Witold Kędzierski

Salivary Cortisol Levels in Horses and their Riders During Three-Day-Events

Abstract The group of 36 warm-blooded half-bred horses (18 stallions and 18 mares) and their riders (20 men and 16 women), who ended three-day-events, were selected for the study. The horses were aged 4 to 6 years, while the riders were 19 to 34-year-old. The saliva samples were collected after each phase of the competitions. The cortisol concentration was determined using an immunoassay method. The following factors were considered: type of competition, horse sex, and rider gender. In horses, the statistically important correlation was found between the results obtained for the dressage and cross-country, for the cross-country and show jumping, and for the dressage and show jumping. An analogous comparison for the riders suggests a statistically significant correlation between the data obtained for the cross-country and show jumping. Comparing the data of horses and their riders, a significant correlation coefficient was found for the cross-country group of woman and the dressage group of men. In conclusion, the salivary cortisol level in individual horses in each phase of three-day-event was found to be repetitive. Therefore, the salivary cortisol test is demonstrated to be a useful method to evaluate the horse response to each type of competition during three-day-events.

Changes in salivary and plasma cortisol levels in Purebred Arabian horses during race training session

Physical activity and stress both cause an increase in cortisol release ratio. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of saliva samples for the determination of cortisol concentrations indicating the work-load level in horses during race training. Twelve Purebred Arabian horses aged 3-5 years were studied during the routine training session. After the warm-up, the horses galloped on the 800 m sand track at a speed of 12.8 m/s. Three saliva samples, and three blood samples were collected from each horse. Both types of samples were taken at rest, immediately after return from the track and after 30 min restitution. The concentrations of blood lactic acid (LA), and cortisol in saliva and plasma samples were measured and analyzed. Blood LA, plasma and salivary cortisol levels increased significantly after exercise (P < 0.05). Salivary cortisol concentration determined 30 min after the exercise correlated significantly with plasma cortisol level obtained immediately after exercise (P < 0.05) as well as measured 30 min after the end of exercise (P < 0.05). The determination of cortisol concentration in saliva samples taken from racehorses 30 min after the end of exercise can be recommended to use in field conditions to estimate the work-load in racehorses.

Is It a Good Idea to Train Fillies and Colts Separately

This study compared the physiological response to novel situations in sex-separated and sex-mixed groups of horses, as measured by heart rate (HR). The study evaluated the possibility of training horses in a mixed-sex system. The study included 41 Purebred Arabian 2½-year-olds during their first walk on an automated horse walker. Four groups, divided by manner of care and training, consisted of 10 colts and 10 fillies kept in separate stables and trained in separate male or female groups and 12 colts and 9 fillies kept in the same stable and trained together. The study measured HR when horses were at rest before exercise, while moving from stable to walker, during 30 min of exercise on walker, while moving from walker to stable, and at rest after exercise. Mean HR scores recorded from training on the walker were higher in sex-mixed groups. Results obtained while horses were moving from stable to walker, then from walker to stable, were significantly higher in the sex-mixed groups. The study did not recommend training young horses in sex-mixed groups.

The effect of relaxing massage on heart rate and heart rate variability in purebred Arabian racehorses.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of relaxing massage on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in young racehorses during their first racing season. In the study, 72 Purebred Arabian racehorses were included. The study was implemented during the full race season. The horses from control and experimental groups were included in regular race training 6 days a week. The horses from the experimental group were additionally subject to the relaxing massage 3 days a week during the whole study. HR and HRV were assumed as indicators of the emotional state of the horses. The measurements were taken six times, every 4-5 weeks. The HRV parameters were measured at rest, during grooming and saddling the horse and during warm-up walking under a rider. The changes of the parameters throughout the season suggest that the relaxing massage may be effectively used to make the racehorses more relaxed and calm. Moreover, the horses from the experimental group had better race performance records.

Emotional reactions of horses and trainers during natural method training.

