Welsh Cobs are a specific breed category within the equine species, known for their versatility and distinctive characteristics. Originating from Wales, these horses are recognized for their muscular build, intelligence, and spirited yet manageable temperament. Welsh Cobs are often used in a variety of disciplines, including driving, riding, and competitive events, due to their strength and agility. The breed is divided into four sections (A, B, C, and D) based on size and type, with Section D specifically referred to as the Welsh Cob. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the breeding, genetics, historical development and uses of Welsh Cobs.
Carter RA, Treiber KH, Geor RJ, Douglass L, Harris PA.The ability to predict ponies at increased risk of laminitic episodes, when exposed to nutrient dense pasture, would facilitate management to avoid disease. Objective: To identify variables and clinically useful cut-off values with reproducible diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of ponies that subsequently developed laminitis when exposed to nutrient dense pasture. Methods: A cohort of predominantly Welsh and Dartmoor ponies from a closed herd was evaluated in March 2006 (n = 74) and March 2007 (n = 57). Ponies were categorised as never laminitic or previously laminitic according to report...
Robinson TR, Hussey SB, Hill AE, Heckendorf CC, Stricklin JB, Traub-Dargatz JL.To compare temperature readings from an implantable percutaneous thermal sensing microchip with temperature readings from a digital rectal thermometer, to identify factors that affect microchip readings, and to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the microchip for fever detection. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 52 Welsh pony foals that were 6 to 10 months old and 30 Quarter Horses that were 2 years old. Methods: Data were collected in summer, winter, and fall in groups 1 (n = 23 ponies), 2 (29 ponies), and 3 (30 Quarter Horses), respectively. Temperature readings from a digital r...
Carter RA, Geor RJ, Burton Staniar W, Cubitt TA, Harris PA.This study described a scoring system for the assessment of apparent neck adiposity and evaluated morphometric measurements for assessment of neck and overall adiposity. Twenty-one barren Thoroughbred mares, 13 Arabian geldings and 75 Welsh, Dartmoor, or crossbred pony mares, were clinically examined and blood samples analysed for insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglycerides. Bodyweight (BW), height, length, girth and abdominal circumferences, neck length, neck crest height and neck circumference were measured, and body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were rated. Girth:heigh...
Lefranc A-, Allen WR.The diffuse noninvasive epitheliochorial equine placenta develops an intimate and complex interdigitation with the maternal endometrium throughout gestation to maximise surface contact and, consequently, optimise nutritional and gaseous maternofetal exchanges. A significant reduction occurs in the surface density of microcotyledons on the placentae of Welsh Pony vs. Thoroughbred mares that may relate to a difference in either the number or density of endometrial glands between these breeds. Objective: To examine this hypothesis and to determine the influence of the oestrous cycle upon the deve...
Newton JR, Woodt JL, Chanter N.Recurring respiratory infections can contribute to prolonged burdens of disease, especially in younger horses and better knowledge of factors and effective interventions, such as vaccines, should improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. Objective: To identify factors and infections associated with naturally occurring respiratory disease in recently weaned Welsh Mountain ponies maintained at pasture and to determine whether ponies vaccinated with an experimental inactivated bacterial vaccine had lower burdens of disease and infection compared to nonvaccinated controls. Transferrin allele,...
Minke JM, Toulemonde CE, Coupier H, Guigal PM, Dinic S, Sindle T, Jessett D, Black L, Bublot M, Pardo MC, Audonnet JC.To determine onset and duration of immunity provided by a 2- or 3-dose series of a new canarypox-vectored recombinant vaccine for equine influenza virus (rCP-EIV vaccine) expressing the hemagglutinin genes of influenza H3N8 virus strains A/eq/Kentucky/94 and A/eq/Newmarket/2/93 in ponies. Methods: Forty-nine 1- to 3-year-old male Welsh Mountain Ponies that were seronegative for equine influenza virus. Methods: Vaccinated and control ponies were challenged with aerosolized influenza virus A/eq/Sussex/89 (H3N8), representative of the Eurasian lineage of circulating influenza viruses. In trial 1,...
