Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Pony
Ponies are members of the Equidae family and share many physiological and anatomical characteristics, yet they are distinguished by several key differences. Ponies are generally smaller in stature, with a height at the withers of 14.2 hands (58 inches) or less, while horses exceed this height. In addition to size, ponies often exhibit a stockier build, thicker manes, tails, and coats, and a greater bone density compared to horses. These differences can influence their suitability for various tasks and environments. This topic encompasses a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetic, phenotypic, and behavioral distinctions between ponies and horses, as well as their implications for breeding, management, and performance in equine disciplines.
Hormonal mechanism of follicle deviation as indicated by major versus minor follicular waves during the transition into the anovulatory season in mares. Follicle growth and circulating hormone concentrations were compared between an interovulatory interval and the first 60 days of the anovulatory season in pony mares. Daily observations were made from November of three groups: (i) ablation of follicles of >/=6 mm in diameter at day 10 after an ovulation that initiated an interovulatory interval, as determined retrospectively (ovulatory group, n=8), (ii) ablation at day 10 after the last ovulation of the year (anovulatory-10 group, n=6); and (iii) ablation at day 60 after the last ovulation of the year (anovulatory-60 group, n=6). Follicular...
Population-S benzimidazole- and tetrahydropyrimidine-resistant small strongyles in a pony herd in Kentucky (1977-1999): effects of anthelmintic treatment on the parasites as determined in critical tests. Population-S small strongyles have been studied since 1974 in central Kentucky in a closed Shetland pony breeding herd. The ponies were treated approximately every 8 weeks with cambendazole (1974-1978), oxibendazole (OBZ) (1978-1992), or pyrantel pamoate (PRT) (1992-1999). Small strongyles in the ponies have shown resistance to these compounds in field and critical tests. One purpose of this presentation was to compare different parameters for determination of effects on the small strongyle species in ponies after treatment, mainly with OBZ or PRT, from data in critical tests (n=112). Also, th...
Protein kinase C (PKC) isotype profile in eosinophils from ponies with sweet itch and role in histamine-induced eosinophil activation. Eosinophils have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the seasonal equine allergic skin disease, sweet itch. Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in regulating eosinophil function and antigen challenge has been reported to alter PKC isotype expression in blood eosinophils from allergic human subjects. Here we have compared the pattern of PKC isotype expression in eosinophils from sweet itch ponies with that in cells from normal ponies both during the active and inactive phases of the disease. A role for PKC in histamine-induced eosinophil activation was also investigated. Conventional PKCs alp...
Equine cyathostome populations: accuracy of species composition estimations. Historically, surveys of equine parasites either are not quantitative in regard to prevalence and intensities of cyathostome species, or if quantitative, are estimates based on the identification of a very small sample of the population. Commonly 100-200 worms are identified. In the current study cyathostomes from 10 ponies were counted and identified to species in subsets of approximately 200 worms each from 5% aliquots of the large intestine contents until all worms in the aliquot were examined. A mean of 10.9+/-4.3 species were identified by examining 200 cyathostomes from each animal. This...
Equine hepatic disease: the effect of patient- and case-specific variables on risk and prognosis. Liver disease is fairly common in horses and, although previous literature suggests that fatality rates are high, impressions gained from current clinical practice suggest that this is no longer the case. Objective: A case-control study was undertaken in 2 hospitals to investigate whether age, gender or breed type predisposed horses to developing hepatic disease, with the additional aim of determining whether these factors and disease category had any effect on outcome. Methods: Eighty-eight cases were identified by review of computerised archives at 2 hospitals. Three cases admitted immediate...
Ophthalmic lesions in 83 geriatric horses and ponies. Ophthalmic lesions were detected in 67 of 83 horses and ponies aged 15 years or more. Degeneration of the vitreous, followed by senile retinopathy, were the most common lesions and both of them became more common with advancing age, although few of the owners reported disturbances of vision in their animals.
Effect of lateral heel wedges on sagittal and transverse plane kinematics of trotting Shetland ponies and the influence of feeding and training regimes. Lateral heel wedges are used to treat horses and ponies with patella fixation or bone spavin. However, these therapies are purely empirically based and lack scientific evidence. Objective: Lateral heel wedges would change joint motion in the sagittal, but mainly in the transversal planes, in healthy horses. This effect would be increased by restricted feeding and decreased by extra training. Methods: A group of 24 Shetland ponies age 3 years was used, as foals had been assigned to restricted and ad libitum (ad lib) feeding, and low and high level training groups of 6 animals each. An experienc...
