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behaviour
nutrition
riding science
2022
Cohort Study

Training Effects on the Stress Predictors for Young Lusitano Horses Used in Dressage.

Authors: Coelho Clarisse S, Silva Ana Sofia B A, Santos Catarina M R, Santos Ana Margarida R, Vintem Carolina M B L, Leite Anderson G, Fonseca Joana M C, Prazeres José M C S, Souza Vinicius R C, Siqueira Renata F, Manso Filho Helio C, Simões Joana S A

Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Training Effects on Stress Predictors in Young Lusitano Dressage Horses Nine 4-year-old Lusitano horses underwent a structured 6-week training programme consisting of six sessions weekly, with individually tailored dressage preparatory work lasting 40–80 minutes, and researchers measured physiological stress markers before and after simulated dressage tests at baseline and after training completion. Blood sampling revealed significant reductions in resting cortisol levels (p = 0.0133), heart rate (p = 0.0283), total white blood cell counts (p < 0.0001), neutrophil counts (p < 0.0001), and lymphocyte counts (p = 0.0341), whilst heart rate variability parameters indicating parasympathetic (vagal) tone increased at the post-training measurement point. The horses demonstrated improved cardiovascular efficiency—working at greater intensities with proportionally lower heart rate demands—alongside a markedly blunted cortisol response after exercise, suggesting both enhanced aerobic fitness and reduced physiological stress perception. For practitioners, these findings provide quantifiable biomarkers linking progressive training adaptation to genuine welfare improvements rather than simply suppressed stress responses; the blunted cortisol and normalised immune markers indicate the horses were genuinely coping better with dressage demands rather than becoming desensitised. This framework offers farriers, veterinarians, and coaches an evidence-based approach to evaluating whether a young horse's training programme is building fitness sustainably or creating cumulative stress.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Practical Takeaways

  • A structured 6-week training protocol with individually adjusted intensity can measurably improve young horses' fitness and welfare by reducing physiological stress markers
  • Monitor cortisol, heart rate, and white blood cell counts as objective welfare indicators—improvement in these metrics suggests your training protocol is working rather than overloading the horse
  • Horses trained this way work harder with lower cardiovascular cost, meaning you can achieve training goals while preserving the horse's long-term health and soundness

Key Findings

  • After 6 weeks of training, cortisol levels were significantly reduced (p = 0.0133) indicating lower stress response
  • Heart rate decreased significantly post-training (p = 0.0283) while horses worked at higher intensities, indicating improved fitness
  • Total white blood cell count, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts all decreased significantly (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0341) suggesting reduced immune stress
  • Heart rate variability parameters indicating vagal modulation increased after training, reflecting better autonomic nervous system recovery

Conditions Studied

stress response in young horsesfitness adaptation to dressage training