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Topic:Stress
Stress in horses refers to the physiological and behavioral responses of equines to various stressors, including environmental changes, social dynamics, and physical exertion. These responses can manifest through alterations in heart rate, cortisol levels, and behavior, among other indicators. Stress can affect a horse's overall health, performance, and welfare, making it a significant area of study in equine research. This topic encompasses research on identifying stressors, measuring stress responses, and understanding the implications of stress on equine health and behavior. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, effects, and management of stress in horses.
A non-trauma-focused equine-assisted intervention was associated with reductions in all four PTSD symptom clusters in treatment-resistant military veterans. Veterans are at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and show a poorer response to first-line treatments than civilians. Although equine-assisted interventions (EAIs) represent a promising alternative for military veterans,the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, and their effectiveness across different PTSD symptom clusters has yet to be established. This study examined the effects of a non-trauma-focused EAI on specific PTSD symptoms in treatment-resistant military veterans. Unassigned: Participants in the intervention were military veterans diagnosed with PTSD...
Equine-assisted coaching in formerly incarcerated men with histories of substance abuse: a 12-week exploratory study of anger regulation, quality of life, human-horse synchrony, and equine behavior. Equine-assisted interventions are increasingly used as complementary approaches to support psychosocial functioning, yet empirical evidence in justice-involved populations with histories of substance abuse remains limited. The present exploratory quantitative study examined the effects of a 12-week equine-assisted coaching program on anger regulation, quality of life, and human-horse synchrony in formerly incarcerated men, while also monitoring equine behavioral responses from a One Health perspective. Eleven male participants residing in a residential reintegration facility in the Netherlands...
Conflict Behaviour Frequency During Show Jumping Competitions: A Practical Study. With society's ever-growing concern for animal welfare, the equestrian industry has focused on passing and enforcing new rules to protect the main athlete, the horse. In jumping, courses go by quickly, with judges using the occurrence of conflict behaviours to assess any welfare breach. This study aimed to evaluate the overall frequency of such behaviours in Brazilian Sport Horses during elite show jumping competitions in Brazil. Conflict behaviour displays were analyzed in 120 different horse-rider pairs in jumping competitions in Brazil. All videos were observed at a slowed-down speed, with ...
Effects of an Equine-Assisted Riding Program on Motor Performance, Movement Quality, and Well-Being Among Young Inmates. Equine-assisted programs have been shown to promote psychosocial outcomes, but quantitative evidence of motor benefits in correctional settings is scarce. Objective: The present study examined the effects of a one-week equine-assisted riding program on riding performance, movement quality, and well-being among young inmates in an open German prison. Methods: Ten male participants (24.5 ± 0.71 years) completed a five-day program combining practical riding exercises, cooperative activities, and guided reflection. Riding performance was assessed using standardized expert video ratings based on t...
Farm Atmosphere: Calm Attention and Mobility Characterise Positive Horse Welfare. On-farm welfare assessment of equines is a challenge given the large diversity of management practices, especially in terms of housing and activities. In our study, we tested time budget measures as a complementary tool to more conventional welfare indicators (e.g., stereotypic behaviours, ear position while foraging, neck shape). We observed 174 horses living in eight facilities (in their home environment) for which data on management practices and welfare were available. Time budget was assessed using the scan sampling method (1 min scan sampling over 30 min; 33 scans), while welfare assessm...
Evaluating hormonal levels in plasma and saliva as temperament indicators in horses. Assessing the temperament of horses is important to ensure their welfare, management, and safety. This study evaluated the plasma-saliva relationships for cortisol, oxytocin, and serotonin, and explored their associations with temperament traits in 40 horses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Significant correlations were observed between cortisol (r = 0.441) and oxytocin (r = 0.587) concentrations, whereas serotonin showed a weak correlation (r = 0.133). Bland-Altman analysis revealed acceptable agreement for cortisol but substantial individual variability for oxytocin, despite its str...
