain — consider fat-rich alternatives for at-risk horses and ponies
•Ponies and Andalusians appear genetically predisposed to lower insulin sensitivity regardless of diet; these breeds warrant stricter caloric control and glycaemic load management
•Weight gain alone does not necessarily cause insulin problems if achieved via high-fat diets; the type of calorie source matters more than total caloric load for metabolic health
•When managing group-housed horses, recognize that dominant individuals are at higher risk of obesity regardless of age or size, requiring targeted feeding management strategies
•Consider social dynamics and dominance hierarchy when assessing body condition problems in herds, as behavioural factors may be driving obesity risk
•Monitor middle-aged horses more closely for obesity and overfeeding issues, as they are most likely to occupy dominant positions with associated higher body condition
•High-quality cultivated pastures increase body condition and insulin responses in grazing mares; monitor body condition and consider restricting grazing time or supplementing with lower-quality forage if laminitis risk is a concern.
•Gene expression changes during grazing season suggest adaptive metabolic responses; these protective mechanisms may break down under extreme obesity, so weight management remains critical for laminitis prevention.
•Semi-natural grassland grazing maintains lower body condition scores and more moderate metabolic responses compared to cultivated pasture, making it a potentially safer option for metabolically at-risk mares.
•Target obesity education and management interventions particularly toward owners of draught, cob, native, and Welsh breeds, which show significantly elevated obesity risk
•Identify 'good doer' horses early and implement stricter feed management and exercise protocols to prevent obesity development
•Encourage regular ridden work and competition participation as obesity is significantly more common in pleasure and non-ridden animals
•Monitor nuchal crest condition separately from overall body condition as they may respond differently to seasonal changes and management
•Use the Cresty Neck Score as a practical tool to identify horses at metabolic risk, particularly those with localized neck adiposity that may be missed by standard body condition scoring
•Tailor feeding and exercise management to address nuchal crest adiposity specifically, as general weight loss strategies may not be equally effective
•Weight loss in obese horses improves cellular oxidant status and reduces lipid peroxidation, supporting metabolic health benefits of conditioning programs
•Different mitochondrial populations respond distinctly to weight loss, which may explain variable performance recovery rates in individual horses during rehabilitation
•Monitoring weight loss progression by BCS rather than absolute weight may be more physiologically relevant for assessing metabolic improvements in obese horses
•Hay grid feeders effectively reduce hay consumption without requiring horses to change their eating duration, making them useful for managing obesity while maintaining natural feeding behavior
•Using a hay grid feeder does not compromise gastric pH control compared to ground feeding, so it can be safely used in horses at risk for ulceration without additional protective measures
•Since hay grid feeders maintain eating time while reducing intake, they may help balance the competing goals of preventing both obesity and gastric ulceration in stabled horses
•Mares with equine metabolic syndrome have compromised fertility due to altered ovarian follicular environment; metabolic management should be a priority before breeding unsound mares
•The intrafollicular inflammatory state in metabolic syndrome may impair both oocyte maturation and subsequent offspring viability—addressing insulin resistance through diet and exercise is critical for reproductive soundness
•Consider screening breeding mares for insulin resistance using RISQI or MIRG proxies; metabolically compromised mares may benefit from pre-breeding metabolic stabilization protocols
•Do not use recombinant equine growth hormone to treat obesity in horses, particularly those with insulin resistance, as it consistently elevates insulin levels and worsens metabolic status
•Exercise alone does not reduce basal insulin concentrations, so weight management in insulin-resistant horses requires dietary intervention as a primary strategy
•Single pre-feeding morning blood samples provide reliable basal insulin measurements for monitoring metabolic status in individual horses
•Monitor body condition score closely in horses and ponies as a key laminitis prevention strategy, particularly in mares where obesity increases inflammatory markers
•Consider hyperinsulinemia and inflammatory cytokine status when assessing laminitis risk in obese animals
•Weight management and condition control should be prioritized as part of laminitis prevention protocols
•Maintaining horses at BCS <7 is associated with lower plasma insulin and reduced laminitis risk, making body weight management a practical preventive strategy
•Overweight horses show markers of oxidative stress and dyslipidemia; regular condition scoring and feed management should be routine practice
•Elevated insulin in obese horses is a modifiable risk factor for pasture-associated laminitis, providing actionable guidance for clients managing at-risk animals
•Dynamic feeders can be implemented successfully in small paddock systems to increase exercise and reduce obesity-related health problems without ongoing human intervention
•Careful horse pairing is important when introducing dynamic feeders, as dominance mismatches may lead to aggression and unequal access to feed
•This system encourages natural feeding patterns and ad libitum hay access while promoting 5-6 times more movement than static feeders
•Dietary carbohydrate restriction reduces insulin receptor expression in digital laminae, providing mechanistic support for low-NSC feeding protocols in laminitis prevention and management
•Laminar epithelial cells appear to respond to insulin primarily through IGF-1R rather than classical insulin receptors, suggesting therapeutic targeting of IGF-1R signaling pathways may benefit hyperinsulinaemic laminitis
•Obese ponies on high-carbohydrate diets develop excessive laminar endothelial insulin receptor expression, supporting aggressive dietary management as a first-line laminitis prevention strategy in at-risk animals
