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Veterinary medicine and science2025; 11(3); e70356; doi: 10.1002/vms3.70356

The Effect of Victory and Defeat on the Correlations of Stress Parameters Between the Horse and Rider in Kök-Börü Equestrian Teams.

Abstract: The presented study outlines a research plan aimed at determining the effects of winning and losing situations on the relationship levels between the rider and horse's stress, metabolic, and physiological parameters in Kök-Börü, a traditional equestrian team game. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from both the horses and riders of four different teams participating in two different Kök-Börü games before and after the games. Cortisol, ACTH, beta-endorphin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, T3 and T4 analyses were performed on the collected blood samples using species-specific commercial ELISA kits. Additionally, biochemical and haematological parameters in the same blood samples were tested using an autoanalyser. Based on the obtained data, it was found that there were both positive and negative correlations between most biochemical and haematological parameters of the winning teams' horses and riders before and after the game. However, when examining the correlations between the hormonal parameters of the winning teams' horses and riders before the game, only a negative correlation was found between ACTH and T4 (-0.529, p < 0.05), and no positive correlation was identified among any hormonal parameters. In conclusion, it was interpreted that in the equestrian team sport of Kök-Börü, there are significant changes in the hormonal parameters, especially before and after the game, between the horses and riders of the losing teams. Furthermore, it was concluded that winning and losing situations in Kök-Börü games did not have a significant impact on the correlations between haematological and biochemical parameters before and after the game for both the horses and riders.
Publication Date: 2025-04-24 PubMed ID: 40273095PubMed Central: PMC12020914DOI: 10.1002/vms3.70356Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research focuses on the impact of winning or losing in a traditional equestrian game, Kök-Börü, on the stress, metabolic, and physiological indicators of both horses and riders. The results suggest changes in certain hormonal parameters among horses and riders in losing teams, although no significant differences were observed in the correlations between haematological and biochemical parameters due to the game’s outcome.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted on teams participating in the game of Kök-Börü. Blood samples were taken from both horses and riders of four participating teams, collected before and after two different games.
  • These samples were used to measure various hormonal indicators including cortisol, ACTH, beta-endorphin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, T3 and T4. All tests were done using species-specific ELISA kits.
  • The same blood samples were also analyzed for biochemical and haematological parameters using an autoanalyser.

Findings

  • The data showed a mix of positive and negative correlations between most biochemical and haematological parameters of the winning team’s horses and riders before and after the game.
  • However, no positive correlation was found among any hormonal parameters for the winning teams’ horses and riders pre-game. Instead, a negative correlation was found between ACTH and T4 (-0.529, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

  • The research found significant changes in hormonal parameters, particularly pre and post-game, between horses and riders on losing teams in the Kök-Börü equestrian team sport.
  • Interestingly, the research discovered that the outcomes of the games did not substantially affect the relationships between the haematological and biochemical indicators in both the horses and riders, irrespective of the game’s result.

This study is valuable as it provides a unique perspective on the impact of victory and defeat in a competitive team sport environment on the physiological responses of both humans and animal athletes. Further research could expand on these findings to develop strategies to mitigate negative stress effects in such interactions.

Cite This Article

APA
Rişvanli A, Şen İ, Canuzakov K, Tulobayev A, Taş A, Salykov R, Ceylan N, Türkçapar Ü, Alimov U, Kazakbayeva A, Cunuşova A, Abdimnap Uulu N, Yuksel BF, Turanli M, Uz M, Bayraktar M, Ruzikulov N. (2025). The Effect of Victory and Defeat on the Correlations of Stress Parameters Between the Horse and Rider in Kök-Börü Equestrian Teams. Vet Med Sci, 11(3), e70356. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70356

Publication

ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
Pages: e70356
PII: e70356

Researcher Affiliations

Rişvanli, Ali
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
Şen, İsmail
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Canuzakov, Kanat
  • Faculty of Sports Science, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Tulobayev, Askarbek
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Taş, Abuzer
  • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Türkiye.
Salykov, Ruslan
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Ceylan, Nezahat
  • Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  • Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Türkiye.
Türkçapar, Ünal
  • Faculty of Sports Science, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  • Faculty of Sports Science, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Türkiye.
Alimov, Ulanbek
  • Faculty of Tourism, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakbayeva, Arina
  • Faculty of Sports Science, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Cunuşova, Ayday
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Abdimnap Uulu, Nur
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Yuksel, Burak Fatih
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
Turanli, Mert
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
Uz, Muhammed
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
Bayraktar, Metin
  • Department of Zootechny, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
Ruzikulov, Nuriddin
  • Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnology, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / psychology
  • Sports
  • Stress, Physiological / physiology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Hydrocortisone / blood

Grant Funding

  • KTMU-BAP-2023.FB.07 / Kyrgyzstan Turkey Manas University Scientific Research Projects Unit

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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