Welfare Assessment in Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) Horses. Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) horses can be exposed to stressors that affect their behavior and welfare. Previous studies investigated behavioral and physiological indicators (PI) only during therapy sessions. This study evaluated the frequency of stress and pain behaviors (FSPB) in horses with different riders, while assessing welfare through housing, management, and PI. Ten horses were observed during EAS sessions with three rider groups: able-bodied, clients with significant physical impairment, and clients with no significant physical impairment, totaling twenty-six riders. Behavioral data...
Quantitative evaluation of behavioral and physiological adaptation during retraining of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Retired Thoroughbred racehorses commonly transition into riding roles, yet outward behavioral calmness may not fully reflect internal physiological regulation, with implications for safety. Objective: To quantify behavioral and autonomic adaptation across repeated startle exposures and assess concordance between behavioral and physiological indicators. Methods: Twelve retired Thoroughbreds underwent standardized plastic-bag startle trials conducted across three sessions (T1-T3), each including pre-training (Before) and post-training (After) phases, with three repeated exposures at 5-minute int...
Beyond cortisol: evaluating serotonin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and oxytocin as indicators of equine welfare across three training regimens. BACKGROUND: Quantifying the balance between workload, stress, and recovery across equine disciplines remains challenging, and no single circulating biomarker provides a definitive index of welfare-related stress load. Cortisol, oxytocin, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may provide complementary information on endocrine and neuromodulatory responses. METHODS: Paired serum samples were collected from show jumping horses (n = 17) before and after competition, racehorses (n = 43 enrolled, n = 41 analyzed) before and after sessions at ...
A scoping review of neuroendocrinological biomarkers with potential for use in equine behavioral medicine practice. BACKGROUND: Equine emotion and welfare are of increasing concern to the general public, equestrians and researchers. There is growing demand for more objective indicators of specific emotional states, as well as the well-being of horses in a variety of contexts. Such markers may also assist in both the diagnosis and selection of biological therapies within equine behavioral medicine. RESULTS: This scoping review summarizes and appraises the published findings relating to relevant biological measurements from the last two decades. Particular attention is given to methodological, subject-related...
Case Report: Physiological Stress Responses to Repeated, Standardized Short-Distance Transport in a Transport-Experienced Horse. Transport is a fundamental component of equestrian training and competition. However, even horses with extensive transport experience may exhibit physiological stress responses during routine travel. This case report describes physiological stress responses in a transport-experienced 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding subjected to repeated, standardized short-distance transport. The horse was transported on 17 occasions along a fixed route to a riding school for dressage training using the same vehicle, handler, and protocol to minimize environmental variability. Physiological stress marker...
Social enrichment mitigates facial expressions and physiological indicators of short-term stress in horses. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of social noncontact environmental enrichment to facilitate social buffering and to characterize the emotional experience of horses subjected to restraint in stock by assessing physiological parameters and facial expressions. Pantaneiro horses (n = 11) were evaluated in a crossover design with two treatments: social noncontact enrichment during stock restraint and social isolation during stock restraint. Physiological parameters (heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, ocular temperature by infrared thermography, and auricular temperat...
Effectiveness of Equine-assisted Learning on Psychosocial Well-being Among Nurses. Nurse burnout poses a significant risk to workforce stability. This study investigated the impact of equine-assisted learning (EAL) on secondary traumatic stress, job burnout, subjective distress, and resiliency among nurses. Background: Effective interventions for early detection and management of stress and burnout are essential for workforce stability. Methods: Using a pre-post-interventional design, this study evaluated the impact of EAL on psychosocial well-being. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires at baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up. Linear mixed m...
Exploring the relationship between inhibitory control and coping behaviour in horses. The ability to flexibly adapt to the demands of a stressful situation is a key factor in successful coping. Appropriate coping is of critical importance in artificial environments, which may include novel and potentially stressful situations. Being able to inhibit immediate but counterproductive reactions, and thus exert inhibitory control, might allow to better adapt to the environment. Horses are required to flexibly adapt to various housing conditions and training techniques; however, not all horses successfully cope as evidenced by the prevalence of stereotypical behaviours. We tested 31 m...