Murrell JC, White KL, Johnson CB, Taylor PM, Doherty TJ, Waterman-Pearson AE.To record the electroencephalographic changes during castration in ponies anaesthetized with halothane and given intravenous (IV) lidocaine by infusion. The hypothesis tested was that in ponies, IV lidocaine is antinociceptive and would therefore obtund EEG changes during castration. Methods: Ten Welsh mountain ponies referred to the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge for castration under general anaesthesia. Methods: Following pre-anaesthetic medication with intramuscular acepromazine (0.02 mg kg(-1)) anaesthesia was induced with IV guaiphenesin (60 mg kg(-1)) and thiopenta...
Edlund Toulemonde C, Daly J, Sindle T, Guigal PM, Audonnet JC, Minke JM.Fifteen influenza-naive Welsh mountain ponies were randomly assigned to three groups of five. A single dose of a recombinant ALVAC vaccine was administered intramuscularly to five of the ponies, two doses, administered five weeks apart, were administered to five, and the other five served as unvaccinated, challenge controls. Two weeks after the completion of the vaccination programme, the ponies were all challenged by exposure to an aerosol of influenza virus A/eq/Newmarket/5/03. Their clinical signs were scored daily for 14 days according to a standardised scoring protocol, and nasal swabs we...
Johnson CB, Bloomfield M, Taylor PM.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...
Porter RH, Duchamp G, Nowak R, Daels PF.An attempt was made to elicit maternal behavior in non-parturient Welsh pony mares through a combination of hormonal treatment and vaginal-cervical stimulation (VCS). Lactation was induced in 16 nonpregnant, non-parturient mares via a combination of estradiol, progesterone and a dopamine antagonist (sulpiride). During the adoption trials, each lactating mare was confined behind a padded bar and a newborn foal was held near her head. Eight of the mares received two 3-min periods of VCS when the foster foal was introduced. Following VCS, the foal was released and its interactions with the adopti...
Sheoran AS, Artiushin S, Timoney JF.The intranasal immunogenicity of cholera toxin (CT) genetically coupled to peptide sequence aa236-334 (F3) of the SeM protein of Streptococcus equi was studied in five young adult Welsh ponies. All ponies made rapid CTB- and SeMF3-specific serum antibody responses following the first immunization. Specific nasal IgA responses were detected in two ponies 14 days after the first immunization, in another two 14 days after a second immunization on day 14, and in all ponies 28 days after a third immunization on day 42. SeMF3-specific antibody responses in sera and nasal washes were dominated by IgG...
Swinburne J, Gerstenberg C, Breen M, Aldridge V, Lockhart L, Marti E, Antczak D, Eggleston-Stott M, Bailey E, Mickelson J, Røed K, Lindgren G....Two 3-generation full-sibling reference families have been produced and form a unique resource for genetic linkage mapping studies in the horse. The F(2) generations, now comprising 61 individuals, consist of 28- to 32-day-old embryos removed nonsurgically from two pairs of identical twin mares. The same stallion sired all F(2)s such that the two full-sibling families are half-sibling with respect to each other. The families are crossbred to maximize levels of heterozygosity and include Arabian, Thoroughbred, Welsh Cob, and Icelandic Horse breeds. Milligram quantities of DNA have been isolated...
Johnson CB, Bloomfield M, Taylor PM.To investigate the effects of ketamine on the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the horse. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Eight Welsh mountain pony geldings weighing between 280 and 330 kg, 5 to 9 years old. Methods: During halothane anesthesia at an end-tidal halothane concentration between 0.75 and 0.85%, the EEG frequency power spectrum and the auditory evoked potential were recorded while an infusion of ketamine was given. Ketamine 200 mg was infused over 5 minutes in 8 ponies. The effects of ketamine on the EEG were recorded continuously during the infusion and for a furthe...
van Schaik AM, van der Pol BA, van der Linde-Sipman JS.A healthy, 10-day-old Welsh A pony colt was totally blind 1 day after arrival at a studfarm. Both eyes appeared normal on external inspection. The young animal had been very distressed during the 40-km journey to the studfarm. Intravenous corticosteroids were administered for 2 days, but did not result in any observable improvement. The animal was euthanized at the owner's request. Both eyes with the optic nerves were removed for histological examination. Both optic nerves showed Wallerian degeneration, a well-known response of peripheral nerves to trauma. The foal, which was not tethered duri...
