FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Horm Behav / Changes in cortisol release and heart rate and heart rate va...
Hormones and behavior2010; 58(4); 628-636; doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.011

Changes in cortisol release and heart rate and heart rate variability during the initial training of 3-year-old sport horses.

Abstract: Based on cortisol release, a variety of situations to which domestic horses are exposed have been classified as stressors but studies on the stress during equestrian training are limited. In the present study, Warmblood stallions (n=9) and mares (n=7) were followed through a 9 respective 12-week initial training program in order to determine potentially stressful training steps. Salivary cortisol concentrations, beat-to-beat (RR) interval and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. The HRV variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR), RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR differences) and the geometric means standard deviation 1 (SD1) and 2 (SD2) were calculated. Nearly each training unit was associated with an increase in salivary cortisol concentrations (p<0.01). Cortisol release varied between training units and occasionally was more pronounced in mares than in stallions (p<0.05). The RR interval decreased slightly in response to lunging before mounting of the rider. A pronounced decrease occurred when the rider was mounting, but before the horse showed physical activity (p<0.001). The HRV variables SDRR, RMSSD and SD1 decreased in response to training and lowest values were reached during mounting of a rider (p<0.001). Thereafter RR interval and HRV variables increased again. In contrast, SD2 increased with the beginning of lunging (p<0.05) and no changes in response to mounting were detectable. In conclusion, initial training is a stressor for horses. The most pronounced reaction occurred in response to mounting by a rider, a situation resembling a potentially lethal threat under natural conditions.
Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-06-23 PubMed ID: 20600048DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.011Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article

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.

The study investigates the stress levels in Warmblood horses, both stallions and mares, during initial training by analyzing changes in cortisol release and heart rate variability. The research suggests that the most stressful part of training for these horses is when the rider mounts.

Study Design

This study involved observing 9 Warmblood stallions and 7 mares during a 9 to 12-week initial training program. The goal was to determine the possible stressful parts of equestrian training. Such identification was done by measuring:

  • Salivary cortisol concentrations – often used to identify stress since the body produces more cortisol in stressful situations
  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV) – the variability in time intervals between consecutive heartbeats (beat-to-beat or RR interval)

Within the HRV measurements, researchers computed the variables Standard Deviation of RR interval (SDRR), Root Mean Square of Successive RR Differences (RMSSD), and the geometric means Standard Deviation 1 (SD1) and Standard Deviation 2 (SD2).

Findings

The study found that almost every training unit was linked with an increase in salivary cortisol concentrations, thereby suggesting an increase in stress levels during training, with considerable variability detected between individual training units.
In terms of sex differences, it was observed that the stress response was occasionally more pronounced in mares compared to stallions.

The RR interval, an indicator of heart rate variability, typically displayed a slight decline when the horses were lunged prior to the rider mount. A major decline was noted when the rider was mounting, even before the horse began any physical activity.

In tandem with this decisive fall, the HRV variables SDRR, RMSSD, and SD1 also decreased in response to the training, with the lowest values observed during the mounting of a rider. These values then started to increase again after the mounting stage.

However, SD2, another HRV variable, showed a different pattern with an increase observed at the beginning of lunging. Uniquely, no changes in SD2 were detected in response to mounting.

Conclusion

The study concluded that initial training indeed acts as a stressor for horses. The most significant stress reaction was seen during the process of rider mounting, which the study describes as a “situation resembling a potentially lethal threat under natural conditions” for horses. This finding underscores the importance of introducing proper training techniques to mitigate stress during the initial training of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Schmidt A, Aurich J, Möstl E, Müller J, Aurich C. (2010). Changes in cortisol release and heart rate and heart rate variability during the initial training of 3-year-old sport horses. Horm Behav, 58(4), 628-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.011

Publication

Hormones and behavior
ISSN: 1095-6867
NlmUniqueID: 0217764
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 4
Pages: 628-636

Researcher Affiliations

Schmidt, Alice
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.
Aurich, Jörg
    Möstl, Erich
      Müller, Jürgen
        Aurich, Christine

