Effect of familiar and unfamiliar riders on Cortisol, Oxytocin and Beta–endorphin levels in horses

• Nergis Ulas Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine. Erzurum, Türkiye
• Omer Aydin Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine. Erzurum, Türkiye
• Sumeyye Baysal Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine. Erzurum, Türkiye
• Mustafa Ileriturk Atatürk University, Horasan Vocational Collage, Department of Animal Science. Erzurum, Türkiye
• Omer Eltas Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Zootechny. Erzurum, Türkiye

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e34493

Keywords: Horse, β–endorphin, cortisol, oxytocin, stress

Abstract

Stress response of the horse may be related to the behavioral and physiologic factors e.g., stress hormones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different rider contact on the stress hormones of the horses that are used for javelin sport in a local riding club. Seven Arabian horses were ridden by familiar riders with the horses in the first and second weeks and by additional unfamiliar riders with the horses in the third and fourth weeks. Cortisol, oxytocin and beta–endorphin levels in sera samples and cortisol levels in saliva were measured before and after the riding. There was no statistical difference in serum cortisol and β–endorphin and salivary cortisol values between the groups with regard to the familiarity (P>0.05). Behavioral scoring did not differ between the groups. However, there was an increase in the oxytocin level of the horses ridden by the familiar riders in the second week compared with the first week (P<0.05). The horses did not respond stressfully associated with the hormone levels and behavioral changes; besides, they responded well to the familiar riders by elevating the oxytocin level. In conclusion, the horses used herein responded well to the familiar and unfamiliar riders with regard to potential stress factors. It has been therefore suggested that the familiarity towards the interaction between the human and the horse may not alter the physiological stress of the horses that are regularly ridden by various people in a riding club.

References

Ferlazzo A, Fazio E, Cravana C, Medica P. Equine–assisted services: An overview of current scientific contributions on efficacy and outcomes on humans and horses. J. Vet. Behav. [Internet]. 2023; 59(1):15–24. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm45

Mendonça T, Bienboire–Frosini C, Menuge F, Leclercq J, Lafont–Lecuelle C, Arroub S, Pageat P. The impact of equine–assisted therapy on equine behavioral and physiological responses. Animals [Internet]. 2019 ;9(7):409. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm46

Young T, Creighton E, Smith T, Hosie C. A novel scale of behavioural indicators of stress for use with domestic horses. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. [Internet]. 2012; 140(1–2):33–43. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm47

Merkies K, Ready C, Farkas L, Hodder A. Eye blink rates and eyelid twitches as a non–invasive measure of stress in the domestic horse. Animals [Internet]. 2019; 9(8):562. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm48

Foreman J, Ferlazzo A. Physiological responses to stress in the horse. Pferdeheilkunde Equine Med. [Internet]. 1996; 12(4):401–404. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm49

Sajjad S, Farooq U, Anwar M, Khurshid A, Bukhari SA. Effect of captive environment on plasma cortisol level and behavioral pattern of Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). Pak. Vet. J. [Internet]. 2011 [cited 9 May 2024]; 31(3):195–198. Available in: https://goo.su/QY7qy

Sheng JA, Bales NJ, Myers SA, Bautista AI, Roueinfar M, Hale TM, Handa RJ. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: development, programming actions of hormones, and maternal–fetal interactions. Front. Behav. Neurosci. [Internet]. 2021; 14:e601939. doi: https://doi.org/gpcf7r

Hart KA. The use of cortisol for the objective assessment of stress in animals: pros and cons. Vet J. [Internet]. 2012; 192(2):137–139. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5b

Imık H, Kaynar O, Ozkanlar S, Gumus R, Polat H, Ozkanlar Y. Effects of vitamin C and α–lipoid acid dietary supplementations on metabolic adaptation of broilers to heat stress. Revue Méd. Vét. [Internet]. 2013 [cited 11 Jun. 2024]; 164(2):52–59. Available in: https://goo.su/vSsiEB

Ozkanlar Y, Aktas MS, Turkeli M, Erturk N, Oruc E, Ozkanlar S, Kirbaş A, Erdemci B, Aksakal E. Effects of ramipril and darbepoetin on electromechanical activity of the heart in doxorubicin–induced cardiotoxicity. Int J Cardiol. [Internet]. 2014; 173(3):519–521. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5c

