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BackgroundThere is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive.ObjectivesTo derive a body condition index (BCI), based on objective morphometric measurements, that correlates with % body fat.Study designRetrospective cohort study.MethodsMorphometric measurements were obtained from 21 ponies and horses in obese and moderate body condition. Percentage body fat was determined using the deuterium dilution method and the BCI was derived to give the optimal correlation with body fat, applying appropriate weightings. The index was then validated by assessing inter‐observer variation and correlation with % body fat in a separate population of Welsh ponies; and finally, the correlation between BCI and BCS was evaluated in larger populations from studies undertaken in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.ResultsThe BCI correlated well with adiposity in the ponies and horses, giving a Pearson r value of 0.74 (P < 0.001); however, it was found to slightly overestimate the % body fat in leaner animals and underestimate in more obese animals. In field studies, the correlation between BCI and BCS varied particularly in Shetlands and miniature ponies, presumably due to differences in body shape.Main limitationsFurther work may be required to adapt the BCI to a method that is more applicable for Shetlands and miniature ponies.ConclusionsThis BCI was able to provide an index of adiposity which compared favourably with condition scoring in terms of accuracy of estimating adiposity; and was more consistent and repeatable when used by inexperienced assessors. Therefore, this may be a useful tool for assessing adiposity; and may be more sensitive than condition scoring for tracking weight gain or weight loss in individual animals.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, which has led to an increasing need for cost effective non‐pharmacological treatment alternatives. Studies have shown that watermelon plays a role in vascular function by causing vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure and arterial stiffness. We want to examine if watermelon powder supplementation has therapeutic effects on lipid metabolism through regulation of hepatic gene expression. The genes of interest included fatty acid synthase (FAS), HMG‐CoA reductase (HMGCR), sterol regulatory element binding protein ‐1 and 2 (SREBP‐1, SREBP‐2). Forty male‐weanling (21 days old) Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups (10/group, total N=40) in a 2 (diets) x 2 (treatment) factorial design using an atherogenic diet with or without Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) as an inflammatory agent for 48 hours. Watermelon powder groups exhibited significantly lower total cholesterol levels, LDL‐cholesterol, and serum triglycerides (P<.05). FAS, HMGCR, SREBP‐1, and SREBP‐2 were significantly down regulated in watermelon diet groups (P<.05). These findings support the use of watermelon powder as an alternative treatment for improving risk factors associated with CVD by altering hepatic lipid metabolism related gene expression and thus improving lipid profiles. Supported by NUTR 302L class and SDSU UGP.

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