Differences in polymorphonucleocyte function and local inflammatory response between horses and ponies. Wound healing proceeds faster in ponies than in horses and complications during healing, such as wound infection, occur less frequently in ponies. Earlier studies suggested that this difference might be related to differences in the initial post traumatic inflammatory response. Objective: That polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function and profiles of humoral factors in local inflammatory processes are different in horses and ponies. Methods: PMNs were isolated from venous blood of horses and ponies. Chemotaxis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined. Tissue cages were impl...
beta-Adrenergic stimulated lipolysis in pony adipocytes is exclusively via a beta2-subtype and is not affected by lactation. Catecholamines are important lipolytic agents in horses and ponies but the nature of the adrenergic receptor subtype distribution in their adipocytes is uncertain. A first objective was to identify the beta-adrenergic receptor subtype(s) present in adipocytes from horses and ponies. A second objective was to evaluate if the lipolytic responsiveness of isolated adipocytes to beta-adrenergic agonists is altered during lactation, a condition known to affect markedly maternal fat metabolism. Isoproterenol and salbutamol elicited strong lipolytic responses in adipocytes isolated from horse and pony...
Changes in the EEG during castration in horses and ponies anaesthetized with halothane. To identify changes in the amplitude spectrum of the electroencephalogram (EEG) during a standardized surgical model of nociception in horses. Methods: Thirteen entire male horses and ponies referred to Division of Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol (n = 9) and Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (n = 4) for castration. Methods: Following pre-anaesthetic medication with acepromazine, anaesthesia was induced with guaiphenesin and thiopental and maintained with halothane in oxygen. The EEG was recorded continuously using subcutaneous needle electrodes. Additional monitoring comprised EC...
Seasonal changes in plasma concentrations of cecum-derived amines in clinically normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis. To measure concentrations of amines formed in the cecum of clinically normal ponies, determine amine concentrations in plasma samples collected in spring and winter, and compare concentrations of amines and serotonin in plasma samples obtained from clinically normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis. Methods: Cecal contents obtained from 10 ponies euthanatized at an abattoir and blood samples obtained from 42 adult ponies. Methods: Cecal contents were assayed for amines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blood samples were collected at various times of the year from 20 ...
Schirmer tear test results in normal horses and ponies: effect of age, season, environment, sex, time of day and placement of strips. Tear production was evaluated in 39 horses and 29 ponies using Schirmer tear test strips to determine whether diurnal or weekly fluctuations occur, whether location of strip placement has an effect, if values are the same for both eyes in an animal and whether sex, age, stabling vs. pasture and winter vs. summer had an effect. There was no test in which the raw score was less than 10 mm, although there were many occasions where tear wetting exceeded 35 mm. Analysis of the raw (continuous) scores by linear regression provided no evidence that signalment, housing or season or location of strip p...
Pathogenicity of a Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis serotype IE virus isolate for ponies. The enzootic or endemic strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus (ID, IE, IF, and II-VI) are considered avirulent. In 1993 and 1996, outbreaks of encephalitis occurred in the horse populations in the Chiapas and Oaxaca provinces of Mexico, respectively. In both instances, enzootic VEE virus subserotype IE was isolated from brain tissues of dead horses. The present study investigated the pathogenicity of the Chiapas viral isolate (NVSL VEE IE 93-42124) in ponies. Three ponies were inoculated intradermally with 4, 5, and 6 logs, respectively, of the NVSL VEE IE 93-42124 viral i...
Lysosomal storage disease in Sida carpinifolia toxicosis: an induced mannosidosis in horses. This study reports a neurological disease unrecognised until now in ponies in southern Brazil. Objective: Epidemiological data strongly suggests that the ingestion of Sida carpinifolia is involved in the aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that it is an acquired lyosomal storage disease. Methods: Following the death of 3 ponies, all ponies from the premises were closely monitored; epidemiological data and clinical findings carefully recorded. Fragments of several organs, including CNS, were fixed in neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin-wax. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosi...