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Electrocardiography
          • Female
          • Heart Rate / physiology
          • Horses / metabolism
          • Horses / physiology
          • Hydrocortisone / analysis
          • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
          • Individuality
          • Male
          • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
          • Saliva / chemistry
          • Saliva / metabolism
          • Sports / physiology
          • Time Factors

          Citations

          This article has been cited 38 times.
          1. Olvera-Maneu S, Carbajal A, Serres-Corral P, López-Béjar M. Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 24;13(3).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13030396pubmed: 36766285google scholar: lookup
          2. Stachurska A, Kędzierski W, Kaczmarek B, Wiśniewska A, Żylińska B, Janczarek I. Variation of Physiological and Behavioural Parameters during the Oestrous Cycle in Mares. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 6;13(2).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13020211pubmed: 36670751google scholar: lookup
          3. Coelho CS, Silva ASBA, Santos CMR, Santos AMR, Vintem CMBL, Leite AG, Fonseca JMC, Prazeres JMCS, Souza VRC, Siqueira RF, Manso Filho HC, Simões JSA. Training Effects on the Stress Predictors for Young Lusitano Horses Used in Dressage. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 6;12(23).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12233436pubmed: 36496958google scholar: lookup
          4. Schrurs C, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS. Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance. PLoS One 2022;17(8):e0273310.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273310pubmed: 36044425google scholar: lookup
          5. Čebulj-Kadunc N, Frangež R, Kruljc P. Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning of Lipizzan Fillies before Starting under Saddle. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 25;12(7).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12070836pubmed: 35405826google scholar: lookup
          6. Peterson EW, Segabinazzi LGTM, Gilbert RO, Bergfelt DR, French HM. Evaluation of Stress Accompanying Immunocontraceptive Vaccination in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 13;12(4).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12040457pubmed: 35203165google scholar: lookup
          7. Henshall C, Randle H, Francis N, Freire R. The effect of stress and exercise on the learning performance of horses. Sci Rep 2022 Feb 4;12(1):1918.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03582-4pubmed: 35121736google scholar: lookup
          8. Hernández-Avalos I, Mota-Rojas D, Mendoza-Flores JE, Casas-Alvarado A, Flores-Padilla K, Miranda-Cortes AE, Torres-Bernal F, Gómez-Prado J, Mora-Medina P. Nociceptive pain and anxiety in equines: Physiological and behavioral alterations. Vet World 2021 Nov;14(11):2984-2995.
            doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2984-2995pubmed: 35017848google scholar: lookup
          9. Nyerges-Bohák Z, Nagy K, Rózsa L, Póti P, Kovács L. Heart rate variability before and after 14 weeks of training in Thoroughbred horses and Standardbred trotters with different training experience. PLoS One 2021;16(12):e0259933.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259933pubmed: 34882704google scholar: lookup
          10. Wiśniewska A, Janczarek I, Wilk I, Tkaczyk E, Mierzicka M, Stanley CR, Górecka-Bruzda A. Heterospecific Fear and Avoidance Behaviour in Domestic Horses (Equus caballus). Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 28;11(11).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11113081pubmed: 34827813google scholar: lookup
          11. Mazzola SM, Colombani C, Pizzamiglio G, Cannas S, Palestrini C, Costa ED, Gazzonis AL, Bionda A, Crepaldi P. Do You Think I Am Living Well? A Four-Season Hair Cortisol Analysis on Leisure Horses in Different Housing and Management Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 20;11(7).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11072141pubmed: 34359269google scholar: lookup
          12. Szabó C, Vizesi Z, Vincze A. Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability of Amateur Show Jumping Horses Competing on Different Levels. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 4;11(3).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11030693pubmed: 33806684google scholar: lookup
