Potential Effects of Stress on the Performance of Sport Horses

Bartolomé, Ester; Cockram, M. S.

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2016.01.016

Cited by 50 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 100 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…() found that compliant and partly‐compliant animals (i.e., horses that matched different riders) showed lower stress levels than non‐compliant horses (i.e., horses that did not match different riders). Taking into account the fact that stress can influence a horse's sport performance by either improving or worsening their sport results (Bartolomé & Cockram, ), horses showing a plastic response in our study may also be non‐compliant horses, hence showing more stress in their interactions with different riders, which could bias their Show Jumping results. On the other hand, robust animals were more compliant, thus maintaining a more constant performance in their interactions with different riders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Plasticity effect of rider–horse interaction on genetic evaluations for Show Jumping discipline in sport horses

Bartolomé

Menéndez-Buxadera

Molina

et al. 2018

J Animal Breeding Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To obtain a sport horse that excels in the highest levels of competition, breeders must take into account certain genetic and environmental factors that could influence the sport horse's performance, such as the rider-horse interaction (RHI). The main aim of this study was to describe this interaction in a genetic model by modelling it in relation to the horse's age. A total of 31,129 sport results from Spanish Sport Horses were used from a total of 1,101 animals evaluated, and these were grouped in three age levels and had been ridden by 606 different riders. Only riders who had ridden more than one horse (and vice-versa) were considered for the analyses. Five linear models with different random effects were analysed according to the covariates, the homogeneity/heterogeneity of the RHI and the relevant residual random effects. The model of best fit was then selected for the genetic evaluation of the animal. In general, models including the RHI effect (M2, M4 and M5) fitted better than the other models, and the best fit was obtained for M4 (with heterogeneous residual variance). The genetic variance increased constantly with age, whereas heritability showed a response on three intervals. This study revealed the varied evolution of the RHI with age, showing the different "plastic abilities" of this relationship.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Plasticity effect of rider–horse interaction on genetic evaluations for Show Jumping discipline in sport horses

Bartolomé

Menéndez-Buxadera

Molina

et al. 2018

J Animal Breeding Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This can result in poorly de ned reference ranges for athletes [11]. Exercise is naturally a stressor and, as such, induces a biologic response to exercise that can be either an enhancer or a limiting factor for the sporting ability of an athlete and, therefore, determine the performance obtained [12]. During competition, horses face a mixture of stressors including transportation [13], veterinary examinations [14], rider's ability [15] a new and a noisy environment [16], separation from stable mates [17] and, speci cally in endurance, exposure to large conglomerations of unfamiliar horses in large starts, and musculoskeletal pain from an injury that might arise [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cortisol is the end result of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as a response to any psychological or physical stressor. This response is in uenced by intrinsic factors (age, gender, breed, inherited temperament, experience) and environmental extrinsic factors (competition setting, noise, type of imposed exercise, weather) [12]. The rst cortisol studies were performed using plasma, but the identi cation of free circulating, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salivary Cortisol and Infrared Thermographic Ocular Temperature Use as Biomarkers during Endurance Competitions

Mira¹,

Lamy²,

Santos³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective quantification of effort and distress during endurance rides through biomarkers could help manage competitions more effectively and monitor horse welfare through an evidence-based approach. This study aimed to determine if salivary cortisol (SC) and ocular temperature measured by infrared thermography (IRTOT) are related to the outcome in endurance competitions. Saliva was collected and IRTOT measured from 61 and 14 horses, respectively, competing at qualifier 40km and 80km rides at Pre-Inspection (PI) and Vet Gates (VG). The variation of the baseline SC at the PI (median±IQR=0.27ng/dl±0.36) into VG1 was abrupt (93-256% rise) and in the next VGs either decreased or rose at a very modest level. Less experienced horses in the 40km ride showed a significantly (p<0.05) higher IRTOT (median±IQR=35.7ºC±1.4) at the PI, than their counterparts in the 80Km ride (median±IQR=35. ºC ±1.5). Horses classifying in the Top5, in the 40 km ride category had significantly (p=0.05) higher SC levels (median±IQR=0.90ng/ml ±0.61) at the PI, than horses positioned from 10th position on (median±IQR = 0.16ng/ml ±0.40). A lower IRTOT in the PI was correlated with a better placement (p>0.05) and those in the Top5 (median±IQR = 33.9ºC ±0.0) had a higher variation (+10.65%) into the last VG. A 62% predictive value for elimination (80% sensibility and 82% specificity) where SC is higher than 0.23ng/ml is advanced. SC and IRTOT can be potentially used in association to characterise physical effort and emotional stress in endurance competitions, but its significance to performance has to be put in context with the competition level.