Rizvi SM, Slater JD, Wolfinger U, Borchers K, Field HJ, Slade AJ.The distribution of equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) DNA within neurological and lymphoid tissues from 12 EHV-2 seropositive Welsh mountain ponies was determined by PCR. The lymphoid sites sampled in this study were almost universally PCR positive, thus confirming the existing virus co-cultivation data which suggest that the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract are the main reservoirs of EHV-2 DNA. In addition, EHV-2 DNA was also detected, albeit with lower frequency, within both the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS) of these animals. Of the CNS sites sampled 11% were PCR-...
Sertich PL, Reef VB, Oristaglio-Turner RM, Habecker PL, Maxson AD.A multiparous pregnant Welsh Pony mare was examined because of anorexia, dyspnea, and a large abdomen. Ultrasonography of the uterus revealed an excessive amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Transabdominal ultrasonography permitted differentiation of hydrops amnii from hydrops allantois. The mare aborted a 7-month-old fetus with brachygnathia and a large, edematous umbilical cord. Hydrops amnii, an excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid in the amniotic cavity, is most commonly reported in cattle and sheep.
Blunden AS, Hannant D, Livesay G, Mumford JA.Welsh Mountain ponies were inoculated with an isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae, SPE 1618 (capsular type 3) recovered from the equine respiratory tract: 10 ml of a suspension of 10(8) or 10(9) cfu/ml were instilled intratracheally. Fever was observed after either dose but the greater concentration also produced coughing, ocular and nasal discharge, depression and enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes. Cytological evidence of infection was also observed in tracheal washings during the first week after inoculation and corresponded with isolation of S. pneumoniae from the washes. Morbid anat...
Baker SJ, Gerring EL.We investigated the effects of a range of IV administered doses of omeprazole (0.125 to 2.0 mg/kg of body weight) on gastric pH (monitored by indwelling electrode) and plasma gastrin concentration, compared with those of IV administered ranitidine (1.0 mg/kg) in 4 Welsh mountain-type ponies. Pharmacokinetic variables of IV administered omeprazole also were examined. Episodes of high gastric pH in the basal state obscured the effect of acid suppression on intragastric pH; however, omeprazole induced dose-dependent increase in mean gastric pH (P < 0.01) during the 11 hours after its administr...
McCulloch J, Williamson SA, Powis SJ, Edington N.It has been suggested that EHV-1 infection may perturb immune responsiveness in the natural equine host. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is not clear, but disturbances of circulating leucocyte populations could contribute. In order to objectively assess the nature of the haematological changes provoked by EHV-1 infection, two groups of conventionally-maintained Welsh mountain ponies were challenge-infected intra-nasally with the Ab4 isolate of EHV-1. These groups were controlled by similarly-sized groups of non-infected ponies. All data generated was subjected to rigorous statistical ...
Wöckener A, Colenbrander B.Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of liquid storage extender and of a modified freezing protocol on motility and morphology parameters of 3-year-old pony stallions. In experiment 1 ejaculates were diluted 1 + 1 (v+v) with glycine-egg-yolk extender (D11) or skim milk extender (SME), centrifuged, resuspended in the corresponding extender and kept at +5 degrees C. Concerning motion characteristics, both progressive motility and average path velocity of semen stored in SME was significantly superior to semen stored in D11 after 6, 18 and 42 hrs. However, over time of storage th...
Smith KC, Whitwell KE, Mumford JA, Gower SM, Hannant D, Tearle JP.Twelve Welsh Mountain pony mares in late gestation were infected intranasally with EHV-1 (AB4 isolate) at dose rates from 10(3) to 10(7.3) TCID50. This resulted in 3 cases of paresis, at Days 9, 10 and 12 after inoculation, and 5 abortions, at Days 6, 9, 18, 19 and 20. Euthanasia was performed between Days 6 and 21, with collection of uterine specimens for histopathology, virus isolation and immunoperoxidase staining from the pregnant horn, non-pregnant horn and body. EHV-1 replication in endometrial vessels was detected as early as Day 6 and was maximal at Days 9-11, when widespread thrombois...
