Welfare and stress assessment of tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily.

The abstract summarises a research study conducted on tourism carriage horses in Sicily, Italy, to investigate changes in their stress and inflammatory markers due to their work. The study concludes that while these horses seem to have adapted to their tasks, it’s advisable to prevent them from working during extreme summer heat.

Research Overview

The article revolves around the analysis of the stress markers and inflammatory responses in tourism carriage horses under actual working conditions. A sample size of twenty-two Standardbreds underwent blood tests before and after their work shifts across the months of May, June, and July in 2022.

• Blood samples from the horses were collected at rest before starting their work (07:00 AM) and within 10 minutes of completing their workday (05:00 PM).
• The study examined hematological parameters, the serum concentration of cortisol, and total proteins, as well as globulin fractions across the workday.
• In addition to the blood tests, environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and the temperature humidity index (THI) were also taken into account to potentially correlate them with changes in the horses’ health markers.

Research Findings

The study found that direct erythrocyte indices, red blood cell parameters that indicate the overall blood health and potential presence of anemia, increased after work compared to rest condition. Quite interestingly, other vital parameters involving cortisol, total proteins, and globulins remained unaffected by the carriage work.

• However, it was noticed that cortisol levels, total proteins, and α1- and α2-globulins values were heightened in July compared to May and June.
• These changes were correlated to the increase in the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), which was indicative of mild stress in June and high stress in July, thereby implying increased physiological distress with rising summer temperatures.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that the horses under observation have seemingly adapted to their work activities. However, in respect of their welfare and health, the research team advocates for the avoidance of making horses work during the hottest hours of the day in the summer months. This is to lessen the strain on their system and mitigate the risk of heat-related health complications.