Physiological stress responses in horses participating in novice endurance rides.
Abstract: Horses participating in endurance events encounter enormous physical challenges. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) have been reported before and after endurance rides, but these have not been determined during the rides. Moreover, the modulation in HRV and haematology in horses with different ride results (completed a course or disqualified due to irregular gait) have not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in HR, HRV, and haematological parameters during novice endurance rides and to compare these parameters between horses that successfully completed the course (SC) or were disqualified for irregular gait (FTQ-GA). Beat-to-beat (RR) intervals of 16 healthy horses (aged 6-14 years) were recorded before and throughout the approximately 40 km endurance event. Blood samples were taken at the pre-ride inspection and after passing each veterinary inspection. HRV and haematology measures were determined from nine SC and seven FTQ-GA horses. Horses with different ride results demonstrated distinctive physiological stress responses. Increases in PCV, RBC, WBC and neutrophils after completing the ride were found only in SC horses, implying that they were ridden with greater effort than FTQ-GA horses. A reduction in HRV during warm-up, followed by a significant reduction during the first and second riding phases, was observed. HRV returned to baseline at the compulsory rest period of both phases. FTQ-GA horses experienced lower RR intervals, RR triangular index, modified deceleration capacity, very-low-frequency band, and parasympathetic nervous system index, coinciding with higher HR and sympathetic nervous system and stress indices than SC horses. These results indicated that endurance horses revealed a shift toward sympathetic activity during the ride. Lower parasympathetic activity in FTQ-GA horses suggests they were under more stress or discomfort than SC horses in novice endurance rides. These results have welfare implications, indicating the need for additional rest breaks in FTQ-GA horses.
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2024-05-23 PubMed ID: 38845925PubMed Central: PMC11153225DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31874Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates physiological responses in endurance horses, particularly changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood parameters during an endurance ride, and how these factors differ between horses that complete the event or are disqualified due to irregular gait.
Methodology
- The study involved 16 healthy horses aged between 6 to 14 years who participated in an approximately 40km endurance event.
- The heart beats were recorded before and throughout the event. Blood samples were collected before the race and at each veterinary check.
- The researchers measured heart rate variability and blood parameters, such as packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and neutrophils, in both groups of horses that either successfully finished the course (SC) or were disqualified due to irregular gait (FTQ-GA).
Findings
- The research showed that horses in both groups displayed different physiological responses to the endurance event. SC horses demonstrated increases in PCV, RBC, WBC and neutrophils after the event. The researchers believe this indicates these horses were ridden with a greater level of effort than the horses in the FTQ-GA group.
- Moreover, a decrease in heart rate variability was observed during the warm-up phase and the first two phases of the ride. However, heart rate variability levels returned to normal during rest periods in both phases.
- In contrast, the FTQ-GA horses showed lower heart rate intervals, deceleration capacity, and parasympathetic nervous system index. These horses also displayed a higher heart rate and stress indices, and reduced ‘very-low-frequency’ band activity than the SC horses, indicating greater sympathetic nervous system activity.
Implications
- The findings suggest that the FTQ-GA horses were under greater stress or discomfort than the SC horses during the endurance event. This could indicate these horses were not adequately prepared or suited for the demands of the event.
- This research has welfare implications for the horses taking part in such events as the higher levels of stress experienced by FTQ-GA horses signal a need for more frequent resting periods.
Cite This Article
APA
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.
(2024).
Physiological stress responses in horses participating in novice endurance rides.
Heliyon, 10(11), e31874.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31874 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Clinical Study Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Clinical Study Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Clinical Study Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Clinical Study Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn, Pathom, Thailand.
- Thailand Equestrian Federation, Sports Authority of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Metha Chanda reports article publishing charges was provided by Kasetsart University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Kamphaengsaen Campus. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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