          13. Mott RO, Hawthorne SJ, McBride SD. Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus). Sci Rep 2020 Dec 8;10(1):21409.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78386-zpubmed: 33293559google scholar: lookup
          14. Herbel J, Aurich J, Gautier C, Melchert M, Aurich C. Stress Response of Beagle Dogs to Repeated Short-Distance Road Transport. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 14;10(11).
            doi: 10.3390/ani10112114pubmed: 33202655google scholar: lookup
          15. Maneiro R, Blanco-Villaseñor Á, Amatria M. Analysis of the Variability of the Game Space in High Performance Football: Implementation of the Generalizability Theory. Front Psychol 2020;11:534.
            doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00534pubmed: 32269544google scholar: lookup
          16. Marr I, Preisler V, Farmer K, Stefanski V, Krueger K. Non-invasive stress evaluation in domestic horses (Equus caballus): impact of housing conditions on sensory laterality and immunoglobulin A. R Soc Open Sci 2020 Feb;7(2):191994.
            doi: 10.1098/rsos.191994pubmed: 32257351google scholar: lookup
          17. Schrimpf A, Single MS, Nawroth C. Social Referencing in the Domestic Horse. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jan 18;10(1).
            doi: 10.3390/ani10010164pubmed: 31963699google scholar: lookup
          18. Maśko M, Zdrojkowski L, Domino M, Jasinski T, Gajewski Z. The Pattern of Superficial Body Temperatures in Leisure Horses Lunged with Commonly Used Lunging Aids. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 7;9(12).
            doi: 10.3390/ani9121095pubmed: 31817842google scholar: lookup
          19. Sauer FJ, Hermann M, Ramseyer A, Burger D, Riemer S, Gerber V. Effects of breed, management and personality on cortisol reactivity in sport horses. PLoS One 2019;14(12):e0221794.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221794pubmed: 31790402google scholar: lookup
          20. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Henry S, Coste C, Tecles F, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Hausberger M. Changes in Saliva Analytes Correlate with Horses' Behavioural Reactions to An Acute Stressor: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2019 Nov 18;9(11).
            doi: 10.3390/ani9110993pubmed: 31752194google scholar: lookup
          21. Fenner K, Caspar G, Hyde M, Henshall C, Dhand N, Probyn-Rapsey F, Dashper K, McLean A, McGreevy P. It's all about the sex, or is it? Humans, horses and temperament. PLoS One 2019;14(5):e0216699.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216699pubmed: 31086385google scholar: lookup
          22. Scopa C, Palagi E, Sighieri C, Baragli P. Physiological outcomes of calming behaviors support the resilience hypothesis in horses. Sci Rep 2018 Nov 30;8(1):17501.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35561-7pubmed: 30504840google scholar: lookup
          23. Beltrán-Velasco AI, Bellido-Esteban A, Ruisoto-Palomera P, Clemente-Suárez VJ. Use of Portable Digital Devices to Analyze Autonomic Stress Response in Psychology Objective Structured Clinical Examination. J Med Syst 2018 Jan 12;42(2):35.
            doi: 10.1007/s10916-018-0893-xpubmed: 29327087google scholar: lookup
          24. Lenoir A, Trachsel DS, Younes M, Barrey E, Robert C. Agreement between Electrocardiogram and Heart Rate Meter Is Low for the Measurement of Heart Rate Variability during Exercise in Young Endurance Horses. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:170.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00170pubmed: 29090214google scholar: lookup
          25. Aubè L, Fatnassi M, Monaco D, Khorchani T, Lacalandra GM, Hammadi M, Padalino B. Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes. PeerJ 2017;5:e3074.
            doi: 10.7717/peerj.3074pubmed: 28367365google scholar: lookup
          26. Loftus L, Marks K, Jones-McVey R, Gonzales JL, Fowler VL. Monty Roberts' Public Demonstrations: Preliminary Report on the Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability of Horses Undergoing Training during Live Audience Events. Animals (Basel) 2016 Sep 9;6(9).
            doi: 10.3390/ani6090055pubmed: 27618108google scholar: lookup