Bracher V, Allen WR.The new generation of videoendoscopes uses an electronic, instead of an optical, system for image transmission. Advantages over conventional fibre-optic endoscopes include increased image quality, handling robustness and direct display of the image on a TV monitor for multiple simultaneous viewing. In the present study, hysteroscopy was performed on 14 normal fertile Welsh Pony and Thoroughbred mares at various times during the annual and ovarian breeding cycles. Oestrus was characterised by an oedematous, relaxed cervix lying on the floor of the vagina, diffuse oedema of the endometrium and t...
Holmes MA, Lunn DP.As part of a project to raise specific pathogen free (SPF) Welsh Mountain Pony foals, free from exposure to Equid herpesvirus type 1, foals were removed from their dams at birth and fed bovine colostrum. This study characterises the uptake of bovine colostral immunoglobulin and production of endogenous immunoglobulin, in 10 SPF foals. An enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay was developed to measure serum concentrations of bovine IgG1 (boIgG1) to assess the efficiency of transfer, and rate of elimination of boIgG1 by the foal. The endogenous production of equine IgG was studied using a single ra...
The Journal of heredityJuly 1, 1990
Volume 81, Issue 4 323-331 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a110997
Sponenberg DP, Carr G, Simak E, Schwink K.The leopard complex of white spotting patterns in horses consists of the leopard, few-spot leopard, blanket, blanket with spots, varnish roan (or marble), snowflake, frosted, speckled, and mottled patterns. Horses with any of these patterns can produce the other patterns when mated to nonpatterned horses. Twenty-two horses of the Welsh Pony, Noriker, Appaloosa, and Pony of the Americas breeds produced 270 foals in a distribution consistent with a single dominant allele being responsible for the patterns. The symbol for this dominant allele, Lp, is retained from previous work on the leopard pat...
Mumford JA, Hannant D, Jessett DM.Infection of seronegative Welsh mountain ponies was established by intranasal instillation or exposure to nebulised aerosol of egg grown H3N8 viruses. Pyrexia and coughing were noted following intranasal instillation and high titres of virus were recovered from the nasopharynx. Exposure to aerosol resulted in more severe clinical signs characterised by high temperatures, dyspnoea, anorexia and coughing; lower levels of virus were recovered from the nasopharynx. The severity of clinical signs and the kinetics of virus shedding were dose-related with the minimal infectious dose being 10(2)EID50/...
Bridges CG, Edington N.Six Welsh Mountain pony foals were experimentally infected with a subtype 2 isolate of Equid Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and subsequently examined for T cell mediated cytotoxicity against both subtypes. Cytotoxicity was not observed at 3 or 7 days after primary exposure but virus-specific, and genetically restricted, cytotoxicity of EHV-1-labelled autologous skin fibroblasts could be demonstrated 7 and 21 days after the animals were given a second exposure to live virus. Killing of subtype 2 antigen-labelled targets was more efficient than subtype 1 coated cells. This finding was paralleled by the o...
Summers PM, Shephard AM, Hodges JK, Kydd J, Boyle MS, Allen WR.Blastocysts were collected non-surgically from 2 Przewalski's horse and 2 Grant's zebra mares and transferred extra-specifically to domestic horse and donkey recipients. Nine Przewalski's horse embryos were transferred surgically, and 2 non-surgically, to domestic Welsh-type pony mares. After surgical transfer, 7 (77.8%) pregnancies were established and 4 foals were born. Twelve Grant's zebra embryos were transferred surgically to 5 pony and 7 domestic donkey recipients respectively and 1 non-surgically to a donkey; 3 (60%) zebra-in-horse pregnancies were established and 2 went to term. Only 2...
