Abstract
Simple SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using infrared thermography technique (IRT) to detect physiological stress in endurance horses. Infrared thermography technique, serum cortisol, blood count, and hearth rate (HR) were used as stress-indicators before and after training of different intensities (low, moderate, and high). As expected, all the studied parameters increased after the training, but HR remained below 64 bpm as requested by Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) endurance rules. Heart rate and white blood cells were the only parameters which significantly rose with the training intensity. Max temperature in the left and right eye (ET) was positively and significantly correlated with HR. These preliminary findings suggest that the tested horses were sufficiently fit and IRT may be a useful non-invasive tool to assess physiological stress in endurance horses.The aim of this pilot study was to document the effects of endurance training at different intensities on heart rate (HR), blood count, serum cortisol, and maximal temperatures of different body locations, namely eye, crown, pastern pasterns, gluteus and longissimus dorsi muscle (mm), measured by infrared thermography technique (IRT) in horses trained for endurance. Possible associations among the studied parameters were also investigated. Our hypothesis was that temperature, measured by IRT after endurance training of different intensities would vary depending on the intensity and would be positively correlated with HR and serum cortisol. Eight horses were tested before and after training of different intensities (low, moderate, and high). The results partially supported our hypothesis; all the studied parameters increased after training (p < 0.05), eye temperature (ET) correlated positively with HR (p < 0.01), and crown temperature (CT) correlated positively with cortisol (p < 0.01). However, only HR and white blood cells increased with the intensity of the exercise (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0142, respectively). Our findings suggest the evaluation of ET and CT may become a useful non-invasive tool to detect physiological stress during training and to evaluate how the horses cope with the training. Infrared thermography technique may also become a useful tool for the early identification of horses that are not fit to compete or to continue the competition. However, further studies should be conducted on a larger number of horses and during competitions to ascertain our preliminary findings.
Highlights
Endurance is a rapidly growing equestrian discipline whose events have increased by 95% from 2007 to 2016 [1]
This pilot study documented the effects of endurance training at different intensities on heart rate (HR), blood count, cortisol, and maximal temperature registered by infrared thermography technique (IRT) in different points in horses and investigated possible associations among them
IRT may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a training regime and to understand how horses are coping with the level of physiological stress induced by the different types of training
Summary
Endurance is a rapidly growing equestrian discipline whose events have increased by 95% from 2007 to 2016 [1]. Endurance rides can be any distance, ranging from 40 to 160 km in a 24-h period, requiring horses to perform long-term exercise. To ensure the health and welfare of the endurance horses, designated veterinarians carry out health assessments of the horses at fixed distances Endurance horses are commonly withdrawn due to three reasons: lameness, other medical problems, and overtime (i.e., the horse took too long to cover the distance). One of the roles of the veterinarians is to identify those horses under physical stress caused by the endurance competition and withdraw them before substantial injuries occur. It is well known that during a competition, horses are under physical and under psychological/emotional stress [4], the latter leading to anxious behaviors and sweating, which may result in significant health problems
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