•BCS alone may not accurately reflect total body fat or regional fat distribution in individual ponies; practitioners should consider multiple assessment methods for comprehensive evaluation
•Understanding where ponies store fat anatomically helps identify metabolic issues and target nutrition interventions more effectively
•This foundational work validates the need for improved objective body fat assessment tools beyond traditional visual scoring in equine practice
•Elevated TNF-alpha may be a useful biomarker to identify ponies at higher risk for recurrent laminitis, potentially supporting early intervention strategies
•The association between TNF-alpha and insulin resistance suggests metabolic management targeting inflammation could help prevent laminitis in susceptible ponies
•Standard inflammatory markers like fibrinogen may not adequately reflect laminitis risk; more specific cytokine testing may be warranted for at-risk populations
•Measure plasma insulin and leptin in at-risk ponies; values above the thresholds identify those needing strict pasture management to prevent laminitis
•Assess cresty neck and body condition score regularly—a neck score ≥4 or BCS ≥7 signals substantially increased laminitis risk and warrants diet and grazing restriction
•Focus management on reducing insulin and obesity rather than combining multiple tests; weight loss and pasture control are the practical interventions
•Consider pancreatitis in the differential diagnosis for donkeys and other equids presenting with abdominal pain, especially when serum triglycerides are elevated—a rare but important diagnosis to rule out
•Obesity and high-calorie diets pose metabolic and endocrine risks in equids; implement balanced nutrition and regular exercise programs as preventive management strategies
•Elevated triglycerides, lipase, and amylase in an equid with abdominal pain warrant further investigation and careful consideration of pancreatitis as a potential underlying cause
•Chronic laminitis requires a systematic diagnostic and treatment protocol including clinical exam, imaging, and identification of underlying metabolic or systemic causes—not just symptomatic hoof care
•Diet modification (reduction of concentrates) and increased natural exercise on varied terrain are critical for managing weight and glucose metabolism; monitor blood glucose daily during recovery
•Successful outcomes depend on close farrier-veterinarian collaboration and owner commitment; ensure clients understand that hoof care alone without addressing underlying risk factors will fail
•Genetic testing for these SNPs may eventually enable early identification of Finnhorses predisposed to insulin dysregulation, allowing preventive nutritional and exercise management before clinical signs develop
•Results suggest insulin dysregulation has heritable genetic components in addition to environmental factors, supporting the need for selective breeding practices that consider metabolic status
•Further validation across larger populations and other horse breeds is needed before clinical implementation of genetic screening
•Do not rely on owner self-assessment for body condition scoring—veterinary evaluation is essential for identifying obesity and metabolic syndrome risk in working horses
•Implement owner education programs on proper BCS and cresty neck assessment; visual aids alone are insufficient without hands-on training and palpation instruction
•Regular professional assessment of body condition is critical for Nigerian horse populations where obesity and EMS are common, particularly for breeding and performance animals
•Obese horses develop significant cardiovascular pathology including myocardial and arterial tissue changes, which may compromise exercise tolerance and increase disease risk — body condition management is critical for cardiovascular health
•Peripheral arterial changes in obese horses could affect blood flow and may have implications for lameness, healing, and thermoregulation — weight management should be prioritized alongside other interventions
•These histological findings support aggressive obesity prevention and management protocols in draft and leisure horses to prevent irreversible cardiovascular damage
•DHA-rich microalgae supplementation may help stabilize insulin responses in horses with EMS, potentially reducing laminitis risk associated with hyperinsulinemia
•This pilot data suggests omega-3 supplementation could be a non-pharmacologic adjunct to EMS management, though larger trials are needed before widespread clinical recommendation
•Consider microalgae supplementation for obese horses showing metabolic dysfunction, particularly those with poor response to diet and exercise alone
•Obesity in horses triggers measurable changes in acute-phase proteins similar to other species, supporting inflammatory complications of equine obesity as a clinical concern
•Ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin may serve as biomarkers for monitoring inflammatory status in obese horses, potentially aiding early detection of obesity-related comorbidities
•Weight management programs should be prioritized as obesity-induced inflammatory markers could indicate systemic health risks beyond mechanical joint stress
•Regenerative medicine using autologous stem cells may offer an adjunctive therapy option for EMS horses when combined with conventional management (caloric restriction and exercise)
•Pre-treatment of patient's own stem cells with specific compounds in the laboratory may enhance their therapeutic effectiveness before reintroduction
•Liver enzyme normalization following treatment suggests systemic metabolic improvement, though long-term clinical outcomes and feasibility in practice require further investigation
•If collecting equine tissue samples for gene/protein expression studies at slaughter, prioritize adipose tissue collection within 30 minutes post-mortem to maintain RNA integrity; skeletal muscle samples remain viable longer (up to 2 hours)
•Myostatin and perilipin represent tissue-specific targets for investigating obesity pathways in horses—myostatin in muscle studies and perilipin in fat depot studies
•Understanding the distinct tissue localization of these regulatory pathways could help develop targeted nutritional or management strategies to address the high prevalence of obesity in leisure horses
•Myostatin dysregulation may be involved in obesity development in horses and ponies, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for weight management strategies
•Circulating myostatin levels could potentially serve as a biomarker for obesity status, though further validation studies are needed
