Effects of equine back massage pads on stress indicators by the assessment of behaviour, heart rate and salivary cortisol

Extract

Equine massage therapy is becoming increasingly popular, particularly the use of electronic pads which eliminate the need for a masseur and make the treatment more accessible. Domestic horses live in conditions that are different to which they are naturally adapted. Horses are free roaming, social trickle feeders but modern management houses them in isolation and confinement with little or no social interaction and highly concentrated feeding regimes (Harewood and McGowan, 2005). The inability to carry out these behaviours may lead to stress. Stress may alter the biochemistry of the body and could affect reproduction, growth, metabolism and immune function, which in turn may reduce the performance potential of an individual. Stress can have a negative effect on welfare so it is the responsibility of horse owners to reduce stress. Massage may help in stress reduction due to a similarity to mutual grooming, believed to be a goal directed behaviour and have a reward of stress reduction (McBride et al., 2004). The effect of massage on horses, particularly with an electronic massage pad is not established. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of an electronic pad on the stress perception of domestic horses.