Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses

Introduction: Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Española (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair...

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Autores: Valera Córdoba, María Mercedes, Encina, Ana, Sánchez Guerrero, María José, Rodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, Arancha, Bartolomé Medina, Ester
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2026
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositório:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::5fb5c35a18aac1004f513237976675ba
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186030
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:acute stress
behavioral profiling
equine temperament
hair whorl pattern
infrared thermography
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spelling Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horsesValera Córdoba, María MercedesEncina, AnaSánchez Guerrero, María JoséRodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, AranchaBartolomé Medina, Esteracute stressbehavioral profilingequine temperamenthair whorl patterninfrared thermographyIntroduction: Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Española (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair whorl (FHW) patterns, behavioral traits, and physiological stress responses using ocular temperature (OT) assessed with infrared thermography as, an objective, non-invasive physiological stress indicator. Methods: A total of 98 male PRE horses, aged 4–6 years old and all gray coated, were evaluated during the 2022–2024 Young Horse Selection Tests for Dressage. The FHW that were present on these PRE horses were classified by number and location (above, along, or below the eye line), while OT was recorded at rest, immediately post-competition, and several hours post-competition. Seven behavioral traits assessed via a standardized rider survey were also analyzed. Behavioral traits were assessed during the competition period through a standardized questionnaire completed by the regular rider, reflecting the horse’s general behavioral profile rather than responses to a single test. Results and discussion: Most horses presented a single FHW, predominantly along the eye line (60.2%). Behaviorally, a balanced profile was common, with strong correlations observed between aggression and dominance (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), and learning and cooperation (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Eye temperature increased significantly just after competition, with higher values in horses with FHW along the eye line (p = 0.019). The number and location of FHW were associated with some interactions between nervousness, dominance, and/or aggression (p < 0.05). Multivariate analyses identified three distinct clusters, with the most favorable group characterized by FHW below the eye line, lower post-test temperatures, and high learning and cooperation scores. These findings demonstrate that, although FHW alone are not sufficient to predict temperament or stress reactivity, their integration with behavioral and physiological measures allows the empirical identification of distinct functional profiles in PRE horsesFrontiers MediaAgronomíaAGR273: Nuevas Tecnologías de Mejora Animal y de Sus Sistemas Productivos Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza EspañolaUniversidad de Sevilla2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/186030https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésFrontiers in Veterinary Science, 13. PRJ202304988VI PPIT-UShttps://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:idus________::5fb5c35a18aac1004f513237976675ba2026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
title Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
spellingShingle Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
Valera Córdoba, María Mercedes
acute stress
behavioral profiling
equine temperament
hair whorl pattern
infrared thermography
title_short Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
title_full Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
title_fullStr Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
title_full_unstemmed Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
title_sort Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Valera Córdoba, María Mercedes
Encina, Ana
Sánchez Guerrero, María José
Rodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, Arancha
Bartolomé Medina, Ester
author Valera Córdoba, María Mercedes
author_facet Valera Córdoba, María Mercedes
Encina, Ana
Sánchez Guerrero, María José
Rodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, Arancha
Bartolomé Medina, Ester
author_role author
author2 Encina, Ana
Sánchez Guerrero, María José
Rodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, Arancha
Bartolomé Medina, Ester
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Agronomía
AGR273: Nuevas Tecnologías de Mejora Animal y de Sus Sistemas Productivos
Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Española
Universidad de Sevilla
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv acute stress
behavioral profiling
equine temperament
hair whorl pattern
infrared thermography
topic acute stress
behavioral profiling
equine temperament
hair whorl pattern
infrared thermography
description Introduction: Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Española (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair whorl (FHW) patterns, behavioral traits, and physiological stress responses using ocular temperature (OT) assessed with infrared thermography as, an objective, non-invasive physiological stress indicator. Methods: A total of 98 male PRE horses, aged 4–6 years old and all gray coated, were evaluated during the 2022–2024 Young Horse Selection Tests for Dressage. The FHW that were present on these PRE horses were classified by number and location (above, along, or below the eye line), while OT was recorded at rest, immediately post-competition, and several hours post-competition. Seven behavioral traits assessed via a standardized rider survey were also analyzed. Behavioral traits were assessed during the competition period through a standardized questionnaire completed by the regular rider, reflecting the horse’s general behavioral profile rather than responses to a single test. Results and discussion: Most horses presented a single FHW, predominantly along the eye line (60.2%). Behaviorally, a balanced profile was common, with strong correlations observed between aggression and dominance (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), and learning and cooperation (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Eye temperature increased significantly just after competition, with higher values in horses with FHW along the eye line (p = 0.019). The number and location of FHW were associated with some interactions between nervousness, dominance, and/or aggression (p < 0.05). Multivariate analyses identified three distinct clusters, with the most favorable group characterized by FHW below the eye line, lower post-test temperatures, and high learning and cooperation scores. These findings demonstrate that, although FHW alone are not sufficient to predict temperament or stress reactivity, their integration with behavioral and physiological measures allows the empirical identification of distinct functional profiles in PRE horses
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186030
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186030
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13.
PRJ202304988
VI PPIT-US
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1709706
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers Media
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers Media
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
reponame_str idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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