Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Equine Science
• Animal Physiology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Competitive equestrian events can induce physiological stress in horses.
• Understanding stress markers like cortisol is crucial for animal welfare in sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of experience (age, competition history) on stress levels in Hucul mares during championships.
• To correlate salivary cortisol concentrations with performance and participation in equestrian events.

Main Methods:

• Salivary cortisol was measured in 18 Hucul mares at multiple time points during a two-day Polish Championship.
• Cortisol levels were assessed at baseline, after arena assessment, endurance, and Hucul path events.
• Horse age and number of previous championship starts were recorded as experience metrics.

Main Results:

• Salivary cortisol levels significantly increased from baseline to post-endurance test (T3).
• Younger mares (≤9 years) and those with fewer championship starts exhibited lower cortisol levels.
• Mares with repeated participation in the qualifying path showed the highest cortisol concentrations at T3.

Conclusions:

• Participation in the Hucul Horse Championship induces a significant stress response in mares.
• Horse age and prior competition experience appear to modulate the stress response to championships.
• While stress is evident, cortisol levels did not correlate with championship performance outcomes.