Some possible factors affecting horse welfare assessment

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of various stimuli that confound interpretation of assessed indicators of horse welfare during rest and working period by the use of noninvasive methods of sampling. In total, 40 horses of different breeds and used for different purposes in Slovakia were used. The following indicators were tested: concentration of cortisol in saliva and 11,17-dioxoandrostanes in faeces measured by Elisa methods, heart rate and heart rate variability recording with the Polar Heart Rate Monitor and presence of stereotypical behaviour assessed with a horse questionnaire survey. The evaluated physiological responses were mostly affected by the type of work undertaken, especially horse movement intensity (P < 0.001) and horse equipment used during the working period (P < 0.01). Horses that showed stereotypical behaviour were less stressed during rest (P < 0.05) compared to horses without stereotypical behaviour. Horse breed, age, sex and stabling conditions affected only some of the heart rate indicators. The type of riding style had no fundamental influence on evaluated indicators. These observations highlight the difficulties in determining the welfare status in horses, since measurements can be affected by many factors that need to be investigated for achieving relevant outcomes. This is the first study in Slovakia focusing on the evaluation of horse welfare by non-invasive sampling. Cortisol, 11,17-dioxoandrostanes, heart rate, stereotypes, non-invasive sampling Horse welfare and stress-related disorders are becoming subjects of growing interest for increasing number of horse owners, breeders and riders. However, many problems are associated with the measurement of stress indicators, especially hormone concentrations in blood samples. Studies and manipulation with a live animal can affect the measured indicators and can thereby confound interpretation of the results. As there is a need to minimize study-induced disturbances, hands-off and non-invasive studies are often preferred (Moberg and Mench 2000). However, a number of biologically relevant issues (e.g. effect of sex, age, reproductive status, daily and seasonal patterns, effects of captivity, dietary effects, species-specific responses in stress responses) complicate the interpretation of animal welfare research results. These and many other confounding factors need to be investigated for the purpose of obtaining biologically relevant results. Factors affecting glucocorticoid concentrations in blood affect their concentration in saliva and faeces, too. These factors involve individual and interspecies differences, daily rhythms and seasonal patterns in secretion and the excretion of glucocorticoids, the effect of weather, sex, age and reproductive status, sensitization and habituation (Touma and Palme 2005). The aim of this study was to determine the factors that can influence indicators of neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress response and thus be potential sources of misleading results during the evaluation of horse welfare by non-invasive methods of sample collection. ACTA VET. BRNO 2013, 82: 447–451; doi:10.2754/avb201382040447 Address for correspondence: Magdalena Fejsakova University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Department of Environment, Veterinary Legislation and Economics, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia Phone: +421 917 171 103 Fax: +421 55 671 1674 E-mail: fejsakova@gmail.com http://actavet.vfu.cz/ Materials and Methods