Behavioral and Physiological Differences between Working Horses and Chilean Rodeo Horses in a Handling Test.
Authors: Rosselot Paula, Mendonça Tiago, González Igor, Tadich Tamara
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Selection for specific disciplines appears to shape how horses physiologically and behaviourally cope with novel challenges. Researchers compared five working horses against five Chilean rodeo horses during a standardized handling test involving bridge crossing, whilst measuring heart rate variability (HRV), attempt frequency, crossing time, and five distinct behavioural responses using video analysis and Polar Equine monitoring systems. Chilean rodeo horses demonstrated markedly more proactive behaviours and required significantly more crossing attempts than their working counterparts, yet paradoxically exhibited lower heart rate variability—a finding suggesting reduced parasympathetic tone and potentially greater physiological strain despite outward behavioural confidence. These results indicate that horses bred and trained for rodeo disciplines may have developed heightened behavioural reactivity without corresponding improvements in stress regulation capacity, which has implications for how we assess welfare in equine populations and the physical demands we place on horses selected for high-intensity work. For practitioners, this research underscores that behavioural responses alone are insufficient indicators of genuine stress resilience; monitoring autonomic nervous system markers like HRV may reveal hidden physiological compromise in horses that appear bold or cooperative during handling and training scenarios.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Selection for specific uses (rodeo vs. working) creates measurable differences in stress coping styles; rodeo horses show more reactive/proactive behavioral patterns that handlers should expect and manage accordingly
- •Heart rate variability monitoring may be a useful tool to assess individual stress resilience and inform training protocols for different horse populations
- •Working horses demonstrate greater behavioral and physiological flexibility in novel situations, suggesting selection for adaptability has practical welfare and safety benefits
Key Findings
- •Chilean rodeo horses exhibited more proactive behaviors and required significantly more attempts to cross a bridge compared to working horses
- •Chilean rodeo horses demonstrated lower heart rate variability than working horses, indicating reduced parasympathetic tone during the stressor
- •Non-invasive behavioral and physiological measures can differentiate stress responses between horse populations selected for different uses