Abstract The first aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the trainer factor and the sex of the horse affect the heart rate (HR) of the trainer-horse pair. The second aim was to estimate the level of the trainer-horse pair’s emotions and to find the relationship of the HR between the trainer and the horse during the preliminary, natural-method training. The animals used in the study were 40 three-year-old purebred Arabian horses trained by two trainers from the Silversand Horsemanship School. Each trainer worked with 20 randomly selected horses, equally grouped by sex. The study was carried out during the first day of the training cycle. The aim was to have a horse accept a rider. The following items were subject to analysis: deconcentration, concentration, desensitizing, putting on the lungeing surcingle, and saddling. The emotional status of the horses and the trainers was evaluated based on HR variations which were measured by applying Polar S810 telemetric devices. The device produced continuous measurements with readings every 60 seconds. Two-factor analysis of variance and Pearson correlations were determined with the use of SAS software. Significance of differences between mean values was verified using Tukey’s test. The results obtained revealed that the sex of the trained horses was not an important factor in the evaluation of trainer’s emotions, despite the fact that fillies were characterized as having a more uniform HR. The trainer is very responsible for the emotions of a trained horse, especially at the beginning of training and during saddling. From a trainer’s point of view, it is important to complete the horse concentration task as quickly as possible. The lack of an emotional relationship in the trainer-horse pair during some training elements, suggests that it is not only the trainer’s experience, but mainly the trainer’s personality that determines the probable success in naturalmethod work. Streszczenie Celem pracy stała się ocena wpływu czynnika płci konia i czynnika trenera na liczbę skurczów serca (HR) pary człowiek - koń oraz określenie poziomu emocji wspomnianej pary i wzajemnego powiązania ich HR podczas wstępnego szkolenia młodych koni metodami naturalnymi. Materiał do badań stanowiły zapisy HR 40 trzyletnich koni czystej krwi oraz 2 trenerów szkoły Silversand Horsemanship, z których każdy pracował z 20 losowo wybranymi końmi, reprezentującymi w równej liczbie ogierki i klaczki. Badania przeprowadzono podczas pierwszego dnia cyklu treningowego, którego celem było przyjęcie jeźdźca przez konia. Analizie poddano elementy treningu opisane jako: dekoncentracja, koncentracja, odczulanie, zakładanie pasa do lonżowania oraz zakładanie siodła. Stan emocjonalny koni i trenerów oceniono na podstawie zmian HR mierzonych za pomocą urządzeń telemetrycznych Polar S810. Zapis pracy serca odbywał się w sposób ciągły z odczytem w interwałach co 60 s. W programie SAS zastosowano dwuczynnikową analizę wariancji oraz korelacje Pearsona. Istotność między średnimi określono testem t - Tukeya. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono, że płeć szkolonych koni nie ma większego wpływu na emocje trenera, mimo iż klaczki charakteryzują się bardziej wyrównanym HR. Zaobserwować można natomiast znaczny wpływ osoby trenera na emocje konia, szczególnie w początkowej fazie treningu oraz w czasie zakładania siodła, istotne z punktu widzenia człowieka może być jak najszybsze uzyskanie koncentracji przez konia. Brak relacji emocjonalnych pary człowiek - koń w niektórych elementach szkolenia sugeruje, iż o sukcesie w pracy metodami naturalnymi będzie decydowało nie tylko wyszkolenie trenera, ale przede wszystkim cechy jego osobowości.

Can Releasing Racehorses to Paddocks be Beneficial? Heart Rate Analysis – Preliminary Study

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the effect of allowing racehorses to use paddocks, on the heart rate (HR). HR was used as a measure of horses’ psychosomatic response to environment effect. The study involved 90 Purebred Arabian horses divided into three groups of equal numbers of stallions and mares. The control group (C) was trained at the racetrack. The other two groups were trained in an off-the-racetrack centre and therefore, they were regularly transported to the races. One of those groups (T) was maintained in the same manner as horses at the racetrack, without access to paddocks. Horses from the other group (TP) were additionally released into a paddock every day. Each horse was examined within five three-week measuring periods, during one training season. HR was registered at rest, during saddling, and while walking with a rider. A multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA, GLM) was used to compare HR. The significance of differences between means was determined using Tukey’s test. HR registered from 2nd to 5th measuring periods during saddling and walking was generally lower in TP than in C. For example, in stallions during saddling, HR amounted to: 54.4±14.7 vs 65.3±12.1, 53.2±13.5 vs 64.4±13.1, 55.4±12.2 vs 65.0±11.0 and 53.4±14.0 vs 66.5±13.8 beats/min, respectively. In T stallions and mares, HR tended to increase when the transportation began which was particularly pronounced at rest. The study revealed that the possibility of turnout into paddocks reduced HR in racehorses, in comparison to horses trained at racetrack. Training for horse racing in an off-the-racetrack centre with the use of paddocks was assessed as beneficial, provided the horses were used to being transported.

