A survey of general road transportation: How and why horses are transported in the U.S.

Horses are regularly transported in the United States (U.S.); however, how, and why horses travel by road has not been explored. Consequently, an online nationwide survey was conducted to understand 1) the most common reasons for travel; 2) the types of journeys undertaken when being transported by road in the U.S. and 3) the general management practices when transporting for 3 h or less. Responses were collected from 1294 participants with at least one response from every state in the continental U.S. The most common survey taker was a female (93.9 %), adult amateur (81.2 %), horse owner (64.6 %) who rode recreationally (33.1 %) and transported their own horse (79.4 %). The most common reasons for travel were for trail or leisure riding (34.2 %) followed by showing and competition (25.3 %); however, this varied by discipline. The most common trip duration was less than one hour (46.8 %), with only 12.4 % of the most common trip durations being 4 h or more. The most common specific horse transported by road for 3 h or less was an adult (age 5-15; 59.0 %), Quarter Horse (21.2 %), used for pleasure or trail riding (44.3 %). The biggest concern when transporting was injury to the horse (26.7 %), whilst the biggest factor when planning to travel was the weather (24.1 %). These results provide insight into why horses are being transported by road in the U.S. and that it is more common to transport horses for shorter durations.

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

BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive. OBJECTIVES: To derive a body condition index (BCI), based on objective morphometric measurements, that correlates with % body fat. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Morphometric measurements were obtained from 21 ponies and horses in obese and moderate body condition. Percentage body fat was determined using the deuterium dilution method and the BCI was derived to give the optimal correlation with body fat, applying appropriate weightings. The index was then validated by assessing inter-observer variation and correlation with % body fat in a separate population of Welsh ponies; and finally, the correlation between BCI and BCS was evaluated in larger populations from studies undertaken in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. RESULTS: The BCI correlated well with adiposity in the ponies and horses, giving a Pearson r value of 0.74 (P < 0.001); however, it was found to slightly overestimate the % body fat in leaner animals and underestimate in more obese animals. In field studies, the correlation between BCI and BCS varied particularly in Shetlands and miniature ponies, presumably due to differences in body shape. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Further work may be required to adapt the BCI to a method that is more applicable for Shetlands and miniature ponies. CONCLUSIONS: This BCI was able to provide an index of adiposity which compared favourably with condition scoring in terms of accuracy of estimating adiposity; and was more consistent and repeatable when used by inexperienced assessors. Therefore, this may be a useful tool for assessing adiposity; and may be more sensitive than condition scoring for tracking weight gain or weight loss in individual animals.

Relative Traffic Tolerance of Warm-Season Grasses and Suitability for Grazing by Equine.

Warm season wear-tolerant turfgrasses, such as those used on golf courses and athletic fields, may be valuable forages on equine operations because of their potential to remain viable during heavy hoof traffic. Crabgrass may also be suitable as it thrives in conditions where other grasses have limited success. The objective of this study was to assess the relative traffic tolerance and nutritional composition of five warm-season (WS) turfgrass cultivars of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass and one WS forage-type crabgrass. All cultivars were established by seed in replicated monoculture plots. Simulated hoof traffic treatments consisted of either none, one, or two passes of a Baldree Traffic Simulator. Traffic was applied weekly for 6 weeks in the summer of 2016 and 2017, with each treatment period followed by a 4-week rest period. Plots were assessed for compaction, biomass, and persistence before and after treatment and rest periods. Nutritional composition was assessed throughout the growing seasons. Soil compaction increased as treatment level increased for all cultivars (P < .0001). There was no effect of treatment on cultivar persistence. Biomass available for grazing was increased in year 1 by the application of LOW traffic treatment (P = .0193). Both bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars showed promise for use in areas of heavy traffic on equine operations, however, zoysiagrass cultivars were more suitable as they were highest ranking in relative traffic tolerance, moderate in yield, and low nonstructural carbohydrates (<12% NSC). Future on-farm studies evaluating bermudagrass and zoysiagrass to determine ideal stocking rate, management methods, and persistence under grazing are warranted.

Relative Traffic Tolerance of Cool-Season Turfgrasses and Suitability for Grazing by Equine.

