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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(7); 2141; doi: 10.3390/ani11072141

Do You Think I Am Living Well? A Four-Season Hair Cortisol Analysis on Leisure Horses in Different Housing and Management Conditions.

Abstract: The satisfaction of leisure horses' behavioral needs has begun to be considered a priority, linked to the awareness that horses kept in single boxes may be deprived of social contact and the possibility to perform natural behaviors. Several factors may influence horses' quality of life also in the paddock, and there are very few data on the effects of those variables on leisure horses' chronic stress, measurable in terms of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Therefore, managerial choices faced by owners and stables managers are only based on experience, common sense, and anecdotal beliefs. This study assessed and compared the chronic stress levels in leisure horses hosted in structures in the same geographic and climatic area with different daily routines to verify which management strategy could be the one that better contributes to achieving the welfare of horses. Forty-seven horses were divided into three groups homogeneous in terms of sex and age: Mixed management group ( = 12), Paddock group ( = 19), and Natural management group ( = 16). The hair cortisol concentration, a reliable marker of long-term stress, was analyzed in all the horses the same day at four time points of the year. In addition to management strategies, the influences of other variables (sex, age, coat color, and season) were evaluated. Independently from the management strategies, significantly higher hair cortisol values were detected in the autumn and summer, as well as in individuals older than 15 years. No significant differences were highlighted between the sexes or the coat colors. The comparison of the different management strategies showed that, in the summer, autumn, and winter, the hair cortisol levels were significantly lower in the Mixed management group horses than the Paddock group, highlighting that those subjects had better homeostasis. The Natural management group horses' hair cortisol levels were intermediate between the other two groups of horses in all the seasons. Spending the night in the stables would seem to positively impact the well-being of the horses. These findings, if confirmed by further studies, may be helpful in enhancing horse welfare and assisting in managerial choice decision-making.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-20 PubMed ID: 34359269PubMed Central: PMC8300697DOI: 10.3390/ani11072141Google 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 study investigates the difference in chronic stress levels among leisure horses under varying housing and management conditions. It suggests that mixed management, involving stabling at night, may contribute positively to the well-being of horses.

Objective of the Research

The study set out to assess how different housing and management routines affected the wellbeing of leisure horses. Researchers aimed to identify strategies that could improve the quality of life of horses by measuring stress levels over the different seasons of the year.

Research Methodology

  • A pool of 47 horses, selected to ensure equal representation of sex and age, was divided into three groups: Mixed management (12 horses), Paddock group (19 horses), Natural management (16 horses).
  • The mixed management group experienced a combination of pasture and stable conditions, the Paddock group was kept in open conditions, and the Natural management group was kept in conditions attempting to mimic the horses’ natural habitat.
  • Researchers evaluated the hair cortisol concentration, often used as an indicator of long-term stress, at four different times of the year for all horses in the study.
  • In addition to management strategies, the study took other variables into account such as sex, age, coat color, and season.

Key Findings

  • The study found that the level of stress, as indicated by hair cortisol values, was noticeably higher in autumn and summer, as well as in horses older than 15 years.
  • There was no significant differences in stress levels between different sexes or coat colors of horses.
  • In terms of management strategies, horses under mixed management showed significantly lower hair cortisol levels during summer, autumn, and winter compared to those in the Paddock group, indicating better well-being. The natural management group’s stress levels were intermediate, falling between the other two groups.
  • This suggests that a mix of stable and pasture conditions, such as horses spending the night in stables, could have a beneficial impact on their well-being.

Implications of the Study

Assuming these findings are supported by further studies, they could have implications for enhancing horse welfare. The insights could guide stable managers and horse owners in making informed decisions about the daily routines and housing conditions of their horses to promote their well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Mazzola SM, Colombani C, Pizzamiglio G, Cannas S, Palestrini C, Costa ED, Gazzonis AL, Bionda A, Crepaldi P. (2021). Do You Think I Am Living Well? A Four-Season Hair Cortisol Analysis on Leisure Horses in Different Housing and Management Conditions. Animals (Basel), 11(7), 2141. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072141

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 7
PII: 2141

Researcher Affiliations

Mazzola, Silvia Michela
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Colombani, Carla
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio e Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Pizzamiglio, Giulia
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Cannas, Simona
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Palestrini, Clara
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Costa, Emanuela Dalla
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Gazzonis, Alessia Libera
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Bionda, Arianna
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio e Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Crepaldi, Paola
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio e Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
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