Ferlazzo A, Cravana C, Fazio E, Medica P. The different hormonal system during exercise stress coping in horses. Vet. World. [Internet]. 2020; 13(5):847–59. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5d

Medica P, Giunta RP, Bruschetta G, Ferlazzo AM. The influence of training and simulated race on horse plasma serotonin levels. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2020; 84:102818. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5f

Hellhammer DH, Wüst S, Kudielka BM. Salivary cortisol as a biomarker in stress research. Psychoneuroendocrinology. [Internet]. 2009;34(2):163–171. doi: https://doi.org/brh46p

Peeters M, Sulon J, Beckers JF, Ledoux D, Vandenheede M. Comparison between blood serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses using an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge. Equine Vet. J. [Internet]. 2011; 43(4):487–493. doi: https://doi.org/dszwj4

Aurich J, Wulf M, Ille N, Erber R, Von Lewinski M, Palme R, Aurich C. Effects of season, age, sex, and housing on salivary cortisol concentrations in horses. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. [Internet]. 2015; 52:11–16. doi: https://doi.org/f7gd9t

Contreras–Aguilar MD, Lamy E, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Tecles F, Quiles AJ, Hevia ML. Changes in salivary analytes of horses due to circadian rhythm and season: A pilot study. Animals [Internet]. 2020; 10(9):1486. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5g

Smith CJ, Norman RL. Influence of the gonads on cortisol secretion in female rhesus macaques. Endocrinology [Internet]. 1987; 121(6):2192–2198. doi: https://doi.org/cqv5pt

Takayanagi Y, Onaka T. Roles of oxytocin in stress responses, allostasis and resilience. Int. J. Mol. Sci. [Internet].2021; 23(1):150. doi: https://doi.org/gp62p7

Malinowski K, Yee C, Tevlin JM, Birks EK, Durando MM, Pournajafi–Nazarloo H, Cavaiola AA, McKeever KH. The effects of equine assisted therapy on plasma cortisol and oxytocin concentrations and heart rate variability in horses and measures of symptoms of post–traumatic stress disorder in veterans. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2018; 64:17–26. doi: https://doi.org/gcx4pc

Alexander SL, Irvine CH. The effect of social stress on adrenal axis activity in horses: the importance of monitoring corticosteroid–binding globulin capacity. J. Endocrinol. [Internet]. 1998; 157(3):425–432. doi: https://doi.org/chn4db

Odendaal JS, Meintjes RA. Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. Vet. J. [Internet]. 2003; 165(3):296–301. doi: https://doi.org/d3p8zc

Ferlazzo A, Fazio E, Cravana C, Medica P. The role of circulating β–endorphin in different stress models in equines: A review. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2018; 71(Suppl 1):98–104. doi: https://doi.org/gfp273

Hovey MR, Davis A, Chen S, Godwin P, Shea–Porr CA. Evaluating stress in riding horses: Part one–behavior assessment and serum cortisol. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2021; 96:103297. doi: https://doi.org/gm33ck

Potier JF, Louzier V. Evaluation of stress markers in horses during hippotherapy sessions in comparison to being ridden by beginners. Anim. Welf. 2023; 32:e10. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5h

Holtby AR, McGivney BA, Browne JA, Katz LM, Murphy KJ, Hill EW. Variation in salivary cortisol responses in yearling Thoroughbred racehorses during their first year of training. Plos One. [Internet]. 2023; 18(4):e0284102. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5j

Peeters M, Closson C, Beckers J–F, Vandenheede M. Rider and horse salivary cortisol levels during competition and impact on performance. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2013; 33(3):155–160. doi: https://doi.org/f4q8h2

Buchanan KL. Stress and the evolution of condition–dependent signals. Trends Ecol. Evol. [Internet]. 2000; 15(4):156–160. doi: https://doi.org/ctjjgw

Baboo ASA, Naeem M, Behan AA, Rajput N. Serum cortisol concentration is a reliable tool to assess stress level among stereotypic and non–stereotypic thoroughbred horses. Pak. Vet. J. [Internet]. 2024; 44(1):155–161. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5k

Mehl ML, Schott HC, Sarkar DK, Bayly WM. Effects of exercise intensity and duration on plasma β–endorphin concentrations in horses. Am. J. Vet. Res. [Internet]. 2000; 61(8):969–973. doi: https://doi.org/fnf9mw

