Kaduna State, Nigeria's leisure and polo horses were analyzed for obesity and risk factors

Abstract

Little is known about equine obesity in Nigeria, despite rising worries about the dangers it poses to horses' health. The purpose of this research was to identify the incidence of obesity in horses used for recreation and polo in Kaduna State, Nigeria, and the variables that contribute to its development. It was a cross-sectional study. Using a modified Henneke technique (1-9 scale), we determined whether or not 116 horses were overweight (defined as a body condition score of 7 or below). Age, breed, and sex were recorded, and a systematic questionnaire was used to collect data on diet and care. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate potential causes of obesity. Twelve percent of the horses in the study were overweight or obese (14/116). Obesity was more common among horses used for recreation (21%) than among polo horses (3%). Being a stallion (21.4%), not being exercised (66.7%), being chained to a stake in the ground (23.2%), and being given concentrates ad libitum (21.4%) all raised the likelihood that a horse would be overweight. In order to educate owners on how to minimize the prevalence of horse obesity and the danger of illnesses like laminitis and insulin dysregulation, we need to know the prevalence of obesity in this group and the risk factors connected with it.