• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.895-900
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• 2016

The present study aims to confirm the influence of a horse-riding lesson program (HRLP) on the stress level of horses and riders by respectively analyzing their salivary cortisol concentration. Twenty-four healthy horses and 23 riders participated in this study. The horses were randomly classified into two groups for the horse riding lesson program: Class 1 (for the beginner lesson) and Class 2 (for the intermediate lesson). The Class 1 group consisted of 12 horses and 12 riders, while the Class 2 group consisted of 12 horses and 11 riders. Salivettes cotton wool swabs were used for saliva collection and the saliva analyses were conducted using a two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures with SAS version 8. As for the results, the average salivary cortisol concentration of all horses before HRLP significantly increased compared to the baseline (p<0.001) while it decreased after the HRLP. The results of the salivary cortisol concentration of the riders were similar to the horses' results. However, there was no difference during the HRLP between Class 1 and Class 2 in the horse or rider groups. The results suggest that the HRLP did not influence the stress level of the horses or riders. Thus, this study provides the necessary information and guidelines for future studies on stress in horses during riding and gives insight into better horse welfare and management options.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1094-1104
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• 2023

Aggression in horses may cause serious accidents during riding and non-riding activities. Hence, predicting the temperament of horses is essential for selecting suitable horses and ensuring safety during the activity. In certain animals, such as hamsters, plasma melatonin concentrations have been correlated with aggressive behavior. However, whether this relationship applies to horses remains unclear. To address this research gap, this study aimed to evaluate differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations among horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes and examine the correlation between plasma melatonin concentrations and the temperament of the horses, including docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. Blood samples from 32 horses were collected from the Horse Industry Complex Center of Jeonju Kijeon College. The docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability of the horses were assessed by three professional trainers who were well-acquainted with the horses. Plasma melatonin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The consequent values were compared between the horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes using a three-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify the relationship between plasma melatonin concentrations and docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. The results showed that the plasma melatonin concentrations significantly differed with breeds in Thoroughbred and cold-blooded horses. However, there were no differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations between the horse ages and sexes. Furthermore, plasma melatonin concentrations did not exhibit a significant correlation with the ranking of docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 2012

The changes in physiologic parameters by swim exercise duration were examined in five female well-trained Jeju crossbred riding horses that had riding experience of more than three years without swim training experience. The horses were performed with swim exercise for 10 min (60.0 m/min) once a day for 14 days. Physiologic characteristics and haematic parameters were measured before swimming, immediately after swimming, and after a 10 min rest at first day ($D_0$), 7 days ($D_7$), and 14 days ($D_{14}$) of training. After 14 days of swim training, heart rate (p<0.05), blood glucose (p<0.05), lactate concentration (p<0.001), packed cell volume (p<0.01), and hemoglobin (p<0.01) measured immediately after swim and after 10 min rest showed significant lower values than those of $D_0$. The results illustrate the benefits of swim training for riding horses and the need for the establishment of swimming routines of appropriate duration and intensity to maximize the advantages of swim training.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.747-752
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• 2016

This study aimed to estimate the change of stress level in horses based on cortisol concentration levels in their saliva. A total of 61 horses were divided into the following three groups: i) tourist riding experience (TR, n = 23); ii) resting group (RR, n = 14); and iii) horse-riding education (ER, n = 24). The saliva samples of TR and ER groups were taken using plain cotton Salivettes four times a day: at 07:00 (basal), 11:00 (Exercise 1, after 1-hour exercise in the morning), 14:00 (Exercise 2, after 1-hour exercise in the afternoon), and 16:00 (Exercise 3, after 1-hour exercise in the afternoon). The saliva samples of RR were measured at the same time. The samples were analyzed using the SAS program general linear model procedure. In a percentage relative to the base value, cortisol levels in Exercise 3 were confirmed to decrease in all groups as compared to the basal value percentage in the following sequence: ER>TR>RR. The highest peak was confirmed in Exercise 2 (approximately 131%) of RR group and the lowest peak appeared in Exercise 3 (approximately 52%) of ER group. Therefore, resting without any particular exercise can also increase the stress level of horses. Thus, it is better to exercise, as exercise can reduce the stress level, even in cases when riders are clumsy or lack appropriate horse-riding experience. The results of the present study are useful to equestrian center owners and educational riding instructors in that they provide a meaningful insight into a better horse management.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.355-363
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• 2017

Jeju-do was designated as the 'first horse industry special zone' in 2014, followed by additional designation of horse industry special zones in Icheon, Yongin of Gyeonggi-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do in 2015. As a result, horses have become no more synonymous with Jeju-do. Jeju-do may see its competitive edge becoming blunt, compared to other local governments, due to its environmental characteristics and accessibility. The Korean proverb, "Send people to Seoul and horses to Jeju-do", has become an old saying that does not match reality. However, Jeju-do, designated as the first horse industry special zone, is expected to play a leading role in cultivation of domestic horse industry and faces a challenge of creating exemplary cases of success in transforming horse industry into the senary (6th) industry. In addition, KRW 114.2 billion is planned to be invested into 35 projects covering 9 sectors, including supply of elite domestic racing horses, expansion of demand basis for horse-riding, cultivation of horse meat industry, etc., by 2017 as envisioned by the horse industry special zone promotion plan. Despite expansion of facilities and demand base for horse-riding, those at the sites point out that government support at policy level has not come home to their hearts and criticism has been mounting that project efficiency remains low. Factors hindering the growth of horse industry, which have come to the fore, include inadequate supply of horse-riding facilities, limitation to expansion of demand for horse-riding, etc., due to excessive regulation. Advancement of horse industry requires wide-ranging deregulation on investment related to horse industry, including horse breeding and horse-riding facility installation, etc. Regulation which is deemed to be the biggest stumbling block to advancement of horse industry is related to the regulation requiring formation of farmland at horse-riding facilities in farming and fishery villages. Along with improvement in such regulations, horse-riding facilities without license should be legalized to promote qualitative growth of horse-riding industry. Moreover, efforts should be made to develop and deploy instructors with horse-riding license in order to develop horse-riding into a full-fledged leisure beyond simple experience auxiliary to tourism, thus ensuring that people can enjoy leisure style horse-riding regularly in safe and healthy manners. It would be necessary to add fresh momentum into efforts to turn Jeju-do into the hub of well-being leisure horse-riding by pooling our wisdom.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.111-117
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• 2024

