The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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10 TheHorse.com THE HORSE October 2015 NEWSFRONT Inquiries to: 859/276-6726 E-Mail: News@TheHorse.com ERICA LARSON, News Editor @TH_EricaLarson As it turns out, you're not the first to ask this ques- tion. Scientists from the University of Bristol and the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, both in the U.K., wondered the same and set out to find the answer. Sarah L. Giles, PhD, and colleagues evaluated and ob- served 194 horses and ponies from 42 herds across the U.K. The team found that: ■ As the horse's dominance rank increased, so did his or her body condition; ■ There was no cor- relation between age and body condition score or risk for being obese; however, middle-aged horses appeared more likely to be more dominant than older or younger ones; and ■ Herds with individuals of similar age and height had more food-related displacement interactions (one horse moving toward another and the second horse moving away) than herds with animals of varying ages and sizes. The team reported that dominant horses seemed to have higher body condition scores than less-dominant herdmates (as supported by previous research), although the exact driving mechanism behind this remains unclear. Additionally, they said this study has shed light on the relationship of dominance to obesity and the need to monitor and manage domi- nant individuals' feed intake carefully. The findings also support the 1986 Maynard-Smith and Brown hypothesis,which states that natural pheno- typic variation can aid group cohesion and stability by reducing conflict behavior in a variety of species; in other words, grouping horses into herds of varying ages and sizes could reduce food- related interactivity and the potential risk for injury, the team said. —Kristen Janicki, MS, PAS Scientists recently determined that owner-managed weight loss programs can reduce equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) ponies' risk of developing serious health issues associated with the disease if they include one crucial component: clear veterinary guidance. Calorie restriction and increased exercise are the mainstays of EMS treatment. But in the field there is always potential for poor owner compliance, which has historically made it difficult to monitor effects of owner-managed weight loss accurately. The new study showed that "if owners are educated, informed, and encouraged by their vets, they can effectively induce weight loss and improve insulin resistance," and reduce laminitis risk, said researcher Ruth Morgan, MA, VetMB, MRCVS. "We found that the key to compliance is the individual tailoring of a weight loss program for each horse." Learn more about this study and related research and find equine weight loss tips at TheHorse. com/36259. Are Fat Horses More Dominant Than Lean Ones? Lavender, Tea Tree Oils to Treat Chewing Lice Two common essential oils could help control chewing lice in donkeys, which are developing resistance to cur- rently used insecticides. Lauren Ellse, BSc, PhD, of the University of Bristol, in England, and colleagues evaluated 198 donkeys during peak lice season and determined that tea tree and lavender oils appear to be valuable aids in managing lice infestations. Donkeys treated with either essential oil showed a decrease in louse numbers (with a mean of 78% fewer lice), while the control group's louse count remained the same or increased follow- ing treatment. Additionally, the research- ers did not observe adverse reactions to either oil. Learn more about donkey lice and the researchers' find- ings at TheHorse.com/36172. —Natalie DeFee Mendik, MA S o, let's talk about that round mare that rules your horse's roost. You know, the one who blocks your way to demand peppermints as you head out to catch your mount: Are her bossiness and size related? e o w n d o f o h a e o d ISTOCK.COM ISTOCK.COM Study Shows How to Reduce Serious Risks Posed to Fat Ponies Study pony Molly lost 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) on an owner- managed weight loss program. COURTESY BEVA/EVJ BEFORE AFTER