Road transportation is associated with decreased intestinal motility in horses.
Authors: Raidal Sharanne L, Freccero Francesca, Carstens Ann, Weaver Sarah, Padalino Barbara
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Road Transportation and Equine Intestinal Motility Ten to twelve hours of commercial road transport significantly suppresses intestinal motility in horses, with composite motility grades declining from a median of 8 before departure to 6 immediately post-transport and recovering only partially to 7 within two hours (p < 0.001)—a finding that warrants attention given transport's known association with colic and microbiome disruption. Raidal and colleagues prospectively assessed 30 horses of varied ages and transport experience using portable ultrasound to measure intestinal contractility before departure, immediately after off-loading, and two hours later, alongside stress markers (salivary cortisol) and clinical observations. Heat exposure emerged as a critical risk factor, with higher arrival temperatures correlating strongly with reduced caecal motility (r = −0.74), whilst horses displaying elevated heart rates, profuse sweating, or behavioural changes on arrival showed diminished intestinal contractility; elevated cortisol concentrations inversely predicted motility grades, suggesting stress-mediated suppression of gut function. Crucially, prior travel experience did not protect against transport-induced motility reduction, though horses without previous transport history showed significantly elevated baseline cortisol (mean 12.8 nmol/L versus 7.9 nmol/L, p = 0.023), indicating psychological conditioning rather than physiological adaptation. For practitioners, these findings highlight the importance of temperature control and close monitoring of stress indicators during transport, whilst the authors' suggestion that hydration and feeding protocols merit investigation opens avenues for mitigating post-transport colic risk.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Expect transient intestinal dysmotility in horses arriving from long transport—monitor carefully for colic signs, particularly in hot weather conditions where motility suppression is most pronounced
- •Heat stress during transport is a major risk factor for reduced gut motility; prioritize ventilation, shade, and cooling strategies in warm conditions to minimize gastrointestinal complications
- •Consider acclimation to travel for naïve horses, as cortisol stress response is higher in animals without prior transport experience, though this doesn't necessarily predict post-arrival complications
Key Findings
- •Intestinal motility significantly decreased after 10-12h transportation, with composite motility grade dropping from median 8 to 6 (p<0.001), partially recovering by 2h post-arrival
- •High ambient temperature during transport was strongly associated with reduced cecal motility (r=-0.74, p<0.001) and composite motility at arrival (r=-0.45, p=0.017)
- •Salivary cortisol increased significantly post-transport (mean difference 1.66 nmol/L, p<0.001) and was inversely correlated with intestinal motility
- •Horses with no prior travel history had 62% higher baseline cortisol (12.8 vs 7.9 nmol/L, p=0.023) compared to previously-travelled horses, but travel history did not predict post-transport motility changes