[Splenectomy in a dressage pony: end of sports career?]. A 14-year-old Arabian cross-bred gelding was referred to the University Clinic because of mild, recurrent signs of colic for 5 days. The pony showed icteric mucous membranes, haemolytic blood, and dark coloured urine. Internal examination did not give a clear diagnosis. Unidentified intra-abdominal strands were found and haemorrhagic abdominocentesis led to the decision to perform an exploratory laparatomy. An extremely enlarged spleen was the sole finding. A splenal biopsy sample was taken and surgery was completed. The pony remained colicky, so the spleen was examined by ultrasonography. Aft...
Mathematical modelling of digesta passage rate, mean retention time and in vivo apparent digestibility of two different lengths of hay and big-bale grass silage in ponies. Welsh-cross pony geldings (about 300 kg live weight) were used in a 4x4 Latin square experiment to determine the rate of passage and apparent digestibility of unchopped big-bale grass silage (BBL), chopped big-bale grass silage (BBS), unchopped grass hay (HL) and chopped grass hay (HS) offered at approximately 15 g/kg live weight per d. On day 1 of collection weeks, ponies were fed 85 g ytterbium chloride hexahydrate-marked feed 1.5 h after the morning meal. Total faecal collections commenced 8 h later and continued for 168 h. Apparent digestibilities of feed DM, organic matter (OM), crude pro...
Regional antibody and cellular immune responses to equine influenza virus infection, and particle mediated DNA vaccination. We have previously demonstrated that hemagglutinin (HA) gene vaccination and influenza virus infection generate protective antibody responses in equids. However, these antibody responses differ substantially in that particle mediated DNA vaccination does not induce an immunoglobulin A (IgA) response. A study was performed to investigate the regional immunoregulatory mechanisms associated with these different immune responses. Ponies were either vaccinated with equine HA DNA vaccines at skin and mucosal sites, infected with influenza virus or left untreated and influenza-specific antibody respo...
Characterization of EIAV LTR variability and compartmentalization in various reservoir tissues of long-term inapparent carrier ponies. Dynamic genomic variation resulting in changes in envelope antigenicity has been established as a fundamental mechanism of persistence by equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), as observed with other lentiviruses, including HIV-1. In addition to the reported changes in envelope sequences, however, certain studies indicate the viral LTR as a second variable EIAV gene, with the enhancer region being designated as hypervariable. These observations have lead to the suggestion that LTR variation may alter viral replication properties to optimize to the microenvironment of particular tissue reservoi...
3-methylindole induces transient olfactory mucosal injury in ponies. Response to 3-methylindole (3MI) varies among species. Mice recover from 3MI-induced bronchiolar epithelial injury but sustain persistent olfactory mucosal injury with scarring and epithelial metaplasia. In contrast, 3MI induces obliterative bronchiolitis in horses and ponies, but olfactory mucosal injury has not been reported. To evaluate the effect of 3MI on equine olfactory mucosa, ponies were dosed orally with 100 mg 3MI/kg (n = 9) or corn oil vehicle (n = 6). All ponies treated with 3MI developed obliterative bronchiolitis with mild olfactory injury. By 3 days after 3MI dosing, olfactory ...
Mucosal co-administration of cholera toxin and influenza virus hemagglutinin-DNA in ponies generates a local IgA response. We have previously demonstrated that equine influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) DNA vaccination protects ponies from challenge infection, and induces protective IgGa and IgGb responses. However, this approach does not induce a nasal IgA response. The objective of this study was to examine the value of cholera toxin (CT) administration as an adjuvant for intranasal HA DNA vaccination, and to measure protection 3 months after DNA vaccination. After an immunogenic dose of CT was determined, ponies were immunized on two occasions by intranasal administration of HA DNA and cholera toxin, or HA DNA a...
Aid to the antemortem diagnosis of Fell pony foal syndrome by the analysis of B lymphocytes. Fell pony foals are affected by a congenital fatal immunodeficiency that commonly leads to anaemia and lymphopenia. Previous work has shown that the foals' circulating subpopulations of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes are unaffected. In this study it was shown that the mean population of B lymphocytes in 10 affected foals was less than 10 per cent of that in normal foals.
