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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability in t...
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2013; 197(2); 229-232; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.12.025

Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability in the horse and its rider: different responses to training and performance.

Abstract: Although some information exists on the stress response of horses in equestrian sports, the horse-rider team is much less well understood. In this study, salivary cortisol concentrations, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), SDRR (standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval) and RMSSD (root mean square of successive beat-to-beat intervals) were analysed in horses and their riders (n=6 each) at a public performance and an identical rehearsal that was not open to the public. Cortisol concentrations increased in both horses and riders (P<0.001) but did not differ between performance and rehearsal. HR in horses and riders increased during the rehearsal and the public performance (P<0.001) but the increase in HR was more pronounced (P<0.01) in riders than in their horses during the public performance (from 91 ± 10 to 150 ± 15 beats/min) compared to the rehearsal (from 94 ± 10 to 118 ± 12 beats/min). The SDRR decreased significantly during the equestrian tasks in riders (P<0.001), but not in their horses. The RMSSD decreased in horses and riders (P<0.001) during rehearsal and performance, indicating a decrease in parasympathetic tone. The decrease in RMSSD in the riders was more pronounced (P<0.05) during the performance (from 32.6 ± 6.6 to 3.8 ± 0.3 ms) than during the rehearsal (from 27.5 ± 4.2 to 6.6 ± 0.6 ms). The study has shown that the presence of spectators caused more pronounced changes in cardiac activity in the riders than it did in their horses.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-02-04 PubMed ID: 23380228DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.12.025Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research investigated changes in stress markers of both horses and riders during training and public performances in equestrian sports. The results indicated a more pronounced stress response in riders than in horses during performances in front of a public audience.

Introduction and Objectives

  • There is existing knowledge regarding horses’ stress responses in equestrian sports. However, the combined stress responses of the horse-rider team is less well-understood.
  • The objective of this study was to analyze salivary cortisol concentrations, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability parameters (SDRR and RMSSD) in a team of horses and their riders.
  • These markers were analyzed during a public performance and an identical rehearsal without an audience.

Methodology and Results

  • Salivary cortisol concentrations in both horses and riders increased significantly during both rehearsal and performance, with no significant difference between the two situations. This implies that both horses and riders experienced increased stress levels under both conditions.
  • Heart rate in both horses and riders rose during the rehearsal and the public performance, with a more pronounced rise in the riders. This suggests that riders may experience elevated stress during public performance compared to rehearsals.
  • The standard deviation of beat-to-beat intervals (SDRR) decreased significantly in riders during equestrian tasks, suggesting a decrease in parasympathetic activity or an increase in sympathetic activity coupled with the task.
  • The root mean square of successive beat-to-beat intervals (RMSSD) decreased in horses and riders during both rehearsal and performance, indicating a decrease in heart rate variability linked to parasympathetic tone – another indicative of elevated stress level.
  • The decrease in RMSSD in riders was more pronounced during the performance than during the rehearsal, again pinpointing a heightened stress response during public performance.

Conclusion

  • The study’s findings suggest that the presence of spectators causes more significant changes in cardiac activity in riders as opposed to their horses.
  • This indicates that riders may potentially experience a higher level of performance-related stress than their horse counterparts.
  • New methods to address and manage rider stress during equestrian sports under public observation may need to be considered to optimize performance outcomes.

Cite This Article

APA
von Lewinski M, Biau S, Erber R, Ille N, Aurich J, Faure JM, Möstl E, Aurich C. (2013). Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability in the horse and its rider: different responses to training and performance. Vet J, 197(2), 229-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.12.025

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 197
Issue: 2
Pages: 229-232
PII: S1090-0233(13)00003-8

Researcher Affiliations

von Lewinski, Mareike
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Sciences, 16845 Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.
Biau, Sophie
    Erber, Regina
      Ille, Natascha
        Aurich, Jörg
          Faure, Jean-Michel
            Möstl, Erich
              Aurich, Christine

                MeSH Terms

                • Adult
                • Animals
                • Heart Rate / physiology
                • Horses / physiology
                • Humans
                • Hydrocortisone / physiology
                • Male
                • Physical Conditioning, Animal
                • Sports
                • Stress, Physiological / physiology

                Citations

                This article has been cited 23 times.
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