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Home / Equine Research Bank / Zoo Biol / Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland’s Russ...
Zoo biology2026; doi: 10.1002/zoo.70052

Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland’s Russ Horses.

Abstract: 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 in a city park, Slottsskogen, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Heart rate, an indicator of stress, was measured in eight Gotland Russ horses with Polar belts during three different treatments; resting, exercise, and during a playground event, where horses are in close contact with humans. The results showed that horses were neither stressed by humans and other animals in the park, nor by vehicles. The average heart rate was significantly different amongst all treatments. At rest, the average heart rate (± SD) was 42.5 ± 3.2 bpm, 85 ± 10.4 bpm during exercise, and 51 ± 7.2 bpm at the playground. Therefore, the playground event was not stressful for these horses. This knowledge is valuable for this park as many human activities occur there throughout the year and gaining a better understanding of how the animals are affected by such events is essential for informing good animal welfare.
© 2026 The Author(s). Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Publication Date: 2026-02-20 PubMed ID: 41717951DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70052Google 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.

Overview

  • This study investigates whether the presence of visitors and associated activities at a city park in Gothenburg, Sweden, cause stress in Gotland Russ horses.
  • The research uses heart rate measurements as an indicator of stress under different conditions: resting, exercising, and during visitor interaction at a playground event.

Introduction and Background

  • Animal welfare encompasses both physical and mental health, and assessing welfare in captive animals is a legal and ethical necessity.
  • Maintaining good welfare is critically important for endangered species breeding because stress can negatively impact reproductive health.
  • Zoos and similar environments often attract many visitors, and noise or close human contact may affect animal welfare.
  • The study focuses on Gotland Russ horses housed in Slottsskogen city park, an environment where many human activities occur.

Research Aim

  • To determine if the horses experience stress when exposed to humans and activities, particularly during playground events where horses and visitors are in close proximity.
  • To use heart rate as an objective physiological indicator to measure stress in these conditions.

Methodology

  • Subjects: Eight Gotland Russ horses living in Slottsskogen park.
  • Heart rate data collection: Polar heart rate belts were used for measuring the horses’ heartbeats.
  • Three treatment conditions were tested:
    • Resting – horses were inactive and relaxed.
    • Exercise – horses were physically active, which naturally elevates heart rate but is not necessarily indicative of stress.
    • Playground event – horses were in close contact with humans and exposed to potential noise and activity disturbances.

Results

  • Heart rate varied significantly between all three conditions:
    • Resting average heart rate: 42.5 ± 3.2 beats per minute (bpm).
    • During exercise: 85 ± 10.4 bpm.
    • At the playground event: 51 ± 7.2 bpm.
  • The heart rate at the playground event, although slightly elevated compared to resting, was much lower than during exercise and not indicative of severe stress.
  • Horses did not show signs of stress due to exposure to humans, other animals, or vehicles within the park.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Close interaction with humans and the presence of noise and activity in a playground event setting did not cause stress in these horses.
  • The ability to maintain low stress levels despite visitor presence is positive for animal welfare in the park.
  • This finding is important to support continued visitor activities while ensuring the horses’ wellbeing.
  • Provides valuable insight to zoo and park management for balancing public engagement with animal welfare.
  • Highlights the utility of heart rate monitoring as an effective, non-invasive method for assessing stress in captive animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Dundjerovic I, Sneddon LU. (2026). Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland’s Russ Horses. Zoo Biol. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.70052

Publication

Zoo biology
ISSN: 1098-2361
NlmUniqueID: 8807837
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Dundjerovic, Isidora
  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Sneddon, Lynne U
  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

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