Learning in the arena: healthcare students’ lived experience of interprofessional education in equine-assisted services. This qualitative study explored healthcare students' lived experiences during an interprofessional education (IPE) event incorporating equine-assisted services (EAS). Traditional IPE events often rely on classroom settings that may limit interprofessional engagement, collaboration, and application. Utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis, researchers examined how the equine environment influenced interprofessional learning among fourteen graduate students from diverse healthcare disciplines at a western United States public university. Participants engaged in experiential demonstratio...
Effect of season of collection and storage method on equine hair cortisol concentration. Serum cortisol concentration is one of the common physiological reference standards for evaluating stress in animals. However, it only evaluates acute stress at the moment of blood collection. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) could provide a method for assessing cortisol concentrations over extended periods of time, giving an estimate of chronic stress levels. In this case, high HCC results could help equine managers alter management practices to improve welfare. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the month of collection and the storage method on equine HCC. Methods: Tail hair was collecte...
Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare. Giving animals the opportunity to exercise agency can improve their welfare, but horse owners and researchers may not be aware of the growing body of agency research in other animals, and studies on agency and choice in horses are scattered across disciplines and not connected to each other or to broader theory. This paper summarises research findings on management of domestic horses through the lens of animal agency and explores the potential applications of research on choice, control, and challenge in animals to improve the welfare of horses.
Evaluation of Short-Term Stall Size Housing on the Behavior and Welfare of Domestic Horses (Equus caballus). Single-stall housing is a common system used for horses in various settings, including racing stables, riding schools, teaching and research facilities. Adequate stall space is necessary for horses to lie down and make postural adjustments, both of which are essential for equine rest and welfare. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends a stall size of 144 ft2. However, not all stalls meet this size requirement, and there is limited literature supporting its use in terms of animal welfare. This study used a crossover design to compare behavioral and physiologic variables...
Effects of Exercise Intensity and Duration on Acute-Phase Proteins in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Physical exercise represents a physiological stressor capable of activating the acute-phase response (APR) in horses. However, the relative contribution of exercise intensity duration to acute-phase protein (APP) dynamics remains incompletely defined. This study compared the effects of short, high-intensity gallop exercise (2400 m flat race; = 12) and prolonged, low-intensity endurance exercise (40 km; = 13) on serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and ceruloplasmin (Cp) in Thoroughbred racehorses. Blood samples were collected before exercise and at defined post-exercise time points. Bet...
An overview of the benefits of animal-assisted interventions in medical and therapeutic contexts for human health: cognitive mechanisms, sensory perception and welfare considerations. Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are programs that incorporate animals as a therapeutic factor to improve human well-being. To date, these programs have been associated with significant physical and physiological benefits to human health. Animals have been incorporated as monitoring companions, such as diabetes-alert and seizure-alert dogs. Moreover, animal therapy for people with mental health issues, physical impairments, or autism spectrum disorders has shown social and communicative benefits. Although AAIs are proposed as a complementary treatment approach to humans with mental health ...
Effect of heat acclimation training frequency on the physiological adaptations of Thoroughbred horses. Heat acclimation enhances thermoregulation and cardiovascular function. While daily training protocols are typically recommended for humans, optimal training protocols for Thoroughbred horses remain unclear. Here, we compared the effects of two heat acclimation protocols, consecutive and intermittent, in Thoroughbred horses. In a randomized crossover study, eight trained Thoroughbred horses completed either a consecutive (CONS: 9 consecutive days) or an intermittent (INT: 3 days/week for 3 weeks) heat acclimation protocol, comprising 30 min of exercise in hot conditions (WBGT 30°C). Increment...
Horses Prefer Their Rider: A Strange Situation Test Adaptation Shows Behavioural Evidence for Partner-Specific Bonding. The relationship between horses and humans is often described as cooperative and affective, yet empirical studies on horse-rider bond remain scarce. Previous findings on horse-human relationships yielded conflicting results on whether and how horses show bonding like behaviour toward their owners. Objective: We tested whether horses show partner-specific approach and proximity toward their primary rider compared with an unfamiliar experimenter in an adapted Strange Situation Test, and whether the rider's presence was associated with behavioural patterns indicative of safe haven and secure base...