•Weight management programmes should consider the role of skeletal muscle metabolism and myokine signalling as part of whole-body energy regulation
•This validated technique provides an objective measurement tool for monitoring body fat status, moving beyond subjective condition scoring to support evidence-based nutritional management decisions
•The deuterium oxide dilution method can help identify ponies at risk from excessive or depleted fat stores before clinical signs of morbidity or mortality develop
•Implementation of this measurement method could improve welfare assessment protocols and nutritional counselling for equine clients
•Exercise is strongly associated with reduced laminitis and metabolic disease risk, but implementation barriers (yard facilities, time, access) are the main limiting factor—not owner knowledge alone
•Livery yard management and facilities are critical constraints; if you operate a livery yard, consider whether your facilities enable adequate self-directed exercise as a welfare priority
•Simply restricting feed through stabling creates welfare problems; exploring how to increase exercise opportunity (both ridden and free movement) should be part of your weight-management strategy
•If operating a therapeutic riding facility, ensure stall dimensions are at least 3.65 × 3.65 m and restrict concentrate to 2 kg per meal to protect horse welfare and longevity
•Implement daily social interaction and monitor behavioral indicators of burnout; stop work immediately if signs appear—this extends effective working years and improves rehabilitation outcomes
•Establish a mandatory annual dental examination protocol and plan for responsible care throughout each horse's life cycle, including retirement provisions
•Behavior consultants should develop knowledge about obesity recognition and management to better serve clients
•When called to address behavioral issues, consider whether obesity may be a contributing factor to the problem
•Use your trusted position with owners to provide education about healthy weight and prevention of obesity-related welfare issues
•Understand that EMS is a multi-factorial condition affecting obese horses with insulin dysregulation; screening for these components is essential in practice
•Stay updated on emerging treatment options beyond traditional weight management and dietary restriction
•Recognize the critical link between metabolic dysfunction and laminitis risk to enable early intervention and prevention strategies
•Screen sedentary horses for insulin dysregulation using staged diagnostic approach (basal insulin/glucose followed by dynamic testing) to prevent laminitis development
•Implement weight management as first-line treatment: restrict feed to ~1.25% body weight daily combined with individualized exercise programs tailored to horse's fitness level and breed
•Consider pharmacological support (metformin, levothyroxine) for obese horses unable to exercise due to laminitis or those not responding adequately to diet and exercise alone
•Do not assume low thyroid hormone concentrations equal hypothyroidism in horses—consider nonthyroidal illness syndrome and other secondary causes before supplementing
•Use dynamic testing (TRH stimulation) to help clarify thyroid function when blood hormone concentrations alone are ambiguous
•Recognise that T4 supplementation is frequently used off-label for obesity and poor performance despite limited evidence supporting true primary hypothyroidism as the cause
•Screen donkeys for metabolic disorders early, especially obese individuals and those with recurrent laminitis, using baseline insulin and ACTH, then dynamic tests if results are borderline
•Be aware that donkey-specific diagnostic thresholds differ from horses—consult current donkey reference ranges rather than equine cut-off values when interpreting hormone tests
•Expect PPID prevalence in aged donkeys; monitor for classic signs (hypertrichosis, regional adiposity, laminitis, weight loss) and use appropriate dynamic testing for diagnosis
•Screen horses for signs of metabolic syndrome and obesity as part of routine preventive care, as early intervention can prevent severe laminitis
•Understand the relationship between insulin dysregulation and laminitis risk to better counsel clients on management and dietary modifications
•Familiarise yourself with current diagnostic tests and clinical recognition criteria for metabolic syndrome to enable prompt identification and treatment initiation
•Implement regular exercise conditioning programs as a primary intervention to improve insulin sensitivity and facilitate weight loss in obese horses at risk for metabolic disease and laminitis
•Even single exercise sessions provide metabolic benefits through improved glucose disposal, making consistent work schedules important for metabolic management
•Weight management through exercise is critical for laminitis prevention, particularly in horses with documented insulin resistance or obesity
•Educate owners that maintaining moderate body weight is critical prevention for laminitis and metabolic disease, even when horses are 'easy keepers'
•Monitor fasting insulin levels and body condition in middle-aged horses, as insulin resistance often precedes clinical laminitis
•Address overfeeding of concentrates and hay as the primary modifiable risk factor; feeding behavior change is essential for management
•Elite competition ponies are dangerously overweight, suggesting owners and judges may not recognize obesity as a problem at show level
•Adiposity may influence judging outcomes in conformation-based competitions, creating perverse incentives to maintain excessive weight
•Widespread obesity in competition ponies puts them at high risk for metabolic syndrome and laminitis, requiring urgent industry-wide education on healthy body condition
•Obese horses carry excess workload burden from adipose tissue alone, requiring adjusted training and conditioning protocols
•Excess weight directly impacts gait mechanics and arthritis risk—body condition management is preventive orthopedic care
•Challenge clients and competition judges on aesthetic preferences for adiposity; educate on performance and welfare costs of overweight athletic animals
•Most horse owners lack knowledge about haylage feeding, storage, and spoilage prevention—targeted education on practical haylage management could improve adoption and forage quality control
•Forage analysis is underutilized despite being essential for accurate ration formulation; promoting its value and accessibility may help owners better manage obesity through improved energy matching
