<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p> 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.</p>
</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.

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

Department of Horse Breeding and Use, Faculty of Animal Biology and Breeding

Department of Animal Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Division of Surgery, Department of Large Animals Diseases with the Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Journal of Veterinary Research

{"article-title":"Salivary Cortisol Levels in Horses and their Riders During Three-Day-Events"}

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...

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

Published Online: Jun 21, 2013

Page range: 237 - 241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2013-0042

Keywords
horses, riders, saliva, cortisol, three-day-events

This content is open access.

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

Published Online: Jun 21, 2013

Page range: 237 - 241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bvip-2013-0042

Keywordshorses, riders, saliva, cortisol, three-day-events

This content is open access.

Keywords
horses, riders, saliva, cortisol, three-day-events