Baxter GM.Clinical data from 12 cases of equine laminitis characterized by distal displacement of the distal phalanx (P3) were reviewed. Clinical features of horses that survived the syndrome were compared with the nonsurvivors to obtain prognostic indicators. Animals affected included 8 Quarter Horses, 2 Welsh ponies, 1 Thoroughbred, and 1 Arabian. Eight of the animals were females (67%), 2 were stallions, and 2 were geldings. The mean age of affected animals was 8.6 years (2 to 14 years), and the mean body weight was 442 kg. The survivors weighed less than the nonsurvivors (384 kg vs 473 kg, respectiv...
Lees P, Taylor JB, Higgins AJ, Sharma SC.The clinically recommended dose rate of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously as a single dose to five Welsh Mountain ponies. Distribution of phenylbutazone and its active metabolite oxyphenbutazone into body fluids was studied by measuring concentrations in plasma, tissue-cage fluid, peritoneal fluid and acute inflammatory exudate harvested from a polyester sponge model of inflammation. The ready penetration of phenylbutazone into inflammatory exudate was demonstrated by the relatively high mean value for Cmax of 12.4 micrograms/ml occurring at a time of 4.6 h and a mean A...
Newton JR, Woodt JL, Chanter N.Recurring respiratory infections can contribute to prolonged burdens of disease, especially in younger horses and better knowledge of factors and effective interventions, such as vaccines, should improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. Objective: To identify factors and infections associated with naturally occurring respiratory disease in recently weaned Welsh Mountain ponies maintained at pasture and to determine whether ponies vaccinated with an experimental inactivated bacterial vaccine had lower burdens of disease and infection compared to nonvaccinated controls. Transferrin allele,...
Greppi M, Bordin C, Raspa F, Maccone E, Harris P, Ellis AD, Cavallini D, Bergero D, Valle E.Slow feeding devices (SFDs) are useful tools in order to improve the horse well-being and to reduce wastage, but their use may result in unnatural posture during feeding and frustration behaviours. Moreover, it may be important to evaluate the laterality during feeding. The aim of the study was to investigate ponies' feeding behaviour (i.e., lateralisation, frustration, postural eating style) with different hay feeding methods: on the ground (G), a fully filled hay net (HF), a partially filled hay net (HL), and a slow feeder hay box (HB). Nine ponies of two different breed types (Shetland and ...
Physick-Sheard PW, Maxie MG, Palmer NC, Gaul C.Valvular competency of the foramen ovale (patent foramen ovale) is regarded as a common finding in the neonatal foal and usually occurs in isolation. True atrial septal defects appear to be uncommon and are usually associated with other congenital cardiac lesions. The present report describes a case of atrial septal defect type 1 (persistent ostium primum) complicated by hypoplastic right ventricle, and tricuspid dysplasia, in a Welsh Mountain pony foal, and discusses the embryogenesis of the abnormality. A critical review of the literature suggests that atrial septal defects may occur more fr...
Guignot F, Reigner F, Perreau C, Tartarin P, Babilliot JM, Bed'hom B, Vidament M, Mermillod P, Duchamp G.Preimplantation genetic diagnosis and embryo cryopreservation are important tools to improve genetic management in equine species with marked consequences on the economic value, health, biodiversity, and preservation of the animals. This study aimed to develop a biopsy method at the blastocyst stage that provides viable genotyped cryopreserved Welsh pony embryos. Embryos were collected at d 6.75 to 7 after ovulation. Biopsies were performed with either a microblade or a micropipette. After biopsy, embryos were cryopreserved. The survival rate of biopsied embryos was evaluated on fresh and cryo...
Cox JE.A method for the extraction of oestrone and equilin from the plasma of the pregnant mare is described, and the levels obtained for eighty-two samples from fourteen Welsh Mountain Ponies at different stages of pregnancy are recorded. Oestrone (fifteen samples) and equilin (three samples) were not found before Day 120. From Day 120 to 240, oestrone levels exceeded 100 ng/ml and then declined to parturition. The high concentrations of oestrone in mid-pregnancy were associated with gradually increasing concentrations of equilin which tended to plateau after Day 180 at just under 100 ng/ml and decl...
