Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses of horses to therapeutic riding program: Effects of different riders

Fazio, Esterina; Medica, Pietro; Cravana, Cristina; Ferlazzo, Adriana

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.009

Cited by 39 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Baseline circulating ACTH and cortisol values may be useful in assessing how an animal will cope with a new experience or novel stimuli [ 3 , 4 ]. Horses constantly modify their behavior as a result of experience; this involves the creation of an association between events or stimuli [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pituitary-adrenocortical adjustments to transport stress in horses with previous different handling and transport conditions

Fazio¹,

Medica²,

Cravana³

et al. 2016

Vet World

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Aim:The changes of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis response to a long distance transportation results in increase of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels. The purpose of the study was to quantify the level of short-term road transport stress on circulating ACTH and cortisol concentrations, related to the effect of previous handling and transport experience of horses.Materials and Methods:The study was performed on 56 healthy horses after short-term road transport of 30 km. The horses were divided into four groups, Groups A, B, C, and D, with respect to the handling quality: Good (Groups A and B), bad (Group D), and minimal handling (Group C) conditions. According to the previous transport, experience horses were divided as follows: Horses of Groups A and D had been experienced long-distance transportation before; horses of Groups B and C had been limited experience of transportation.Results:One-way RM-ANOVA showed significant effects of transport on ACTH changes in Groups B and C and on cortisol changes in both Groups A and B. Groups A and B showed lower baseline ACTH and cortisol values than Groups C and D; Groups A and B showed lower post-transport ACTH values than Groups C and D. Groups A, B, and C showed lower post-transport cortisol values than Group D. Only Groups A and B horses have shown an adequate capacity of stress response to transportation.Conclusion:The previous transport experience and quality of handling could influence the HPA axis physiological responses of horses after short-term road transport.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pituitary-adrenocortical adjustments to transport stress in horses with previous different handling and transport conditions

Fazio¹,

Medica²,

Cravana³

et al. 2016

Vet World

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“…This suggests that any confusion behavior expressed by the horse may be misinterpreted by the equine professional. With regards to human interactions (riding as well as groundwork), horses can differentiate between riders and may experience different stress levels [34] which may result from irregular pressures on the horse from the rider [35]. These pressures, however, stabilize over time as the rider improves [35] and can better regulate body position and consistent cues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equines as Tools Vs Partners: A Critical Look at the Uses and Beliefs Surrounding Horses in Equine Therapies and Argument for Mechanical Horses

Kieson

2017

Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry

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“…Kaiser et al (2006) [ 101 ] assessed the frequency of horse’s stress related behaviors during sessions with different riders (recreational riders, individuals with physical or psychological impairment, at risk children, children with special educational needs); they concluded that being ridden by individuals with physical or psychological impairment is no more stressful than being ridden by recreational riders. Fazio et al (2013) [ 105 ], on the other side, investigated the responses of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis during EAI with children with a physical disability and during recreational riding. In this study, endorphin and ACTH did not show significant changes after therapeutic and recreational riding sessions (in comparison with basal values), while cortisol was lower after EAI.…”

Section: Methodological Considerations For Stress Assessment Durinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Considerations for Stress Assessment in Horses

Santis

Contalbrigo

Borgi

et al. 2017

Veterinary Sciences

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Equine assisted interventions (EAIs) are recently facing an increasing popularity, and are characterized by a wide diversity of practices. However, information on the welfare of animals involved in this kind of activity is often lacking. Horses are highly susceptible to work stressors related to physical constraints and/or to the need to control emotions while interacting with humans. Considerations of the emotional state of horses involved in EAIs have multiple valences: for the safety of humans and animals involved, for the quality and efficacy of interventions, as well as for ethical reasons. The aim of this unsystematic narrative review is to summarize the different approaches used for the evaluation of horses’ stress responses, investigate their application in the context of EAIs, and discuss some methodological considerations for researchers and practitioners involved in EAI. The sources of information are mostly based on electronic databases (i.e., Medline, Scopus and Google scholar), as well as on hand searches of the references of retrieved literature, and discussions with experts in the field. At present, a few studies have investigated horses’ stress responses during EAIs, and further studies are recommended, with the final aim to derive a reliable multidimensional method for assessing a horse’s reaction during therapeutic programs, ultimately helping professionals to better develop interventions by taking into consideration the animal’s perspective.

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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses of horses to therapeutic riding program: Effects of different riders

Cited by 39 publications

References 24 publications

Pituitary-adrenocortical adjustments to transport stress in horses with previous different handling and transport conditions

Pituitary-adrenocortical adjustments to transport stress in horses with previous different handling and transport conditions

Equines as Tools Vs Partners: A Critical Look at the Uses and Beliefs Surrounding Horses in Equine Therapies and Argument for Mechanical Horses

Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Considerations for Stress Assessment in Horses

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