Assessing equine stress
The following year, in 2007, Marie Peeters began her doctoral research, which directly prolonged the work carried out at the end of the Master cycle. She began by scientifically validating the use of saliva for cortisol dosage. This method resulted in undoubted progress with regard to the well-being of the animal in applied research, because it made it possible from that point on to use the concentrations of cortisol in the saliva as a basis for studying the stress level of the horse (1). Eustress of the horse, distress of the riderThe stress caused by the competition can stem from the physical effort involved, the transportation, the change of physical and social environment and, hypothetically, the stress felt by the rider himself. Several questions are raised: firstly, does the competition generate significant stress for the horse or for the rider? Is it possible in practice to study this level of stress? Is there a correlation between the stress of the horse and its performances? “This question can seem pointless as the answer appears to be obvious, however, this correlation, and the nature thereof has never been demonstrated” the researcher points out. And finally, is there a relationship between the temperament of the horse and the stress it feels during a competition? ![]() (1) Peeters, M., J. Sulon, et al. (2011). "Comparison between blood serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses using an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge." Equine Veterinary Journal 43(4): 487-493. |
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© 2007 ULi�ge
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