Sessions

The proportion of aging horses in equine populations have increased significantly over the past decades, shifting focus toward conditions affecting them. At the shelter studied, the most common problems were obesity (74.6 % EMS (13.9 %), PPID (27.9 %) and laminitis (16.4 %). Early detection, targeted management, and preserving the quality of life of aging horses have become issues of critical importance.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between these factors and clinical conditions of particular animal health significance, through a comprehensive health, management, and nutritional evaluation of a retired, non-exercising herd kept at an animal sanctuary. The central question was which individual, management, and dietary indicators could be used to identify metabolically at-risk animals in a herd with ideal or overweight body condition.

We began the study by weighing the horses and scoring their BCS and CNS, we assessed the various management practices and then conducted a detailed analysis of their feed rations. To assess endocrine status, we screened the horses for PPID and used a basal insulin test and an OST test to diagnose EMS. We then performed a statistical analysis of the data. Univariate associations were analyzed using Bonferroni-Holm correction, and multivariate models were evaluated using Firth’s penalized logistic regression.

The results demonstrated that body condition score (BCS) alone is insufficient to identify horses with a higher prevalence of EMS; however, when evaluated together with cresty neck score (CNS), it provides an accurate assessment. At the same BCS, a one-point increase in CNS multiplied the odds of EMS by 3.5. Age showed a bell-shaped distribution relative to EMS frequency, peaking in the 15–20 age group. Concurrent PPID was also a major risk factor, as horses with PPID were 4.5 times more likely to have EMS than their non-affected counterparts.

Based on raw data, EMS occurred most frequently in horses kept on pasture (19.7%), ponies (14.8%), and Arabian horses (30.0%), whereas laminitis was most prevalent in ponies (40.7%) and Arabian horses (20.0%). An EMS diagnosis increased the odds of laminitis by a factor of 14.2, while pony status increased it by 9.5. Although dietary profiles and management strategies (e.g., pasture access) correlated with the frequency of EMS and laminitis, these cannot be interpreted as direct causal risk factors due to post-diagnostic management changes.

The study highlights that in order to determine appropriate management strategiesfor a horse in a sanctuary setting, breed predisposition, BCS alongside CNS, and PPID status in older horses must be considered, followed by testing for EMS in high-risk individuals. Early identification of vulnerable horses, prevention of chronic laminitis, and targeted nutritional and care interventions are essential to maintain an optimal quality of life.