The rising popularity of equestrian sports has led to an increased demand for road transport to competitions. Research conducted in temperate climates indicates that this transport can be stressful for horses. A study in tropical climates discovered that horses experienced heightened acute stress during the initial loading and at the onset of unloading during the outbound journey, whereas increased stress was noted only during the initial loading in the inbound journey. Interestingly, horses tended to have decreased stress following loading during transport. It is important to note that stress levels were higher following unloading during outbound journeys compared to inbound ones. Factors such as humidity and air temperature partially contribute to these stress responses during transport. Furthermore, the increased stress observed while housed at the venue, as opposed to their home stable, may be attributed to the level of familiarity with the accommodations. These findings carry significant welfare implications for the management of transport and housing conditions, underscoring the need to prioritize the well-being of horses after unloading and to ensure adequate recovery time before equestrian events held in tropical climates.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.