          27. Bolesławska-Szubartowska J, Kucharczuk M, Skrabska A, Zbysław A, Adamowicz J, Alszko A, Domagalska-Stomska K, Durska M, Dziekcierów A, Janiszewska Z, Korzeniowska R, Kraujutowicz K, Kulesza K, Marciniak P, Pacyna Z, Przeborowska J, Siwek Z, Leonard M, Rapacz-Leonard A. Introducing an Innovative Pain Scale for Assessing Postpartum Pain in Mares: Preliminary Clinical Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 30;15(23).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15233454pubmed: 41375512google scholar: lookup
          28. Paksoy Y, Ural K, Erdoğan H, Erdoğan S, Paşa S. Behavioral Assessment of Equine Relaxation Following Manual Therapy: A Pilot Study. Vet Sci 2025 Sep 5;12(9).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090865pubmed: 41012790google scholar: lookup
          29. Čebulj-Kadunc N, Frangež R, Kruljc P. Long-Term Changes of Physiological Reactions in Young Lipizzan Stallions During Exercise Testing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 23;15(17).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15172479pubmed: 40941274google scholar: lookup
          30. Krieber J, Nowak AC, Geissberger J, Illichmann O, Macho-Maschler S, Palme R, Dengler F. Fecal Cortisol Metabolites Indicate Increased Stress Levels in Horses During Breaking-In: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 7;15(12).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15121693pubmed: 40564245google scholar: lookup
          31. Loftus L, Newman A, Leach M, Asher L. Exploring the induction and measurement of positive affective state in equines through a personality-centred lens. Sci Rep 2025 May 27;15(1):18550.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-98034-8pubmed: 40425817google scholar: lookup
          32. Phelipon R, Bertrand L, Jardat P, Reigner F, Lewis K, Micheletta J, Lansade L. Characterisation of facial expressions and behaviours of horses in response to positive and negative emotional anticipation using network analysis. PLoS One 2025;20(5):e0319315.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319315pubmed: 40367029google scholar: lookup
          33. Rişvanli A, Şen İ, Canuzakov K, Tulobayev A, Taş A, Salykov R, Ceylan N, Türkçapar Ü, Alimov U, Kazakbayeva A, Cunuşova A, Abdimnap Uulu N, Yuksel BF, Turanli M, Uz M, Bayraktar M, Ruzikulov N. The Effect of Victory and Defeat on the Correlations of Stress Parameters Between the Horse and Rider in Kök-Börü Equestrian Teams. Vet Med Sci 2025 May;11(3):e70356.
            doi: 10.1002/vms3.70356pubmed: 40273095google scholar: lookup
          34. Jastrzębska E, Górecka-Bruzda A, Ogłuszka M, Lipka MS, Pawłowska A. Effect of Massage on Stress Indicators in Recreational Horses-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 11;15(6).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15060789pubmed: 40150318google scholar: lookup
          35. Nyerges-Bohák Z, Kovács L, Povázsai Á, Hamar E, Póti P, Ladányi M. Heart rate variability in horses with and without severe equine asthma. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):611-618.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14414pubmed: 39275917google scholar: lookup
          36. Flores JEM, Terrazas A, Lara Sagahon AV, Aleman M. Parasympathetic tone activity, heart rate, and grimace scale in conscious horses of 3 breeds before, during, and after nociceptive mechanical stimulation. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2739-2747.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.17174pubmed: 39150630google scholar: lookup
          37. Huangsaksri O, Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Wonghanchao T, Yalong M, Thongcham K, Srirattanamongkol C, Pornkittiwattanakul S, Sittiananwong T, Ithisariyanont B, Pakpokai C, Ninyeeruae S, Chanda M. Physiological stress responses in horses participating in novice endurance rides. Heliyon 2024 Jun 15;10(11):e31874.
            doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31874pubmed: 38845925google scholar: lookup
          38. Poochipakorn C, Joongpan W, Tongsangiam P, Phooseerit A, Leelahapongsathon K, Chanda M. The impact of strategic ventilation adjustments on stress responses in horses housed full-time in a vector-protected barn during the African horse sickness outbreak in Thailand. Anim Welf 2023;32:e19.
            doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.10pubmed: 38487428google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.