•Body condition and weight monitoring are critical gaps in practice; encouraging regular weigh-ins and condition scoring would provide owners with objective data to adjust feeding decisions
•SHBG may represent a novel therapeutic target for treating equine metabolic syndrome by improving cellular insulin sensitivity and reducing metabolic dysfunction at the molecular level
•This in vitro research provides foundational evidence for potential future clinical trials investigating SHBG as a treatment for EMS, but in vivo studies are needed before clinical application
•Understanding the mechanisms by which SHBG improves stem cell function in EMS could inform development of more targeted therapeutic protocols for insulin-resistant horses
•Recognize EMS early by looking for obesity, local fat deposits, bilateral lameness, and characteristic hoof rings—these warrant insulin/glucose testing
•Manage affected horses through strict diet control and consistent fitness work; medication and regenerative therapies are not yet standard protocols
•Understand that laminitis secondary to EMS is a major performance-limiting consequence, making prevention and early intervention critical for owners
•Maintain mares at optimal body condition score before breeding—obesity-related metabolic dysfunction impairs fertility and compromises pregnancy outcomes, affecting both mare and foal health
•Monitor insulin status in overweight or insulin-dysregulated mares, as hyperinsulinemia during pregnancy increases foal susceptibility to developmental orthopedic disease and metabolic problems later in life
•Consider weight management and metabolic assessment as essential preventative strategies for reproductive success and long-term foal welfare, not just a cosmetic or general health issue
•Experience alone does not drive preventative weight management—target intervention messaging toward owners of metabolically-affected ponies, as they demonstrate higher adoption of feeding and exercise protocols
•Simply building owner confidence through education may not be sufficient to change behaviour; focus instead on demonstrating practical benefits and disease-risk pathways specific to individual operations
•Consider developing preventative care packages or protocols for native pony owners that address the gap between knowing best practice and acting on it before clinical disease develops
•When evaluating donkeys suspected of metabolic syndrome, IVGTT appears more sensitive than CGIT for detecting insulin dysregulation, though both tests warrant consideration
•Existing equine metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria show promise for donkey assessment but cannot be directly applied without establishing donkey-specific insulin thresholds
•Baseline serum insulin and leptin concentrations should be evaluated alongside dynamic testing, as single measurements may not adequately capture metabolic dysfunction in donkeys
•Obesity alone may not directly cause lamellar failure in draft horses, but all horses in this study showed some lamellar pathology warranting preventive hoof management
•Morphological differences in secondary lamellae structure exist between obese and lean horses; tapered SELs in obese horses may have different weight-bearing implications than club-shaped SELs
•Hoof lamellae length correlates with overall hoof size rather than metabolic status; farriers should consider individual hoof dimensions when evaluating lamellar architecture
•Strip grazing is the most widely adopted and welfare-friendly restricted grazing method in UK practice—consider recommending this first to clients managing laminitis/obesity risk
•Grazing muzzles and stabling polarize opinion; discuss individual horse welfare needs and management constraints with clients to find acceptable alternatives if strip grazing is not feasible
•Implementation barriers are significant; help clients problem-solve practical, cost-effective solutions tailored to their yard setup rather than prescribing idealized protocols
•During future lockdowns or restrictions, ensure consistent messaging across veterinary, farrier, and welfare networks about laminitis/obesity management—farriers' clear guidance was notably effective.
•Develop and pre-emptively disseminate specific management guidelines for at-risk horses (obesity, laminitis predisposition) that address reduced exercise scenarios and reduced yard supervision.
•Coordinate with veterinary and welfare experts now to create ready-to-deploy protocols for emergency situations, rather than relying on ad-hoc advice during crisis periods.
•Do not assume equine reference ranges and diagnostic criteria apply to donkeys—use donkey-specific reference values for insulin, glucose, and PPID testing to avoid misdiagnosis
•Weight management and exercise are first-line treatments for donkey metabolic syndrome; monitor for laminitis and hypertrichosis as key indicators of PPID requiring pergolide therapy
•When performing dynamic endocrine tests in donkeys, expect different responses than horses; consider seasonal variations and use species-appropriate interpretation thresholds
•Understanding local cultural context and social networks is essential for developing effective welfare improvement strategies in working equid communities
•Obesity management should be prioritized as a welfare intervention in rural equid populations where traditional work is declining
•Engage with established community knowledge networks and local equid owners when implementing welfare initiatives, as these are key sources of management expertise
•Focus welfare education and intervention efforts on the top five prevalent issues: biosecurity, euthanasia timing decisions, owner education, stress management, and weight control
•Owner education on recognizing pain behaviours and appropriate nutrition is critical as these directly impact individual horse suffering
•Parasite control and dietary management should be prioritized in practice protocols as they consistently rank high for both prevalence and severity of suffering
•Obesity management is critical in horses with EMS, as adipose tissue dysfunction may underlie insulin dysregulation and metabolic complications
•Veterinarians should recognize that pathological changes in adipose tissue similar to those in other species may occur in obese horses, requiring investigation and intervention
•Weight loss and metabolic management strategies may help restore normal adipose tissue function and improve insulin sensitivity in affected horses
