DOI: 10.31196/huvfd.1970157 ISSN: 2146-717X

The Effect of Phenotype and Genotype on Physiological Parameters in Equestrian Endurance Competitions

Yavuzkan Paksoy, Alper Çağlayan, Şahin Çadırcı, Esra Bilici
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This study aimed to evaluate changes in body temperature and heart rate in Arabian and Thoroughbred horses participating in endurance races, in relation to sex, age, and coat color. A total of 12 horses (6 Arabian, 6 Thoroughbred; 7 males, 5 females; aged 5–14 years) were used in the study. The horses were housed at a facility that regularly participates in endurance races, and physiological measurements were taken before and during the race. The data obtained were analyzed using the Minitab v16 statistical software; the Tukey test was applied for group comparisons and Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess relationships between variables. The analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in body temperature or heart rate by breed, sex, age, or coat color in the pre-competition measurements (p>0.05). However, a significant negative correlation was found between age and pre-competition heart rate (p=0.01), indicating that heart rate decreased as age increased. In assessments conducted during the race, a significant effect of breed on heart rate was identified (p=0.036). In this context, the average heart rate was 55.3 beats/min in Arabian horses and 60.5 beats/min in Thoroughbreds. No significant differences were observed in physiological parameters during the competition across sex, age, and coat color (p>0.05). In conclusion, it was demonstrated that physiological responses in equestrian endurance competitions are largely similar, but that breed may be a determining factor in heart rate.

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