Table 1 Baseline physical characteristics of horses in healthy (n = 23) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) (n = 20) groups

13.9 ± 4.6 (5–22)^a

395 ± 117 (124–558)^a

6.9 ± 1.1 (5.5–9.0)^a

3.7 ± 0.6 (2.5–5.0)^a

3.9 ± 2.7 (1–9)^c

152 ± 29 (115–194)^b

5.6 ± 0.6 (5.0–6.5)^b

2.6 ± 0.4 (2.0–3.0)^b

7.0 ± 2.0 (5–10)^bc

342 ± 21 (298–360)^ac

6.0 ± 0.4 (5.5–6.5)^ab

2.6 ± 0.2 (2.5–3.0)^b

10.5 ± 4.7 (5–20)^ab

507 ± 56 (441–595)^d

5.0 ± 0.5 (4.5–5.5)^b

2.0 ± 0.5 (1.5–2.5)^b