•Regular body condition scoring is essential for identifying nutritional imbalances before they cause clinical problems
•Accurate weight assessment guides appropriate feeding rates and helps prevent both obesity and underconditioning
•Integrating condition assessment into routine management enables early intervention for weight-related issues
•Screen horses for insulin dysregulation through appropriate laboratory tests; this is your main lever for preventing laminitis in metabolically predisposed horses
•Combine diet (calorie and sugar restriction) with consistent exercise as the foundation of EMS management—these address the root problem, not just symptoms
•Partner with your veterinarian on long-term monitoring; EMS control requires sustained owner discipline and professional guidance to succeed
•Obesity management in horses should be prioritized as a preventive strategy against insulin dysregulation and laminitis risk
•Practitioners should recognize that insulin dysregulation is a key mechanism linking metabolic dysfunction to laminitis, requiring targeted dietary and management interventions
•Understanding inflammatory pathways related to adiposity and oxidative stress may inform future therapeutic approaches for laminitis prevention and management
•Nearly all horse operations in Maryland have obesity concerns—this is a widespread management challenge requiring systemic solutions rather than isolated interventions
•Ponies require different management strategies than horses for weight control; dry lot systems may be necessary but consider labor costs and welfare implications when planning facilities
•Exercise combined with pasture/dry lot management is more effective and satisfying than relying on grazing muzzles or medication alone for sustainable weight control
•Horse owners need structured approaches to managing obesity in their animals to prevent associated health complications
•Expert organisations like World Horse Welfare provide evidence-based guidance on weight management that practitioners should be familiar with to advise clients
•Identify high-risk horses (those showing signs of equine metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance) and prioritize metabolic management alongside pasture control as primary laminitis prevention strategies.
•Monitor and manage pasture nonstructural carbohydrate content—particularly simple sugars, starches, and fructans—through grazing management and forage testing to reduce laminitis risk in susceptible animals.
•Implement combined nutritional and management protocols addressing both the horse's metabolic status and environmental carbohydrate exposure rather than relying on single-factor interventions.
•AICAR shows promise as a potential pharmacological intervention for equine metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, though further investigation is needed before clinical application
•The novel glucose transporter GLUT8 appears to be a key player in equine muscle glucose uptake and may be a target for managing metabolic disease in horses
•AMPK activation via AICAR enhances both muscle glucose uptake and pancreatic insulin secretion, suggesting multi-system metabolic benefits
•Screen horses at risk of laminitis for insulin dysregulation using oral sugar or glucose tolerance tests to enable early intervention
•Manage hyperinsulinaemia through dietary modification and weight control, as insulin dysregulation significantly increases laminitis risk
•Consider insulin dysregulation in foals presenting with prematurity or systemic illness, as it can accompany these conditions
•Obese ponies transitioning to ad libitum feeding show variable appetite responses in the first 2 days; monitor individual responses as leptin sensitivity differs between animals
•Plasma leptin concentration alone is not a reliable indicator of obesity or appetite regulation in obese ponies—leptin sensitivity appears more important than absolute leptin levels
•Feed management strategies for obese ponies should account for individual differences in leptin sensitivity, not just body condition score
•Review feeding practices and exercise regimens for overweight horses, particularly those showing signs of insulin resistance, as these are modifiable risk factors for laminitis
•Screen obese or insulin-resistant horses for EMS and monitor closely for laminitis development, which may require euthanasia in severe cases
•Focus management on reducing sugar and starch intake while increasing physical activity to mitigate metabolic syndrome risk
•Monitor body condition in horses as obesity-related inflammation may be a key driver of insulin resistance development and associated metabolic disease
•Consider that inflammatory mechanisms similar to those in obese humans may underlie equine insulin resistance, informing both prevention and management strategies
•Weight management and obesity prevention should be prioritized as potential interventions to reduce inflammatory cytokine production and improve insulin sensitivity
•Restrict feed intake to 1% of actual body mass daily to achieve safe, consistent weight loss of ~1% per week in obese ponies without compromising health
•Do not rely on body condition scoring to monitor early weight loss progress; instead use girth measurements and ultrasound assessment of subcutaneous fat as more sensitive markers
•This feeding plane is suitable for obese animals where exercise is contraindicated or inadvisable, providing an evidence-based alternative management strategy
•Screen horses for metabolic syndrome components (obesity, elevated insulin, triglycerides) as these increase laminitis risk—early identification enables preventive management
•Weight management and insulin resistance control may reduce laminitis predisposition in affected horses, though specific mechanisms require further research
•Consider inflammatory and vascular dysfunction pathways when managing laminitis in metabolically compromised horses, not just mechanical load factors
•For equine practitioners: Growth hormone and beta-agonists may have application in equine production, but regulatory status and consumer acceptance vary significantly by region and must be verified before use
•Genetic selection using molecular markers offers a sustainable, non-pharmaceutical approach to improving body composition that avoids regulatory and consumer acceptance issues associated with exogenous treatments
•Natural feed additives show promise but require specific conditions for efficacy; practitioners should base supplementation decisions on evidence for their particular production goals rather than assuming universal benefit