Reproductive research such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer is necessary to produce high-quality riding horses. In this study, we investigated the effects of estrus synchronization and ovulation induction methods, which can be considered the basis of artificial insemination in horses, on the hormone concentration and artificial insemination pregnancy rate of mares. For the purpose of synchronization of estrus in horses, Cidr-plus insertion method, Regumate feeding method, and 150mg progesterone + 10mg estradiol mixed administration method were used. In the Cidr-plus insertion method and the Regumate feeding method, the progesterone concentration reached the appropriate level for ovulation induction on the 8th day of administration. The mixed administration method of 150mg progesterone + 10mg estradiol maintained the progesterone concentration at an appropriate level immediately after administration. With the administration of PGF2a and hCG, progesterone concentration decreased rapidly, making ovulation induction possible. As a result of comparing the pregnancy rate between natural estrus and estrus synchronization, the pregnancy rate was found to be higher in estrus synchronization and ovulation induction. From the results of this study, it is insufficient to judge the effect of the pregnancy rate due to the small number of tests, but in terms of usability, estrus synchronization and ovulation induction were useful. Therefore, it is expected to contribute to improving the efficiency of future roadster production.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.515-521
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• 2011

There are increasing demands for the producing and breeding new domestic riding horses for the vitalizations of horse riding industry in Korea, according as 'Horse Industry Support Act' became. In this study, we were to develop the functional relation through the conformation comparison & body composition analysis. 76 heads of 5 breeds utilized for riding horses in Korea were used and their body measurements on 12 items were measured and cluster analysis was conducted to determine the correlation relation among them. The measurements were standardized that (height, croup height, pelvis length), and (hip width, width of pelvis) were highly correlated. In these results of the decision tree, we confirmed to classify the breed type determination by their body measurements (hip height, hip width, head length, croup height). This result can be used as basic data for the development of horse type determination (racing, riding, Riding for the Disabled, Working, or fattening) through the analysis of body composition, and be utilized as the basic data for the producing and breeding new domestic riding horses through the 3D Stereosocpic image system analyze.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2021

Halla horse is crossbreed between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses and is used for riding, racing and meat production. Thus, molecular genetic studies are needed to establish and preserve the industrially valuable Halla horses. This study aimed to analyses the genetic diversity and population structure through 12 microsatellite (MS) markers for Halla and putatively related 3 breeds (Jeju, Mongolian and Thoroughbred horses). On average, the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity (H_obs), expected heterozygosity (H_exp), and polymorphic information content (PIC) among all horses were 10, 0.767, 0.799, and 0.771, respectively. Neighbor-joining tree and STRUCTURE analysis showed that Halla horses were between Thoroughbred and Jeju horses, tend to more influenced by Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, these results could be considered for use as the basic genetic breed relationships resource among the horse breeds (Jeju, Mongolian, and Thoroughbred horses) related to the origins of the Halla horse.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.82.1-82.10
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• 2020

Background: The clinical presentation of horses with back pain (BP) vary considerably with most horse's willingness to take part in athletic or riding purpose becoming impossible. However, there are some clinical features that are directly responsible for the loss or failure of performance. Objectives: To investigate the clinical features of the thoracolumbar region associated with BP in horses and to use some of the clinical features to classify equine BP. Methods: Twenty-four horses comprised of 14 with BP and 10 apparently healthy horses were assessed for clinical abnormality that best differentiate BP from normal horses. The horses were then graded (0-5) using the degree of pain response, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and overall physical dysfunction of the horse. Results: The common clinical features that significantly differentiate horses with BP from non-BP were longissimus dorsi spasm at palpation (78.6%), paravertebral muscle stiffness (64.3%), resist lateral bending (64.3%), and poor hindlimb impulsion (85.7%). There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores for pain response to palpation, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and physical dysfunction among horses with BP in relation to non-BP. A significant relationship exists between all the graded abnormalities. Based on the cumulative score, horses with BP were categorized into mild, mild-moderate, moderate and severe cases. Conclusions: BP in horse can be differentiated by severity of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, physical dysfunctions and their cumulative grading score is useful in the assessment and categorization of BP in horses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2020

The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in hematological and serum biochemical parameters in ponies exercising 3 times a day. The study included 10 healthy 4- to 5-year-old Jeju crossbred ponies used in riding lessons at an equestrian riding school. Hematology and serum chemistry samples were obtained before the initial lesson and after the last lesson of the day. The post-exercise results showed that packed cell volume, white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, and total protein levels increased significantly (p < 0.05). Serum Na⁺ also increased significantly (p < 0.01), but serum Ca⁺⁺ decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Creatinine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and bilirubin levels increased significantly (p < 0.05), but the glucose level decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the serum cortisol hormone level increased significantly (p < 0.01). The results suggest that participating in riding lessons three times a day may result in various physiological changes, indicating the presence of exercise-related stress in riding ponies.