show abstract

“…The examination of feeding patterns revealed associations between stereotypies as indicators of chronic stress [10] and a restriction of forage intake [24, 25] or pasture time [26–28]. Furthermore, participation in equestrian competitions was demonstrated to cause an increased sympathoadrenal activity and an activation of the HPA axis immediately after the event [29–31]. A few studies also reported some associations between equine personality traits and stress parameters [32–34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of breed, management and personality on cortisol reactivity in sport horses

Sauer

Hermann²,

Ramseyer

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

18Sport horses need to fulfill high physical and psychological requirements during training 19 and competition. These as well as certain conditions of modern husbandry may affect their 20 wellbeing. Here we aimed to (1) evaluate effects of demographic and management factors 21 as well as personality traits on stress reactivity of sport horses, (2) investigate if elite sport 22 horses have elevated stress levels compared to amateur sport horses, and (3) assess whether 23 different equestrian disciplines differentially influence horses' adrenal cortex 24 responsiveness. For this purpose, we visited 149 healthy elite (n=94) and amateur (n=54) 42 their use. 43 44 50 competition purposes and training [4, 5]. However, modern keeping conditions often bear 51 little resemblance to the horse's natural habitat and social structure and in many cases 52 allow only limited natural foraging behavior [1]. Sport horses, especially, are now mostly 53 housed in single stalls [6] and their time on pasture and the amount of roughage fed is 54 often restricted [7]. In equestrian sports, horses often complete high intensity trainings with 55 different trainers and riders, go to national and international horse shows, and are thus 56 often required to live in different stables and to travel long distances in trailers and 57 airplanes. As a consequence, modern sport horses are significantly challenged [8]. The 58 high requirements that they are expected to fulfill, as well as the conditions of modern 59 husbandry, may lead to significant stress, both acute and chronic. 60Stress is the response of the body to a demand (stressor) placed upon it [9]. Whenever a 61 stimulus is perceived as a stressor, it results in a biological response in an attempt to cope 62 with the situation [10]. This biological reaction consists of the behavioral response, the 63 sympathetic-adrenal medulla (SAM) axis response and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal 64 cortex (HPA) axis response, which are often activated concurrently and interact during 65 stressful situations [11]. Studies investigating acute or chronic stress in horses have 66 assessed either one or several of these pathways [12-14]. SAM axis parameters, such as 67 evaluation of heart rate or heart rate variability and endocrinological parameters such as 68 cortisol levels are typically used as measures of acute stress [10]. HPA axis stimulation 69 tests such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) 70 challenge tests are described as potential tools for the assessment of long-lasting effects of 71 stress in horses [10]. Stimulated cortisol may give an impression of an animal's overall 72 adrenal capacity, with both a depression [15-17] or an exaggerated response to stimulation 73 [18-21] reflecting a long-term stress-related alteration of the HPA axis.74Several management factors as well as personality traits have been investigated in relation 75 to stress responsivity in horses. For instance, a lack of social contact was linked to changes 4 76 in stress...

show abstract

Potential Effects of Stress on the Performance of Sport Horses

Cited by 50 publications

References 100 publications

Plasticity effect of rider–horse interaction on genetic evaluations for Show Jumping discipline in sport horses

Plasticity effect of rider–horse interaction on genetic evaluations for Show Jumping discipline in sport horses

Salivary Cortisol and Infrared Thermographic Ocular Temperature Use as Biomarkers during Endurance Competitions

Effects of breed, management and personality on cortisol reactivity in sport horses

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About