Leading With HEART©: Equine-Assisted Leadership Training Fosters Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Identity Formation in First-Year Osteopathic Medical Students. Burnout, emotional dysregulation, and lack of resilience are prevalent among medical students and professionals contributing to stress and burnout. Despite recognition that emotional regulation, leadership capacity, and PIF are essential competencies, medical education provides limited structured training in these domains. The Holistic Equine-Assisted Resilience Training (HEART©) curriculum was developed to address these gaps through integration of HeartMath biofeedback, equine-assisted learning and experiential leadership development. This study evaluated the effects of HEART© on physiologi...
Omics integration reveals how the gut microbiota of Warmblood horses responds to equestrian show jumping-a short-duration, high-intensity technical exercise stress. Intestinal microbial homeostasis and metabolic balance play a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological function in horses. Exogenous stress involving abrupt turns and jumps during show jumping significantly impacts intestinal microbial homeostasis and metabolic balance in these animals. Results: By comparing rectal (faecal) samples from 10 Warmblood horses collected before and immediately after a show jumping competition on the same day, we observed substantial alterations in intestinal microbial homeostasis and metabolic balance post-exercise. Microbial evenness significantly increase...
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Ancient Parasite Meets Modern Compounding. EPM remains particularly rampant in racing populations due to transport stress, young age, and congregate housing conditions. For compounding pharmacists, understanding that we're managing chronic parasite suppression - not achieving cure - fundamentally changes our approach to formulation strategy, stability assessment, and client counseling. The two formulations presented separately represent years of refinement, demonstrating compounding's essential role when commercial products fall short.
Effect of Equine-assisted Biographical Work (EABW) in older adults with subclinical depression: a randomized controlled trial. Preventive approaches for depression in adults aged 50 years and older have received little attention, despite increasing needs arising from demographic changes. In particular, subclinical depression is often underdiagnosed and associated with anxiety, a poorer quality of life, and greater need for assistance from the healthcare system. This multicentre, randomised, controlled phase III trial investigated if Equine-Assisted Biographical Work (EABW) is effective to improve subclinical depression. Qualified sites in Germany enrolled 52 participants ≥ 50 years (Full Analysis Set (FAS),...
A Newfound Experience of Being Good Enough: Youth’s Experiences of an Equine-assisted Therapy Intervention. Mental health, encompassing self-esteem, confidence, physical activity, and social interaction, is essential for the well-being of children and adolescents and supports executive functions crucial for school performance. Mental ill health among young people is increasing in Sweden, with rising rates of self-reported problems, psychiatric diagnoses, and prescriptions of psychotropic medication. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of equine-assisted interventions (EAI) among children and adolescents with anxiety-related mental ill health in southern Sweden. A qualitative design ...
Effects of rectal examination on intraocular pressure and behavioral responses in pregnant and non-pregnant mares. Rectal examination is routine in equine reproduction but may trigger acute stress affecting welfare and safety. Intraocular pressure (IOP) responds rapidly to autonomic changes and may capture short-lived stress responses. Objective: To evaluate whether rectal examination acutely affects IOP and behavioral responses in mares, and whether reactions differ by reproductive status. Methods: Twenty Rahvan mares (10 pregnant, 30-40 days' gestation; 10 non-pregnant; 4-7 years) underwent transrectal examination without sedation. IOP was measured bilaterally at six time points: 2 min pre-exam (T1), dur...
Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland’s Russ Horses. Animal welfare concerns both the physical and mental wellbeing of animals so the assessment of animals kept in captivity, for example zoos, is important and necessary both legally and ethically. Good welfare is especially vital when breeding endangered species as stress impairs reproductive investment. As zoos often have high numbers of visitors, it is important to know if humans and the associated noise might influence the animals' welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of visitors and activities offered to the visitors caused a stress response in horses housed...