Key Research Findings

Horses fed without hay nets had significantly greater bodyweight, body condition score, and hay usage compared to horses fed with hay nets (P<0.05)

DeBoer M, 2024

No differences were observed in incisor length, incisor bevels, rostral oral cavity scores, or dental abnormalities between NET and CON treatments (P>0.05)

DeBoer M, 2024

Hay nets with 4.45 cm openings effectively reduced hay waste and helped control bodyweight without negative impacts on dental health over a 2-year period

DeBoer M, 2024

Strip grazing (SG1 and SG2) significantly reduced dry matter intakes compared to total paddock grazing (1.59-1.82% vs 2.33% BW/day)

Longland Annette C, 2022

Strip grazing limited bodyweight gains to 1.16-1.54% over 28 days versus 4.82% in unrestricted grazing

Longland Annette C, 2022

Only unrestricted grazing animals showed significant increases in body condition score (+0.94), cresty neck score (+0.5), and rump width (+2.11cm)

Longland Annette C, 2022

Strip grazing with back fence (SG2) produced significant belly girth decrease (-5.53cm) compared to unrestricted grazing increase (+4.15cm)

Longland Annette C, 2022

Treatment group achieved significant weight loss (p < 0.00001) and reduced waist circumference (p < 0.0001) compared to controls over 6 weeks with diet restriction (1.4% BW) and prescribed exercise.

Walshe Nicola, 2021

Fecal microbiota alpha-diversity significantly increased in the treatment group from start to end of study (p < 0.05), indicating improved intestinal microbial diversity with weight loss.

Walshe Nicola, 2021

Significant metabolomic changes occurred in both groups between start and end of study (p < 0.05), suggesting weight loss program alters fecal metabolites independent of group allocation.

Walshe Nicola, 2021

Resting blood pressure decreased significantly in all horses by end of study, indicating cardiovascular benefit of the weight loss intervention.

