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Thomson-Parker TL, Fikes KK, Anderson MJ, Wagner AL, Girard ID, Suagee-Bedore JK. Impact of oral Phytozen® EQ supplementation on plasma cortisol and behavior responses of young horses exposed to stressful stimuli. J Equine Vet Sci 2023:104828. [PMID: 37245655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Calming supplements are common in the equine industry. This study tested the hypothesis that Phytozen® EQ, a blend of citrus botanical oils, magnesium, and yeast would reduce startle response as well as reduce behavioral and physiological signs of stress in young (1.5-6 years of age) horses (n = 14) when tied in isolation and when trailered in isolation. During the 59-day (d) trial, horses were assigned to either the control (CON; n=7) or treatment (PZEN; n=7) group that received 56 g of Phytozen® EQ daily. Horses underwent a 10 min isolation test on d 30 and a 15 min individual trailering test on day 52 or 55. For both tests, blood samples were obtained pre, immediately after, and 1-hour (h) post for analysis of plasma cortisol concentrations, which were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. On d 59, horses underwent a startle test, for which time to travel 3 m and total distance traveled were recorded. These data were analyzed using a T-test. During trailering, PZEN horses tended to have lower overall geometric mean (lower, upper 95% confidence interval) cortisol concentrations than CON (81 [67, 98] vs. 61 [48, 78] ng/mL; P = 0.071). For the startle test, PZEN horses tended to have longer geometric mean times to travel 3 m than CON horses (1.35 [0.39, 4.70] vs. 0.26 [0.07, 0.91 seconds [s], P = 0.064). Other data points were not different between treatments (P > 0.1). It is possible that this dietary supplement could have beneficial calming effects on horses undergoing trailering or in novel situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Thomson-Parker
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77320
| | - K K Fikes
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77320
| | - M J Anderson
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77320
| | - A L Wagner
- Probiotech International, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - I D Girard
- Probiotech International, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - J K Suagee-Bedore
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77320.
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Golzari K, Kong Y, Reed SA, Posada-Quintero HF. Sympathetic Arousal Detection in Horses Using Electrodermal Activity. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020229. [PMID: 36670768 PMCID: PMC9855141 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous monitoring of stress, pain, and discomfort is key to providing a good quality of life for horses. The available tools based on observation are subjective and do not allow continuous monitoring. Given the link between emotions and sympathetic autonomic arousal, heart rate and heart rate variability are widely used for the non-invasive assessment of stress and pain in humans and horses. However, recent advances in pain and stress monitoring are increasingly using electrodermal activity (EDA), as it is a more sensitive and specific measure of sympathetic arousal than heart rate variability. In this study, for the first time, we have collected EDA signals from horses and tested the feasibility of the technique for the assessment of sympathetic arousal. Fifteen horses (six geldings, nine mares, aged 13.11 ± 5.4 years) underwent a long-lasting stimulus (Feeding test) and a short-lasting stimulus (umbrella Startle test) to elicit sympathetic arousal. The protocol was approved by the University of Connecticut. We found that EDA was sensitive to both stimuli. Our results show that EDA can capture sympathetic activation in horses and is a promising tool for non-invasive continuous monitoring of stress, pain, and discomfort in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kia Golzari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Youngsun Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Sarah A. Reed
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Hugo F. Posada-Quintero
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(860)-486-1556
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Different equestrian sports horses’ reactivity to startle. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Godoi TL, Nascimento de Souza R, de Godoi FN, Queiroz de Almeida F, Alves de Medeiros M. Physiological and behavioral response of foals to hot iron or freeze branding. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Vidament M, Lansade L, Danvy S, Priest BDS, Sabbagh M, Ricard A. Personality in young horses and ponies evaluated during breeding shows: Phenotypic link with jumping competition results. J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Panzera M, Alberghina D, Statelli A. Ethological and Physiological Parameters Assessment in Donkeys Used in Animal Assisted Interventions. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1867. [PMID: 33066258 PMCID: PMC7602119 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have been performed to identify objective indicators for the selection of therapeutic donkeys or to assess their welfare during animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the response to the ethological test and the modifications of physiological parameters in donkeys subjected to AAI sessions. METHODS Thirteen donkeys were subjected to a behavioral evaluation during an AAI session. Heart rate, heart rate variability, and root mean square of successive difference values were detected. RESULTS Statistically significant changes in the tested parameters were observed during AAI sessions. CONCLUSIONS In donkeys, there was a neurovegetative involvement during AAI sessions. Our data give a contribution to the evaluation of donkey welfare during AAIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Panzera
- Centro Universitario Specializzato per gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Daniela Alberghina
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Statelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
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Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworski Z, Suwała M, Sobczyńska M, Jastrzębska E, Ogłuszka M, Sankey C, Boroń M, Jezierski T. Aversiveness of husbandry procedures for pre-weaned foals: A comparison using behavioural and physiological indices. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Loftus L, Marks K, Jones-McVey R, Gonzales JL, Fowler VL. Monty Roberts' Public Demonstrations: Preliminary Report on the Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability of Horses Undergoing Training during Live Audience Events. Animals (Basel) 2016; 6:E55. [PMID: 27618108 PMCID: PMC5035950 DOI: 10.3390/ani6090055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective training of horses relies on the trainer's awareness of learning theory and equine ethology, and should be undertaken with skill and time. Some trainers, such as Monty Roberts, share their methods through the medium of public demonstrations. This paper describes the opportunistic analysis of beat-to-beat (RR) intervals and heart rate variability (HRV) of ten horses being used in Monty Roberts' public demonstrations within the United Kingdom. RR and HRV was measured in the stable before training and during training. The HRV variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR), root mean square of successive RR differences (RMSSD), geometric means standard deviation 1 (SD1) and 2 (SD2), along with the low and high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) were calculated. The minimum, average and maximum RR intervals were significantly lower in training (indicative of an increase in heart rate as measured in beats-per-minute) than in the stable ( p = 0.0006; p = 0.01; p = 0.03). SDRR, RMSSD, SD1, SD2 and the LF/HF ratio were all significantly lower in training than in the stable ( p = 0.001; p = 0.049; p = 0.049; p = 0.001; p = 0.01). When comparing the HR and HRV of horses during Join-up (®) to overall training, there were no significant differences in any variable with the exception of maximum RR which was significantly lower ( p = 0.007) during Join-up (®) , indicative of short increases in physical exertion (canter) associated with this training exercise. In conclusion, training of horses during public demonstrations is a low-moderate physiological, rather than psychological stressor for horses. The physiological stress responses observed within this study were comparable or less to those previously reported in the literature for horses being trained outside of public audience events. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the use of Join-up (®) alters HR and HRV in a way to suggest that this training method negatively affects the psychological welfare of horses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly Marks
- Intelligent Horsemanship Ltd., Lethornes, Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 8QP, UK.
| | - Rosie Jones-McVey
- The Old Schools, University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK.
| | - Jose L Gonzales
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis Organization and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute Part of Wageningen UR, Houtribweg 39, Lelystad 8221, The Netherlands.
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