Prevalence of strongyle nematodes in naturally infected ponies of different ages and during different seasons of the year in Louisiana. One hundred and seventeen ponies were surveyed for the seasonal prevalence of strongyloid parasites, particularly cyathostomes, and for host- and age-related differences in these infections. For 56 ponies, all stages of the cyathostome life cycle, both mucosal and luminal, were enumerated. Total numbers of cyathostomes and percentage of developing larvae (DL) encysted in the mucosa remained constant in all 4 seasons of the year, whereas a significant increase in the percentage of adults in the cyathostome population occurred in fall. In yearling ponies, encysted early third-stage larvae consti...
Assessment of the minimum protein requirement of adult ponies. The aim of the present study was to determine the minimum protein requirement in adult ponies. Literature data from nitrogen-balance trials in adult ponies were used. In addition, nitrogen balance was measured in three mature ponies that were fed a low- and a high-protein diet according to a cross-over design. On the low-protein ration, which provided 1.1 g digestible crude protein (DCP)/kg(0.75) day, plasma albumin and total protein concentrations were non-significantly decreased by about 6% and group-mean nitrogen balance was negative. Using data from the present experiment and from six othe...
Production and clearance of plasma triacylglycerols in ponies fed diets containing either medium-chain triacylglycerols or soya bean oil. The hypothesis was tested that feeding ponies a diet containing medium-chain triacylglcyerols (MCT) instead of soya bean oil causes an increase in the production of plasma triacylglycerols, which, under steady-state conditions, is associated with an increased clearance of triacylglycerols. Six ponies were fed rations containing either MCT or an isoenergetic amount of soya bean oil according to a cross-over design. The concentration of MCT in the total dietary dry matter was about 13%. When the ponies were fed the diets for 3 weeks, plasma triacylglycerol concentrations were 0.42 +/- 0.09 and 0...
24-hour secretion patterns of plasma oestradiol 17beta in pony mares in late gestation. The mare exhibits nocturnal uterine contractions in the last 6 days of gestation. It is hypothesized that estradiol 17beta (O17beta) may be associated with the nightly increase in uterine contractions. The 24-h secretion pattern of plasma O17beta was measured in 3 pony mares in late gestation to identify changes in release as the mare neared parturition. Blood was collected weekly at 08:00 hours beginning on day 240 and every third day from day 330 until delivery. Serial blood samples were collected from each mare every 30-min for 24-h beginning on gestation day 310 and every sixth day thereaf...
Use of a GnRH antagonist, antarelix, associated or not with hCG, to control ovulation in cyclic pony mares. The GnRH antagonist antarelix (Teverelix) was administered to mares (0.01 mg/kg, i.v., twice a day) during the periovulatory period. In Experiment 1, 20 mares were divided into a treated (A3d-) and a control (Control-) group. A3d- mares received antarelix for 3 days from the day when the dominant follicle (F1) reached 32 mm (D0). In Experiment 2, 10 mares were divided into a treated (A6d+) and a control (Control+) group. A6d+ mares received antarelix for 6 days from D0 and hCG was injected in all animals (1600 IU, i.v.) on D1. Pregnancies were determined 13 days after ovulation. In both experi...
Experimental infection of ponies with equine influenza A2 (H3N8) virus strains of different pathogenicity elicits varying interferon and interleukin-6 responses. The production of interferon (IFN), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was monitored in horses during the course of influenza A2 virus infections. The effects of two virus strains, Newmarket/2/93 and Sussex/89, were compared, of which the latter is considered the more pathogenic in terms of clinical signs. Ten naive ponies were infected with influenza A/equine/Sussex/89 and 10 with influenza A/equine/Newmarket/2/93, respectively. As expected ponies infected with Sussex/89 showed the most pronounced clinical signs but there was no notable difference in viral excretion compare...
Effects of midazolam and sarmazenil on the equine electroencephalogram during anaesthesia with halothane in oxygen. The electroencephalographic (EEG) effects of a rapid infusion of midazolam and sarmazenil following a bolus of midazolam were investigated in eight Welsh mountain ponies anaesthetized with 0.8% halothane in oxygen. The peak plasma concentration of midazolam was 2.13 +/- 0.34 ng/mL (mean +/- SD) occurring 5 min after the start of the infusion. Sarmazenil concentrations were not measured. The 95% spectral edge frequency of the EEG decreased by a maximum of 39.8 +/- 15.8%, 10 min after the start of the midazolam infusion. No changes were seen in median frequency of the EEG or the second different...
