title: Sustained, Low-Intensity Exercise Achieved by a Dynamic Feeding System Decreases Body Fat in Ponies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity in horses is increasing in prevalence and can be associated with insulin insensitivity and laminitis. Current treatment strategies for obesity include dietary restriction and exercise. However, whether exercise alone is effective for decreasing body fat is uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our hypothesis was that twice daily use of a dynamic feeding system for 3 months would induce sustained, low-intensity exercise thereby decreasing adiposity and improving insulin sensitivity (SI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight, university-owned, mixed-breed, adult ponies with body condition scores (BCS) ≥5/9 were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two treatments ("feeder on" or "feeder off") were administered for a 3-month period by a randomized, crossover design (n = 4/treatment). An interim equilibration period of 6 weeks at pasture separated the 2 study phases. Measurements of body mass (body weight, BCS, cresty neck score [CrNS], and morphometry), body fat (determined before and after the "feeder on" treatment only), triglycerides, and insulin sensitivity (SI; combined glucose-insulin test) were undertaken before and after treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dynamic feeding system induced a 3.7-fold increase in the daily distance travelled (n = 6), compared to with a stationary feeder, which significantly decreased mean BCS (6.53 ± 0.94 to 5.38 ± 1.71), CrNS (2.56 ± 1.12 to 1.63 ± 1.06) and body fat (by 4.95%). An improvement in SI did not occur in all ponies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dynamic feeding system can be used to induce sustained (daily), low-intensity exercise that promotes weight loss in ponies. However, this exercise may not be sufficient to substantially improve SI.
authors.affiliation: Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, Australia. melody.delaat@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Laat
authors.affiliation: Sunshine Coast Equine Podiatry Services, Coolum, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.affiliation: Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sillence
authors.affiliation: Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld Australia.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pollitt
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Equine metabolic syndrome; Horse; Insulin; Obesity