Dixon J, Biggi M, O'Brien EJ, Farr R, Witte TH.An 8-year-old gelding was evaluated for intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) at exercise. Standing laterolateral radiographs demonstrated an abnormal crossed appearance of the stylohyoid bones. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed abnormal positioning of the left stylohyoid bone and articulations with both the left thyrohyoid and ceratohyoid bones. Surgical treatment consisted of combined left ceratohyoidectomy and thyrohyoidectomy. Postoperatively the patient's presenting complaint resolved completely, with the horse returning to full work. Standing laterolateral radiograp...
Bowers JR, Slocombe RF.A 4-year-old crossbred, Welsh Mountain Pony gelding was presented with multiple, thick, round, raised, 3 to 8 mm diameter nodular lesions on the medial aspects of both ears. The nodules did not involve the epidermis and were observed to develop over several months. Punch biopsies were taken and histopathological examination returned a diagnosis of auricular chondrosis. Neither auricular chondrosis nor auricular chondritis has been reported in horses, although it has been recorded in cats, dogs, laboratory animals and humans.
Schaafstra FJ, van Doorn DA, Schonewille JT, Wartena FC, Zoon MV, Blok MC, Hendriks WH.Methodological aspects of digestibility measurements of feedstuffs for equines were studied in four Welsh pony geldings consuming four grass-hay diets in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Diets contained either a low (L), medium (M), high (H), or very high (VH) ADF content (264, 314, 375, or 396 g·kg DM, respectively). Diets were supplemented with minerals, vitamins, and TiO (3.9 g Ti·d). Daily feces excreted were collected quantitatively over 10 consecutive days and analyzed for moisture, ash, ADL, AIA, and titanium (Ti). Minimum duration of total fecal collection (TFC) required for an accurate...
Nevard R, Labens R, Stephen CP.Fetal maceration and pyometra were diagnosed in a 16-year-old maiden Welsh pony mare. Due to anatomical and surgical difficulties encountered throughout treatment, previously reported techniques including both per-vaginum removal of fetal remnants and ovariohysterectomy were attempted and resulted in novel complications. Fetal bones were unable to be removed completely transcervically due to failure of cervical dilation despite repeated attempts. Subsequent surgical complications such as inadequate exposure of the uterus and incorporation of fetal bones into the uterine stump following ovarioh...
Clark BL, Bamford NJ, Stewart AJ, McCue ME, Rendahl A, Bailey SR, Bertin FR, Norton EM.The HMGA2:c.83G>A variant was identified in Welsh ponies having pleiotropic effects on height and insulin concentration. Objective: Determine whether the HMGA2:c.83G>A variant is associated with decreased height and higher basal insulin concentrations across pony breeds. Methods: Two hundred thirty-six ponies across 6 breeds. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Ponies were genotyped for the HMGA2:c.83G>A variant and phenotyped for height and basal insulin concentrations. Stepwise regression was performed for model analysis using a linear regression model for height and mixed linear model ...
Johnson CB, Bloomfield M, Taylor PM.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...
Leng J, McNally S, Walton G, Swann J, Proudman C, Argo C, Emery S, La Ragione R, Eustace R.Gut microbial communities are increasingly being linked to diseases in animals and humans. Obesity and its associated diseases are a concern for horse owners and veterinarians, and there is a growing interest in the link among diet, the intestinal microbiota and metabolic disease. Objective: Assess the influence of long-term hay or haylage feeding on the microbiota and metabolomes of 20 Welsh mountain ponies. Methods: Longitudinal study. Methods: Urine, faeces and blood were collected from 20 ponies on a monthly basis over a 13-month period. Urine and faeces were analysed using proton magnetic...
Jackson PS, Allen WR, Ricketts SW, Hall R.Uterine irrigation was carried out in eight Welsh pony mares using 50 ml of chlorhexidine gluconate solution diluted to give active ingredient concentrations of 0.25 per cent to 2 per cent. Treatment was repeated up to twice in mares showing no adverse effects and irritancy of treatment judged on clinical symptoms and uterine biopsy. Results indicated the inadvisability of using a higher concentration than 0.25 per cent. Three daily applications of a diluted surgical scub solution containing 2 per cent chlorhexidine gluconate to the penis of an arab stallion failed to produce symptoms or irrit...
