title: Influence of riders' skill on plasma cortisol levels of horses walking on forest and field trekking courses.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of rider's skill on the plasma cortisol levels of trekking horses on two courses, walking on field and forest courses (about 4.5 to 5.1 km each). Three riders of different skills did horse trekking (HT) in a tandem line under a fixed order: advanced-leading, beginner-second and intermediate-last. A total of six horses were used and they experienced all positions in both courses; a total of 12 experiments were done. Blood samples were obtained before HT, immediately after and 2 h after HT. As a control, additional blood samples were obtained from the same horses on non-riding days. Irrespective of the course and the rider's skill, the cortisol level before HT was higher than that of control (P < 0.05). In both courses, the cortisol levels immediately after HT ridden by the advanced rider were higher than that of control (P < 0.05). However, in every case, the cortisol level 2 h after HT was closely similar to the level of the control. Thus, we concluded the stress of trekking horse was not sufficient to disturb the circadian rhythm of the cortisol level, irrespective of the course and the rider's skill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Towada Riding Club, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanowatari
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irimajiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hodate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D065928:Forests; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014142:Track and Field
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: cortisol; horse; riding skill; trail riding; walk