Offtrack training ameliorates emotional excitability in purebred Arabian racehorses

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare emotional excitability in purebred Arabian racehorses trained either with a standard method or with additional off-racetrack training. The study was carried out on 46 horses that were trained for racing in a home stud. The control group (CN, n = 23) was trained only on the training racetrack, whereas for the experimental group (EX, n = 23), the training schedule was alternated between work on the training track and off-racetrack training in a forest. The emotional excitability in horses was determined according to the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). The measurements (six times every 30 d) were taken at rest, during grooming and saddling, and during mounting and walking with a rider. The behavior of horses was also assessed. Higher activity of the parasympathetic nervous systems was found in EX horses during procedures preceding the training. This effect disappeared and the results paralleled those of CN horses once the training session with a rider began. The tested modification of the race training had a positive impact on the horse behavior of the horse during grooming, saddling, mounting, and walking with a rider. However, the modification influenced the autonomic system activity of horses only at rest and during the procedures preceding training sessions, whereas the effect was not seen during mounting and walking.

Does road transport influence plasma leptin concentrations in horses? Preliminary study

Abstract Transport is one of the most common stressors for horses leading to an increase in cortisol secretion. Cortisol promotes leptin synthesis and release. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of short transport on circulating leptin and cortisol concentrations. A total of 16 crossbred naïve horses (7 geldings, 9 mares) aged 2-11 years, and weighing 530-680 kg were included in the study. The horses were transported in a commercial horse-truck to an unknown holding pen for temporary housing. To measure plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations, three blood samples were collected from each horse: before transport, immediately after unloading from the truck, and nine hours after transport at the arrival point. Transport caused a significant increase in mean plasma cortisol concentration determined at unloading, and after nine hours of unloading, in comparison to values obtained before loading. Plasma leptin concentrations did not change during the study. In conclusion, transportation procedures did not influence plasma leptin concentration in horses, despite significantly increased cortisol release.

Age- and Glucocorticoid-Dependent Leptin Release by Horse Adipose Tissue: In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT In mammals, corticosteroids overall play the greatest role in stimulation of leptin synthesis and release from the adipose tissue. Some studies have shown that changes in plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations in horses can occur independently of each other. The aim of our study on horses was to evaluate the effect of different ages on the glucocorticoid‐dependent leptin release from isolated adipose tissue samples in primary culture. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were collected from 25 cold‐blood horses aged 7 months to 11 years. Samples of adipose tissue were incubated (200 mg/mL) under control conditions (Dx0), or treated with one of two doses of dexamethasone (100 ng/mL—Dx100 and 1,000 ng/mL—Dx1000) for 12 hours. Histological examination was also conducted to obtain the mean number of adipocytes in the field of view. The medium leptin concentration was analyzed in relation to the number of adipocytes in the tissue samples. A significantly higher medium leptin concentration in Dx1000 than in Dx0 was observed only in tissue samples from foals (7–12 months of age, n = 6). Significant negative correlations were found between the age of horses and the difference in medium leptin levels Dx1000 − Dx0, as well as (Dx1000 − Dx0)/million adipocytes, and (Dx1000 − Dx100)/million adipocytes. The corticosteroids‐induced secretion of leptin decreased with the age of horses. HIGHLIGHTSThe effect of horses age on the glucocorticoid‐dependent leptin release was studied.Adipose tissue samples taken from horses of different age were studied in vitro.Age of horses correlated negatively with the dexamethasone‐induced leptin release.The corticosteroids‐induced leptin release decreases with the age of horses.