Lees P, Taylor JB, Higgins AJ, Sharma SC.The clinically recommended dose rate of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously as a single dose to five Welsh Mountain ponies. Distribution of phenylbutazone and its active metabolite oxyphenbutazone into body fluids was studied by measuring concentrations in plasma, tissue-cage fluid, peritoneal fluid and acute inflammatory exudate harvested from a polyester sponge model of inflammation. The ready penetration of phenylbutazone into inflammatory exudate was demonstrated by the relatively high mean value for Cmax of 12.4 micrograms/ml occurring at a time of 4.6 h and a mean A...
Baker SJ, Gerring EL.We investigated the effects of a range of IV administered doses of omeprazole (0.125 to 2.0 mg/kg of body weight) on gastric pH (monitored by indwelling electrode) and plasma gastrin concentration, compared with those of IV administered ranitidine (1.0 mg/kg) in 4 Welsh mountain-type ponies. Pharmacokinetic variables of IV administered omeprazole also were examined. Episodes of high gastric pH in the basal state obscured the effect of acid suppression on intragastric pH; however, omeprazole induced dose-dependent increase in mean gastric pH (P < 0.01) during the 11 hours after its administr...
Deutsch J, Ekiri A, de Vries A.To compare alfaxalone as continuous intravenous (IV) infusion with intermittent IV injections for maintenance of anaesthesia in ponies undergoing castration. Methods: Prospective, randomized, 'blinded' clinical study. Methods: A group of 33 entire male Welsh ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: After preanaesthetic medication with IV detomidine (10 μg kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg kg), anaesthesia was induced with IV diazepam (0.05 mg kg) followed by alfaxalone (1 mg kg). After random allocation, anaesthesia was maintained with either IV alfaxalone 2 mg kg hour (group A; n ...
Hillidge CJ, Lees P.Respiratory function and acid-base variables were studied in Welsh Mountain ponies before and at predetermined times after the intravenous injection of Immobilon and Revivon.A marked depression of respiratory rate was accompanied by large reductions in arterial blood oxygen tension and saturation and the development of a mild respiratory acidosis following the injection of Immobilon. It was concluded that at least three factors contributed to the hypoxic hypoxia produced by Immobilon; the posture of lateral recumbency, the decrease in respiratory rate and the laboured character of the respirat...
Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM.Bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals are crucial for the digestion of dietary nutrients. Bacterial community composition is modified by age and diet in other species. Although horses are adapted to consuming fibre-based diets, high-energy, often high-starch containing feeds are increasingly used. The current study assessed the impact of age on the faecal bacteriome of ponies transitioning from a hay-based diet to a high-starch diet. Over two years, 23 Welsh Section A pony mares were evaluated (Controls, 5-15 years, n = 6/year, 12 in total; Aged, ≥19 years, n = 6 Year 1;...
Bordin C, Raspa F, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Bergero D, Valle E.The application of hay feeding devices, such as the use of hay nets or slow feeders, can help with the management of weight in ponies; however, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding their effect on equine posture. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of different feeding devices on the posture of ponies using morphometric analysis. Two different breed types, Shetland type (SH, n = 5) versus Welsh Cob type (WC, n = 4), were fed the same forage in four different ways: on the ground (G), using a fully filled haynet (HF), using a partially filled haynet (HL) and...
Shamis LD, Auer J.Complete ulnas and fibulas were found in a 10-month-old Welsh Pony examined because of severe flexural deformity, with carpal and tarsal valgus deformities, in all limbs. Presence of these normally vestigial structures is considered a form of atavism. At one week of age, periosteal transection was performed for the angular deformity, resulting in no improvement. When performing this procedure, the authors recommend transection of these vestigial structures if present.
Allison CJ.A chronic wasting disease in a 16 month old Welsh pony filly is described. The animal died 26 days after the onset of illness which commenced with a sub-acute colic and was characterised by progressive loss of appetite and weight. Post-mortem examination revealed a total invagination of the caecum into the colon and it seemed logical to assume this invagination occurred at the start of the illness. A review of the literature showed that total caecal invagination produces 2 distinct clincal syndromes. It can occur either as an acute illness characterised by severe colic and death after about 10...