Walshe Nicola, 2021

Both diet and exercise resulted in similar decreases in body weight, heart girth, girth-to-height ratio, belly girth, body condition score, and cresty neck score over 4 weeks

Moore Jennifer L, 2019

Exercise group showed significantly greater neck circumference loss compared to diet group (mean difference not specified)

Moore Jennifer L, 2019

Exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in insulin-to-glucose ratio and tended toward improvements in 60-minute insulin sensitivity index, while diet group showed no change

Moore Jennifer L, 2019

Plasma leptin concentrations showed a tendency for improvement in exercise group but not diet group; plasma ghrelin showed no changes with weight loss in either group

Moore Jennifer L, 2019

Evidence Base

Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses.

DeBoer M, Keener L, Layeux-Parks J et al. (2024) — Journal of equine veterinary science

RCT

Strip-grazing: Reduces pony dry matter intakes and changes in bodyweight and morphometrics.

Longland Annette C, Barfoot Clare, Harris Patricia A (2022) — Equine veterinary journal

RCT

A Multiomic Approach to Investigate the Effects of a Weight Loss Program on the Intestinal Health of Overweight Horses.

Walshe Nicola, Cabrera-Rubio Raul, Collins Roisin et al. (2021) — Frontiers in veterinary science

RCT

Effects of Diet Versus Exercise on Morphometric Measurements, Blood Hormone Concentrations, and Oral Sugar Test Response in Obese Horses.

Moore Jennifer L, Siciliano Paul D, Pratt-Phillips Shannon E (2019) — Journal of equine veterinary science

RCT

Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in horses and ponies fed a high fat diet, with or without a once daily high glycaemic meal.

Bamford N J, Potter S J, Harris P A et al. (2016) — Equine veterinary journal

RCT

Level of energy restriction alters body condition score and morphometric profile in obese Shetland ponies.

Bruynsteen L, Moons C P H, Janssens G P J et al. (2015) — Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)

RCT

Effects of a supplement containing chromium and magnesium on morphometric measurements, resting glucose, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity in laminitic obese horses.

Chameroy K A, Frank N, Elliott S B et al. (2011) — Equine veterinary journal

RCT

Effects of Diet and Weight Gain on Body Condition Scoring in Thoroughbred Geldings

Suagee Jessica K., Burk Amy O., Quinn Rachael W. et al. (2008) — Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

RCT

The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Pasture on the Metabolic Profile of Horses with Laminitis

Eva Mlyneková, Stanislav Zaťko, Marko Halo et al. (2026) — Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI

Obesity: What the Research Says

What Professionals Should Know

Key Research Findings

Evidence Base

Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses.

Strip-grazing: Reduces pony dry matter intakes and changes in bodyweight and morphometrics.

A Multiomic Approach to Investigate the Effects of a Weight Loss Program on the Intestinal Health of Overweight Horses.

Effects of Diet Versus Exercise on Morphometric Measurements, Blood&#xa0;Hormone Concentrations, and Oral Sugar Test Response in&#xa0;Obese Horses.

Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in horses and ponies fed a high fat diet, with or without a once daily high glycaemic meal.

Level of energy restriction alters body condition score and morphometric profile in obese Shetland ponies.

Effects of a supplement containing chromium and magnesium on morphometric measurements, resting glucose, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity in laminitic obese horses.

Effects of Diet and Weight Gain on Body Condition Scoring in Thoroughbred Geldings

The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Pasture on the Metabolic Profile of Horses with Laminitis

Soft palate angle and basihyoid depth increase with tongue size and with body condition score in horses.

Investigations on metabolic diseases of horses in Egypt.

Quantitative proteomics unveils potential plasma biomarkers and provides insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying equine metabolic syndrome.

Effects of pasture consumption and obesity on insulin dysregulation and adiponectin concentrations in UK native-breed ponies.

Morphometric parameters, metabolic profile and musculoskeletal alterations in Criollo horses competing in the morphology trial.

Obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disease conditions in Connemara ponies in Ireland.

Development of a body condition index to estimate adiposity in ponies and horses from morphometric measurements.

Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England.

Arthrospira platensis enriched with Cr(III), Mg(II), and Mn(II) ions improves insulin sensitivity and reduces systemic inflammation in equine metabolic affected horses.

The effect of season, management and endocrinopathies on vitamin D status in horses.

Occurrence of equine metabolic syndrome, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria

Circulating Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Hormones and Insulin Concentrations in Horses and Ponies.

Hay versus haylage: Forage type influences the equine urinary metabonome and faecal microbiota.

Clustering and Correlations amongst NEFA, Selected Adipokines and Morphological Traits-New Insights into Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

Thromboelastography in obese horses with insulin dysregulation compared to healthy controls.

Plasma Amino Acid Concentration in Obese Horses with/without Insulin Dysregulation and Laminitis.

Measurement of Plasma Resistin Concentrations in Horses with Metabolic and Inflammatory Disorders.

The effect of diet-induced obesity and pasture on blood pressure and serum cortisol in Standardbred mares.

Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares.

Equine metabolic syndrome in UK native ponies and cobs is highly prevalent with modifiable risk factors.

Changes in metabolic and physiological biomarkers in Mangalarga Marchador horses with induced obesity.

Energy hormone response to fasting-induced dyslipidemia in obese and non-obese donkeys.

Overfeeding Extends the Period of Annual Cyclicity but Increases the Risk of Early Embryonic Death in Shetland Pony Mares.

The equine gastrointestinal microbiome: impacts of weight-loss.

Insulin dysregulation in a population of Finnhorses and associated phenotypic markers of obesity.

Changes in the faecal microbiota of horses and ponies during a two-year body weight gain programme.

Effect of long-term overfeeding of a high-energy diet on glucose tolerance in Shetland pony mares.

Metabogenomics reveals four candidate regions involved in the pathophysiology of Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

Weight loss is linearly associated with a reduction of the insulin response to an oral glucose test in Icelandic horses.

Insulin Resistance as a Result of Body Condition Categorized as Thin, Moderate, and Obese in Domesticated U.S. Donkeys (Equus asinus).

Comparison of the microbiome, metabolome, and lipidome of obese and non-obese horses.

Glucose and Insulin Responses to an Intravenous Glucose Load in Thoroughbred and Paso Fino Horses.

Exploring relationships between body condition score, body fat, activity level and inflammatory biomarkers.

Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies.

Use of principle component analysis to quantitatively score the equine metabolic syndrome phenotype in an Arabian horse population.

Microbiome and Blood Analyte Differences Point to Community and Metabolic Signatures in Lean and Obese Horses.

Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in different equine breeds adapted to cereal-rich or fat-rich meals.

Relationships among Body Condition, Insulin Resistance and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Gene Expression during the Grazing Season in Mares.

Prevalence of and risk factors for equine obesity in Great Britain based on owner-reported body condition scores.

Assessing the seasonal prevalence and risk factors for nuchal crest adiposity in domestic horses and ponies using the Cresty Neck Score.

Influence of Weight Loss on Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function in the Mature Horse

The effect of a hay grid feeder on feed consumption and measurement of the gastric pH using an intragastric electrode device in horses: a preliminary report.

The effect of equine metabolic syndrome on the ovarian follicular environment.

Diurnal rhythm and effects of feeding, exercise and recombinant equine growth hormone on serum insulin concentrations in the horse.

Relationships between body condition score and plasma inflammatory cytokines, insulin, and lipids in a mixed population of light-breed horses.

Adiposity, plasma insulin, leptin, lipids, and oxidative stress in mature light breed horses.

Adaption of horses to a novel dynamic feeding system: movement and behavioural responses.

Distribution of insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor in the digital laminae of mixed-breed ponies: an immunohistochemical study.

Assessment of body fat in the pony: part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition.

Inflammatory and redox status of ponies with a history of pasture-associated laminitis.

Prediction of incipient pasture-associated laminitis from hyperinsulinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and generalised and localised obesity in a cohort of ponies.

Chronic pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia in a domestic donkey (Equus asinus).

Comprehensive Approach to Treatment of Chronic Laminitis in Ponies: A Clinical Case Report

Genome-wide association study suggests genetic candidate loci of insulin dysregulation in Finnhorses.

Can Nigerian horse owners effectively estimate body condition and cresty neck scores?

Influence of Obesity on Histological Tissue Structure of the Cardiovascular System in Horses.

Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Microalgae Supplementation on Metabolic and Inflammatory Parameters in Horses With Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

Influence of Obesity on Serum Concentrations of Acute-Phase Proteins in Horses.

Systemic Administration of Rejuvenated Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Liver Metabolism in Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)- New Approach in Veterinary Regenerative Medicine

Post-mortem stability of RNA in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and the tissue-specific expression of myostatin, perilipin and associated factors in the horse.

Preliminary investigation into a potential role for myostatin and its receptor (ActRIIB) in lean and obese horses and ponies.

Assessment of body fat in the pony: part II. Validation of the deuterium oxide dilution technique for the measurement of body fat.

Exercise as a welfare strategy? Insights from horse (Equus caballus) owners in the UK

SCIENTIFIC JUSTIFICATION OF WELFARE STANDARDS FOR THERAPEUTIC HORSES IN EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY IN UKRAINE

Pesky Pudgy Ponies: Equine Obesity and the Behavior Consultant

Equine metabolic syndrome: part 2

Focus on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of insulin dysregulation in horses

Effects of Diet Versus Exercise on Morphometric Measurements, Blood Hormone Concentrations, and Oral Sugar Test Response in Obese Horses.

From Table to Stable: A Comparative Review of Selected Aspects of Human and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.