Rider and Horse Salivary Cortisol Levels During Competition and Impact on Performance

Abstract

a b s t r a c tDuring competition, stress may affect riders and horses. This stress can affect health, welfare, and/or performance. Our aim was to quantify stress levels during competition in horses and riders. We also searched relationships between these stress levels and performance. Twenty riders and 23 horses were followed up during a show-jumping event (26 courses) held at a riding school. Regular saliva samples taken from horses and riders were assayed to evaluate cortisol levels. We studied salivary cortisol evolution during the days of competition. There was no correlation between instantaneous sampling on horses and their riders. However, we did find a parallel between horse and rider salivary cortisol evolution curves, with a similar peak, reached 20 minutes after the course. The increase was stronger in riders than in horses. Correlations appeared between salivary cortisol concentration and performance, but stress in both partners seems to have an opposite influence on performance. Riders who showed a higher salivary cortisol increase were awarded more penalties, whereas horses that showed a higher increase in salivary cortisol performed better. Stress level measurement in riderehorse pairs would thus lead to improvement in competition conditions and performance, for horses as well as for riders.

A novel approach to systematically compare behavioural patterns between and within groups of horses

“…The levels of salivary cortisol after feeding and after the novel object tests (range: 0.6-2.2 nmol/l) fell within the range of previously reported levels after mild stressors have been applied (reported ranges: 0.8-2.6 nmol/l; Pell and McGreevy, 1999;Shanahan, 2003;Harewood, 2005;Peeters et al, 2013;Becker-Birck et al, 2013). Becker-Birck et al (2013) highlighted that short term stress situations, such as show jumping do not show cortisol levels near the levels shown during one hour of travelling in a horse box (e.g.…”

“…In future, measures such as spontaneous eye blink rate may be useful to establish dopaminergic function as a basic assessor of 'status' prior to selection of sample horses for behavioural studies (Colzato et al, 2009). Salivary cortisol was within the range of previously reported studies at base level (reported ranges of 0.8-1.18 nmol/l; Becker-Birck et al, 2013;Peeters et al, 2013;Young et al, 2012;Schmidt et al, 2010). Hart (2012) highlights the possible danger in over-interpreting the link between cortisol levels and perception of stress due to effects of animal age, individuality, experiences and daily environmental changes.…”

“…Post test saliva samples were taken 20-30 min after stressors occurred in line with previously reported peak values (Peeters et al, 2013). Salivette TM saliva swabs, adapted by sowing on string to prevent accidental swallowing, were held in the centre of the horses' mouth for 30 s or until saturated.…”

“…With the exception of Visser et al (2003Visser et al ( , 2008 and Alberghina et al (2010) who observed equine behaviour when stabled, during daily exercise and in various standardised test situations most studies have typically focused on either routine observations or challenge situations. Situations previously observed include various novel object and startle tests, handling tests, learning tests, show jumping events, sound of clippers, sound of fireworks and mane pulling (Lansade et al, 2008;Peeters et al, 2013;Alenka, 2008;Noble et al, 2013;Schmidt et al, 2010;Young et al, 2012). Seaman et al (2002) pointed out that often no relationship between different types of behaviour tests can be found and concluded that this is due to different characteristics being assessed.…”

Assessment of Stress on Horses through the Salivary Cortisol Concentration

“…Peeters et al (2013) reported that cortisol value in saliva was between 1.18 and 1.92 nmol / l for horses during the rest and the competition. Figure 3 represents the comparison the content of cortisol in saliva on tested horses before and after the lunging.…”