Lee YL, Clarke KW, Alibhai HI, Song DY.To evaluate the effect of ephedrine on intramuscular blood flow and hemodynamic parameters during equine anesthesia. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult Welsh Mountain ponies (five males, one female, mean weight: 267 kg, range: 213-347 kg). Methods: Halothane-anesthetized ponies received an IV bolus of ephedrine (0.1 mg kg), followed 30 minutes later by a second IV ephedrine injection (0.2 mg kg). Changes in intramuscular blood flows (IMBF) in upper and lower triceps brachii were measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. Cardiopulmonary measurements were made at inte...
Schaafstra FJWC, van Doorn DA, Schonewille JT, van Riet MMJ, Visser P, Blok MC, Hendriks WH.Methodological aspects of digestibility measurements were studied in four Welsh pony geldings consuming haylage-based diets with increasing proportions of a pelleted concentrate according to a 4×4 Latin square design experiment. Ponies were fed four experimental, iso-energetic (net energy (NE) basis) diets (i.e. 22 MJ NE/day) with increasing proportions of a pelleted concentrate (C) in relation to haylage (H). The absolute amounts of diet dry matter fed per day were 4.48 kg of H (100H), 3.36 and 0.73 kg of H and C (75H25C), 2.24 and 1.45 kg of H and C (50H50C) and 1.12 and 2.17 kg of H and C ...
Sertich PL, Reef VB, Oristaglio-Turner RM, Habecker PL, Maxson AD.A multiparous pregnant Welsh Pony mare was examined because of anorexia, dyspnea, and a large abdomen. Ultrasonography of the uterus revealed an excessive amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Transabdominal ultrasonography permitted differentiation of hydrops amnii from hydrops allantois. The mare aborted a 7-month-old fetus with brachygnathia and a large, edematous umbilical cord. Hydrops amnii, an excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid in the amniotic cavity, is most commonly reported in cattle and sheep.
Critchley KL.A 6 month Welsh pony filly with an interventricular septal defect in conjunction with a pulmonary stenosis due to a bicuspid pulmonary valve is described. The animal had poor exercise tolerance, a loud pansystolic murmur and a precordial thrill. Blood pressure and oxygen tension values obtained during cardiac catheterization suggested the diagnosis which was confirmed at autopsy.
Stonex TM, Zibura AE, Andres M, Gilger BC, Oh A.To describe the use of 1% polidocanol as the sole treatment for a superficial orbital venous malformation in a horse. Methods: A 23-year-old Welsh Cobb cross gelding with a distensible swelling affecting the left lower eyelid, and secondary palpebral margin abnormalities and superficial keratitis. Methods: Color flow Doppler ultrasonography revealed non-pulsatile blood flow within the tortuous vascular network most consistent with a superficial orbital venous malformation appearing to involve the lateral palpebral and transverse facial veins. An intravenous catheter was placed within the later...
Lane VM, Merritt AM.In 4 healthy horses and 1 Welsh pony, fractional renal excretions of phosphorus (FEp) determined from 9 hourly time collections taken over a 24-hour period were compared to assess whether a single-sample collection would be an accurate indicator of the daily FEp. The mean FEp for each animal varied from 0.115% to 0.302%; the 2 animals with the highest values were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the 3 with the lowest values. Individual variation within animals was not great, however, because it was calculated that the 24-hour FEp value could be found within +/- 0.087% of the sin...
Hardeman LC, van der Meij BR, Back W, van der Kolk JH, Wijnberg ID.In equine laminitis, the deep digital flexor muscle (DDFM) appears to have increased muscle force, but evidence-based confirmation is lacking. Objective: The purpose of this study was to test if the DDFM of laminitic equines has an increased muscle force detectable by needle electromyography interference pattern analysis (IPA). Methods: The control group included six Royal Dutch Sport horses, three Shetland ponies and one Welsh pony [10 healthy, sound adults weighing 411 ± 217 kg (mean ± SD) and aged 10 ± 5 years]. The laminitic group included three Royal Dutch Sport horses, one Friesian, o...
