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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) / Effect of pony morphology and hay feeding methods on back an...
Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition2023; 108 Suppl 1; 3-14; doi: 10.1111/jpn.13861

Effect of pony morphology and hay feeding methods on back and neck postures.

Abstract: 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 using a slow-feeder hay box (HB). Video recordings were obtained and then geometric morphometric analysis was applied. Breed morphology was confirmed by body morphometric measurements. Data were analysed statistically using one-way ANOVA, canonical variate analysis (CVA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares (PLS) analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Moreover, a mixed model was performed to study differences in mandibular angle. SH and WC ponies were shown to have significantly different body morphometric measurements. The geometric morphometric analysis results showed that ponies arch their back and modify their neck shape differently according to the feeding method and their morphological group. For the neck, the SH and WC ponies adapted similarly to the use of small-holed hay nets, but their posture varied when feeding from the ground or hay box. The back postures consistently differed according to the breed type and feeding method. The mandibular angle for both breed types was reduced with all the feeding devices compared to feeding from the ground. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of slow-feeding devices on posture and mandibular angle, taking into consideration animals with different morphologies.
© 2023 MARS Horsecare and The Authors. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2023-07-14 PubMed ID: 37452526DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13861Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigated how different hay feeding methods and pony morphology affect the posture of ponies. It found that hay feeders modify ponies’ neck and back postures depending on their breed and the feeding method used.

Objective of the Research

  • The main aim of this study was to analyze the impact of different hay feeding devices and pony morphology on the animals’ posture. It proposed to fill gaps in current knowledge about how feeding methods and breed type can alter equine posture.

Methods

  • Two distinct breed types of ponies – Shetland and Welsh Cob – were fed the same forage using four different methods: ground feeding, fully filled haynet, partially filled haynet and a slow-feeder hay box.
  • Video recordings of the ponies were captured while they were feeding, and geometric morphometric analysis, a statistical shape analysis method, was applied on these recordings to study posture changes.
  • In order to confirm breed morphology, body morphometric measurements were performed.
  • Various statistical analysis methods, including one-way ANOVA, canonical variate analysis (CVA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares (PLS) analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyze the collected data.
  • Additionally, to study differences in the jaw angle, a mixed model analysis was carried out.

Findings

  • The study found significant differences in body morphometric measurements between the Shetland and Welsh Cob ponies.
  • It showed that ponies alter their neck shape and arch their backs differently, based on the feeding method and their breed type.
  • Particularly for neck posture, both pony types adapted similarly to the use of small-holed hay nets, but showed different postures when feeding from the ground or a hay box.
  • Differentiating back postures were consistently observed based on the breed type and feeding technique.
  • Jaw angle was found to be reduced for both breed types when any of the feeding devices was used, as compared to feeding from the ground.

Further Research

  • While the study adds useful insights into understanding the influence of feeding methods on equine posture, continued research is necessary to investigate the long-term effects of slow-feeding devices on pony posture and jaw angle, especially when considering different breed morphologies.

Cite This Article

APA
Bordin C, Raspa F, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Bergero D, Valle E. (2023). Effect of pony morphology and hay feeding methods on back and neck postures. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 108 Suppl 1, 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13861

Publication

Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
ISSN: 1439-0396
NlmUniqueID: 101126979
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 108 Suppl 1
Pages: 3-14

Researcher Affiliations

Bordin, Clara
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
Raspa, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
Harris, Patricia
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, UK.
Ellis, Andrea Dorothea
  • UNEQUI Ltd., Research-Education-Innovation, Southwell, UK.
Roggero, Angela
  • Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
Palestrini, Claudia
  • Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
Bergero, Domenico
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
Valle, Emanuela
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Posture
  • Neck / anatomy & histology
  • Animal Husbandry / methods
  • Back / anatomy & histology
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Male

Grant Funding

  • Mars Petcare UK

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Bordin C, Raspa F, Greppi M, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Cavallini D, Bergero D, Valle E. Pony feeding management: the role of morphology and hay feeding methods on intake rate, ingestive behaviors and mouth shaping. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332207.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332207pubmed: 38681853google scholar: lookup
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