Perron B, Ali ABA, Svagerko P, Vernon K. The influence of severity of gastric ulceration on horse behavior and heart rate variability. J. Vet. Behav. [Internet]. 2023; 59:25–29. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5m

Mazzola SM, Colombani C, Pizzamiglio G, Cannas S, Palestrini C, Costa ED, Gazzonis AL, Bionda A, Crepaldi P. Do you think i am living well? A four–season hair cortisol analysis on leisure horses in different housing and management conditions. Animals [Internet]. 2021; 11(7). doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5n

Sikorska U, Maśko M, Ciesielska A, Zdrojkowski Ł, Domino M. Role of cortisol in horse’s welfare and health. Agriculture [Internet]. 2023; 13(12):2219. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5p

Covalesky M, Russoniello C, Malinowski K. Effects of show–jumping performance stress on plasma cortisol and lactate concentrations and heart rate and behavior in horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 1992; 12(4):244–251. doi: https://doi.org/b98p57

Clark DK, Friend TH, Dellmeier G. The effect of orientation during trailer transport on heart rate, cortisol and balance in horses. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. [Internet]. 1993; 38(3–4):179–189. doi: https://doi.org/dh2kqk

Cavallone E, Di Giancamillo M, Secchiero B, Belloli A, Pravettoni D, Rimoldi E. Variations of serum cortisol in Argentine horses subjected to ship transport and adaptation stress. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2002; 22(12):541–545. doi: https://doi.org/fh6drs

Fazio E, Medica P, Aronica V, Grasso L, Ferlazzo A. Circulating beta–endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol levels of stallions before and after short road transport: stress effect of different distances. Acta Vet. Scand. [Internet]. 2008; 50(1):6. doi: https://doi.org/cd9xzc

Alexander SL, Irvine CH, Ellis MJ, Donald RA. The effect of acute exercise on the secretion of corticotropin–releasing factor, arginine vasopressin, and adrenocorticotropin as measured in pituitary venous blood from the horse. Endocrinology [Internet]. 1991; 128(1):65–72. doi: https://doi.org/fj998q

Cayado P, Muñoz–Escassi B, Domínguez C, Manley W, Olabarri B, Sánchez de la Muela M, Castejon F, Marañon G, Vara E. Hormone response to training and competition in athletic horses. Equine Vet. J. [Internet]. 2006 (36):274–278. doi: https://doi.org/bp3hsn

McKinney C, Mueller MK, Frank N. Effects of therapeutic riding on measures of stress in horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2015; 35(11–12):922–928. doi: https://doi.org/f7w54g

Smith BL, Jones JH, Hornof WJ, Miles JA, Longworth KE, Willits NH. Effects of road transport on indices of stress in horses. Equine Vet. J. [Internet]. 1996; 28(6):446–454. doi: https://doi.org/d8kqpk

Fazio E, Medica P, Cravana C, Ferlazzo A. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis responses of horses to therapeutic riding program: Effects of different riders. Physiol. Behav. [Internet]. 2013; 118:138–143. doi: https://doi.org/f46xzg

Arfuso F, Rizzo M, Arrigo F, Francaviglia F, Perillo L, Schembri P, Zumbo MLE, Disclafani R, Piccione G, Monteverde V. Welfare and stress assessment of tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 2024; 139(6):105136. doi. https://doi.org/g8vm5q

Müller–Klein A, Braun MN, Ferreira de Sá DS, Michael T, Link–Dorner U, Lass–Hennemann J. A relaxed horse—A relaxed client? An experimental investigation of the effects of therapy horses’ stress on clients’ stress, mood, and anxiety. Animals [Internet]. 2024; 14(4):604. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5r

Choi Y, Wickens CL, Park Y, Yoon M. Evaluating hormonal levels in plasma and saliva as temperament indicators in horses. SSRN (Preprint) [Internet]. 2024; 4758263: 1–20. doi: https://doi.org/g8vm5s

Hada T, Onaka T, Takahashi T, Hiraga A, Yagi K. Effects of novelty stress on neuroendocrine activities and running performance in thoroughbred horses. J. Neuroendocrinol. [Internet]. 2003; 15(7):638–648. doi: https://doi.org/cvz7wz

McCarthy R, Jeffcott L, Clarke I. Preliminary studies on the use of plasma β–endorphin in horses as an indicator of stress and pain. J. Equine Vet. Sci. [Internet]. 1993; 13(4):216–219. doi: https://doi.org/c9db4g