Stress parameters and behavior of horses in walkers with and without the use of electricity
2014
Giese, C. | Gerber, V. | Burger, D., Universitaet Bern, Bern (Switzerland). Departement fuer klinische Veterinaermedizin, Pferdeklinik | Howald, M. | Bachmann, I.
In order to investigate stress responses of horses in walkers with and without electricity, 12 horses were trained during 3 weeks in a horse walker with and without the use of electricity (3.7 kV). To evaluate the stress response, cortisol levels in the blood were measured, the heart rate was monitored using the Polar system and the behaviour was evaluated. Neither the cortisol levels nor the heart rates showed any relevant statistically signifi cant difference between horses moved in the horse walker with or without the use of electricity. The highest cortisol levels and heart rates were recorded during the fi rst week (habituation period). A signifi cant difference could be observed regarding spontaneous compartment changes: while this happened mainly during the fi rst week and before the fi rst use of electricity, no horses changed compartments in the periods when electricity was used and thereafter. The results of this study indicate that the use of electricity in the horse walker does not seem to cause signifi cant detectable stress in the horses.
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