Unlike traditional forage grasses, turfgrasses, which were developed to be tolerant of foot traffic and close mowing, may be suitable as alternative ground cover in areas of high hoof traffic such as dry lots. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of eight cool-season turfgrasses as alternative ground cover in heavy use areas. Cultivars were established via seeding in four replicated plots. To simulate horse traffic at a trot, a Baldree traffic simulator was driven over a section of the plot, either 0 (CON), 1 (LOW), or 2 (HIGH) times per week for 6 weeks followed by 4 weeks of rest in the spring, summer, and fall over a 2-year period. Variables assessed include compaction, biomass available for grazing, vegetative cover (persistence), and nutrient composition. Soil compaction increased with the application of traffic treatments (P < .0001). Traffic treatment reduced persistence following traffic by 19%-36% across all trials in both years (P = .0003). For most trials, biomass available for grazing was reduced after traffic treatment by 19% and 43% (P = .02). Overall, tall fescue cultivars were most traffic tolerant followed by hard fescue. Cultivars considered "low" in nonstructural carbohydrate (<15%) included creeping bentgrass in Year 1 and hard fescue and chewings fescue in Year 2. In Year 2, the Ca:P ratio declined beyond what is recommended for horses. Tall fescue, hard fescue, and creeping bentgrass cultivars are recommended for further evaluation as suitable ground cover in areas of heavy use on equine operations.

Longitudinal changes in blood metabolites, amino acid profile, and oxidative stress markers in American Foxhounds fed a nutrient-fortified diet.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in blood metabolites, AA profile, and oxidative stress markers in American Foxhound dogs fed a nutrient-fortified endurance diet while undergoing unstructured endurance exercise over several months. Thirty-six adult American Foxhound dogs (mean age: 4.5, range 2 to 10 yr and mean BW: 34.7, range: 23.1 to 46.9 kg) were selected to participate in the study. Prior to the study, all dogs consumed a commercial diet for 16 wk. After collecting baseline blood samples, dogs were assigned to a standard commercial performance diet (control) or a nutrient-fortified dog food (test). Dogs were balanced by gender, age, body weight, and athletic performance between diets. During the study, dogs underwent 78 bouts of exercise, with approximately 22 km/bout. Blood samples were collected after 40, 75, 138, and 201 d on study (October 2012 to March 2013). All blood metabolites were similar at baseline and serum chemistry profile remained within normal ranges throughout the study. Over time, plasma taurine and vitamin E concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) in dogs fed the control diet but were maintained or increased (P < 0.05) in dogs fed the treatment diet. Also, plasma creatinine and triglycerides were lower (P < 0.05) and blood phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were higher (P < 0.05) in dogs fed the treatment diet. Vitamin E and taurine status of dogs appear to be affected by extended endurance exercise. These data suggest dogs undergoing endurance exercise may benefit from supplementation of vitamin E and taurine to minimize oxidation and maintain taurine status.

Acute changes in blood metabolites and amino acid profile post-exercise in Foxhound dogs fed a high endurance formula.

Dogs participating in endurance exercise, including herding, hunting and racing have a greater energy requirement and may be more susceptible to nutrient depletion, electrolyte imbalance and metabolic stress. The objective of the present study was to investigate the acute response to unstructured mixed exercise in American Foxhounds fed a nutrient-fortified endurance diet. Thirty-nine adult Foxhound dogs (median age: 5·0, range: 2-10 years and median body weight (BW): 36·4, range: 24·9-49·5 kg) were allotted to a standard performance diet (Control) or nutrient-fortified endurance diet for adult dogs (Test). Dogs were balanced by sex, age, BW and athletic performance between diets. All male dogs were intact, whereas all the female dogs were spayed. After 80 d on diet, blood samples were collected via jugular puncture at baseline (0 h), and at 3 and 25 h post-exercise (mean: 17·7 (sem 0·92) km run over 2-3 h). Plasma taurine concentration and complete amino acid (AA) profile, serum chemistry and creatine kinase were measured. Serum chemistry profile remained within normal ranges throughout the study. A significant (P < 0·05) diet by time interaction was observed for calcium, alkaline phosphatase and most AA. Plasma taurine and most essential AA were increased (P < 0·05) after exercise and remained greater (P < 0·05) in dogs fed the Test diet, including the branched-chain AA (isoleucine, leucine and valine). Creatine kinase increased (P = 0·01) after 3 h and returned to baseline after 25 h post-exercise, but was not altered by diet. These data indicate that dogs undergoing a moderate bout of exercise did not suffer from electrolyte imbalance, and that a nutrient-fortified diet resulted in greater plasma taurine and essential AA concentrations.