Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event

The centuries-old patronal festivals in Menorca (Spain) represent an alternative to the common use of horses. During festivals, horses are exposed to potential sources of transient stress. This study aimed to evaluate the variations in salivary cortisol concentrations to estimate the physiological s...

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Autores: Olvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510, Carbajal, Annaïs|||0000-0002-4339-6661, Serres Corral, Paula|||0000-0002-2695-8909, López Béjar, Manel|||0000-0001-9490-6126
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:272492
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/272492
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/ani13030396
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Saliva
Equid
Festivals
Stress
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
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spelling Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian EventOlvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510Carbajal, Annaïs|||0000-0002-4339-6661Serres Corral, Paula|||0000-0002-2695-8909López Béjar, Manel|||0000-0001-9490-6126SalivaEquidFestivalsStressHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisThe centuries-old patronal festivals in Menorca (Spain) represent an alternative to the common use of horses. During festivals, horses are exposed to potential sources of transient stress. This study aimed to evaluate the variations in salivary cortisol concentrations to estimate the physiological stress response in horses at the Menorca patronal festivals. For this purpose, the salivary cortisol variations before, during, and after the celebrations were assessed using an enzyme immunoassay. All the samples collected during festivals were significantly higher than the control group samples (p < 0.05). Within twenty-four hours after the end of the celebrations, cortisol concentrations returned to baseline levels and did not differ significantly from the control group (p > 0.05). Overall, the study found that the horses' participation in the festivals resulted in a transitory and measurable stress response. In many countries, horses remain involved in traditional equestrian events such as those celebrated in Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) every year since at least the 14th century. The present study aimed to evaluate the variations in salivary cortisol concentrations to estimate the physiological stress response in horses at the Menorca patronal festivals. Two different editions (years 2016 and 2018) of the festivals in honor of the Virgin of Grace in Maó (Menorca, Spain) were studied. Nineteen and seventeen Pure Breed Menorca stallions were included in the study, respectively. The stallions were aged between seven and twelve years. During celebrations, samples were collected before the start of the festivals between 8-9 a.m. and during the festivals at 8-9 p.m. On the second day of celebrations, the samples were collected at 8-9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Finally, on the day after the festivals, one sample was collected at 8-9 p.m. Additionally, a control group was sampled at 8-9 a.m., 3-4 p.m., and 8-9 p.m. Salivary cortisol concentrations were assessed by using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit specially validated to quantify salivary cortisol in horses. Salivary cortisol concentrations did not show significant differences between sampling hours in the control group (p > 0.05). All the samples collected during festivals were significantly higher than samples of the control group (p < 0.05). Within the twenty-four hours after the end of the celebrations, cortisol concentrations returned to baseline levels and did not differ significantly from the control group (p > 0.05). Hence, the present study describes that the participation of the horses in these particular acts generate an acute and transitory stress response. Overall, the current work provides a reasonable basis for future research on the stress physiology and well-being of horses participating in traditional celebrations or similar events. 22023-01-0120232023-01-01Articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://ddd.uab.cat/record/272492https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/ani13030396reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UABinstname:Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ddd.uab.cat:2724922026-06-06T12:50:31Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
title Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
spellingShingle Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
Olvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510
Saliva
Equid
Festivals
Stress
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
title_short Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
title_full Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
title_fullStr Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
title_full_unstemmed Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
title_sort Cortisol Variations to Estimate the Physiological Stress Response in Horses at a Traditional Equestrian Event
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Olvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510
Carbajal, Annaïs|||0000-0002-4339-6661
Serres Corral, Paula|||0000-0002-2695-8909
López Béjar, Manel|||0000-0001-9490-6126
author Olvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510
author_facet Olvera-Maneu, Sergi|||0000-0003-4281-6510
Carbajal, Annaïs|||0000-0002-4339-6661
Serres Corral, Paula|||0000-0002-2695-8909
López Béjar, Manel|||0000-0001-9490-6126
author_role author
author2 Carbajal, Annaïs|||0000-0002-4339-6661
Serres Corral, Paula|||0000-0002-2695-8909
López Béjar, Manel|||0000-0001-9490-6126
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Saliva
Equid
Festivals
Stress
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
topic Saliva
Equid
Festivals
Stress
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
description The centuries-old patronal festivals in Menorca (Spain) represent an alternative to the common use of horses. During festivals, horses are exposed to potential sources of transient stress. This study aimed to evaluate the variations in salivary cortisol concentrations to estimate the physiological stress response in horses at the Menorca patronal festivals. For this purpose, the salivary cortisol variations before, during, and after the celebrations were assessed using an enzyme immunoassay. All the samples collected during festivals were significantly higher than the control group samples (p < 0.05). Within twenty-four hours after the end of the celebrations, cortisol concentrations returned to baseline levels and did not differ significantly from the control group (p > 0.05). Overall, the study found that the horses' participation in the festivals resulted in a transitory and measurable stress response. In many countries, horses remain involved in traditional equestrian events such as those celebrated in Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) every year since at least the 14th century. The present study aimed to evaluate the variations in salivary cortisol concentrations to estimate the physiological stress response in horses at the Menorca patronal festivals. Two different editions (years 2016 and 2018) of the festivals in honor of the Virgin of Grace in Maó (Menorca, Spain) were studied. Nineteen and seventeen Pure Breed Menorca stallions were included in the study, respectively. The stallions were aged between seven and twelve years. During celebrations, samples were collected before the start of the festivals between 8-9 a.m. and during the festivals at 8-9 p.m. On the second day of celebrations, the samples were collected at 8-9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Finally, on the day after the festivals, one sample was collected at 8-9 p.m. Additionally, a control group was sampled at 8-9 a.m., 3-4 p.m., and 8-9 p.m. Salivary cortisol concentrations were assessed by using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit specially validated to quantify salivary cortisol in horses. Salivary cortisol concentrations did not show significant differences between sampling hours in the control group (p > 0.05). All the samples collected during festivals were significantly higher than samples of the control group (p < 0.05). Within the twenty-four hours after the end of the celebrations, cortisol concentrations returned to baseline levels and did not differ significantly from the control group (p > 0.05). Hence, the present study describes that the participation of the horses in these particular acts generate an acute and transitory stress response. Overall, the current work provides a reasonable basis for future research on the stress physiology and well-being of horses participating in traditional celebrations or similar events.
publishDate 2023
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2
2023-01-01
2023
2023-01-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://ddd.uab.cat/record/272492
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/ani13030396
url https://ddd.uab.cat/record/272492
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/ani13030396
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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instname:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
instname_str Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
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