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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(12); 3345; doi: 10.3390/ani11123345

Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? A Pilot Study.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine whether experience related to horse age and number of starts in championships influences stress level, measured by salivary cortisol concentration. The study involved 18 clinically healthy Hucul mares who participated in the Polish Championships for Hucul Horses. Evaluation of performance value was carried out in accordance with the guidelines specified in the breeding and genetic resources conservation program for this breed. The championship lasted two days, consisting of conformation evaluation, endurance, and Hucul path. Saliva was collected at baseline (T1), after arena assessment (T2), after endurance (T3), and on the second day after the Hucul path (T4). Cortisol levels increased from an average of 2.73 ± 1.18 ng/mL (T1) to 10.46 ± 8.03 ng/mL after T3. Significantly lower levels of free cortisol were detected in the saliva of the younger mares, up to 9 years old, and mares who participated in only one qualifying path after each element of the championship. The highest levels of cortisol (T3) were found in mares competing repeatedly on the qualifying path. No correlation was found between cortisol levels and the championship results. Participation of mares in the championship was associated with stress, which was reflected in the increase in cortisol levels in saliva.
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Publication Date: 2021-11-24 PubMed ID: 34944127PubMed Central: PMC8697891DOI: 10.3390/ani11123345Google 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 article explores if experience linked to horse age and number of starts in championships has an effect on stress levels in Hucul mares, with stress being measured by salivary cortisol concentration.

Research Context and Objectives

  • The study focuses on examining the effect of experience, in terms of horse age and the number of championship starts, on the stress levels of Hucul horses. To measure stress, the researchers used salivary cortisol concentration as a biomarker.
  • The specific objective was to assess whether older, more experienced mares demonstrated increased resilience to stress compared to their younger and less experienced counterparts during the Polish Championships for Hucul Horses.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved 18 clinically healthy Hucul mares that were participating in the Polish Championships for Hucul Horses.
  • To assess the performance, the researchers followed guidelines provided in the breeding and genetic resources conservation program for the Hucul breed.
  • The championship continued for two days and incorporated evaluations of conformation, endurance and the Hucul path.
  • Saliva samples were collected at several points throughout the tournament: at baseline (T1), after the arena assessment (T2), after endurance test (T3), and on the second day after the Hucul path (T4).

Results and Observations

  • The average cortisol levels in saliva rose considerably during the championship, from 2.73 ± 1.18 ng/mL at T1 to 10.46 ± 8.03 ng/mL after T3.
  • The cortisol levels were significantly lower in younger mares (up to 9 years old) and those who had only participated in one qualifying path after each element of the championship.
  • The highest cortisol levels (at T3) were observed in mares that were competing repeatedly on the qualifying path.
  • Even though cortisol levels can be taken as indicators of stress, the study found no correlation between cortisol levels and the championship results.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that participation in championships is associated with stress in Hucul mares, which is evident from the increase in cortisol levels in their saliva.
  • However, the researchers did not establish a clear link between horses’ experience in terms of age or the number of championship starts and lower stress levels.

Cite This Article

APA
Topczewska J, Krupa W, Sokołowicz Z, Lechowska J. (2021). Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 11(12), 3345. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123345

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 12
PII: 3345

Researcher Affiliations

Topczewska, Jadwiga
  • College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland.
Krupa, Wanda
  • Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka Street 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Sokołowicz, Zofia
  • College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland.
Lechowska, Jadwiga
  • College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Encina A, Ligero M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Rodríguez-Sainz de Los Terreros A, Bartolomé E, Valera M. Phenotypic and Genetic Study of the Presence of Hair Whorls in Pura Raza Español Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 16;13(18).
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  2. Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Ripollés-Lobo M, Valera M. Basal Reactivity Evaluated by Infrared Thermography in the "Caballo de Deporte Español" Horse Breed According to Its Coat Color.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 21;12(19).
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