Influence of Horse and Rider on Stress during Horse-riding Lesson Program
Authors: Kang Ok-Deuk, Yun Young-Min
Journal: Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Stress Response During Horse-Riding Lesson Programs Kang and Yun investigated whether structured riding lessons influence physiological stress in both horses and riders by measuring salivary cortisol concentrations—a well-established biomarker of acute stress response. Twenty-four horses and 23 riders were assigned to beginner (Class 1) or intermediate (Class 2) lesson groups, with saliva samples collected before, during and after lessons, analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Both horses and riders demonstrated significantly elevated cortisol at the outset of lessons compared to baseline (p<0.001), which subsequently declined after the lesson concluded, suggesting an initial anticipatory stress response followed by habituation or adaptation to the activity. Notably, no significant difference emerged between beginner and intermediate groups, indicating that lesson difficulty did not meaningfully alter stress physiology for either participant. These findings suggest that well-structured riding lessons themselves do not produce sustained stress elevation, which has important implications for lesson programming and welfare; however, the pre-lesson cortisol spike warrants further investigation into whether anxiety management strategies or familiarisation protocols might optimise the ridden horse experience from the outset.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Riding lessons appear to be well-tolerated by horses with no excessive stress accumulation; horses and riders show synchronized stress responses suggesting good rapport during lessons
- •Lesson difficulty level (beginner vs intermediate) does not significantly impact physiological stress markers, allowing flexibility in lesson programming
- •The pre-lesson cortisol elevation may reflect anticipation rather than distress, and the post-lesson reduction suggests successful habituation to the riding environment
Key Findings
- •Salivary cortisol increased significantly in horses before riding lessons compared to baseline (p<0.001) but decreased after lessons
- •Riders showed similar cortisol patterns to horses, suggesting synchronized stress responses
- •No significant difference in stress markers between beginner (Class 1) and intermediate (Class 2) lesson groups for either horses or riders
- •Structured riding lesson programs did not produce sustained stress elevation in horses or riders