ScienceDaily (July 24, 2012) ? Arguments over how best to train horses have raged for centuries. Two years ago, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) was even moved to ban the practice of hyperflexion as a result of a petition signed by over 40,000 people claiming that it caused the animals unnecessary discomfort. The FEI did make a distinction between hyperflexion by the use of extreme force and what it termed "low, deep and round" (LDR), which essentially achieves the same position without force. How forceful hyperflexion should be distinguished from permissible LDR training was not clearly stated -- instead, a working group has been established to come up with an acceptable definition.
The debate between the proponents and the opponents of hyperflexion has given rise to considerable emotions on both sides but has unfortunately been characterized by a lack of scientific evidence. Mareike Becker-Birck in the group of Christine Aurich at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna) has attempted to fill the void by comparing the levels of stress shown by horses trained on the lunge with their necks either extended forwards or fixed in hyperflexion. Stress was assessed by monitoring the levels of stress hormones in the animals' saliva and by following the heart rate and the fluctuations in heart rate exhibited before, during and after training. In addition, the surface body temperature was measured before and after the experiment. None of the horses suffered any obvious discomfort during the training, which was undertaken without the use of a whip.
The horses showed an increase in stress hormones in their saliva, an increase in heart rate and a decrease in heart rate variability when they were trained. The changes presumably stem from a combination of physical activity and the normal stress responses. The level of stress incurred by the animals was not particularly high -- the change in hormones in the saliva was actually less than when horses are transported by road or ridden for the first time. And importantly, the effects were the same irrespective of whether the animals were lunged under hyperflexion or under "classical" conditions with their necks extended. The only significant difference observed related to the temperature of the front (cranial) part of the animals' necks, possibly indicating that the blood flow was not quite even when the horses were lunged in hyperflexion.
Apart from this one minor difference, then, the results show that hyperflexion in horses lunged at moderate speed and not touched with the whip does not elicit a pronounced stress response. In other words, there appears to be no scientific reason to ban the use of hyperflexion. Aurich nevertheless remains cautious. "Our results show that hyperflexion does not itself harm the animals but some trainers combine it with forceful and aggressive intervention of the rider over prolonged periods of time. This is a different situation from the one we investigated so our study should not be interpreted to mean that hyperflexion never has any stressful or negative effects."
The paper Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability, and superficial body temperature, in horses lunged either with hyperflexion of the neck or with an extended head and neck position by Mareike Becker-Birck, Alice Schmidt, Manuela Wulf, J?rg Aurich, Armgard von der Wense, Erich M?stl, Reinhold Berz and Christine Aurich is published in the current issue of the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. The work was carried out at the Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, a joint research unit of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, and the Brandenburg State Stud at Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Veterin?rmedizinische Universit?t Wien.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- M. Becker-Birck, A. Schmidt, M. Wulf, J. Aurich, A. von der Wense, E. M?stl, R. Berz, C. Aurich. Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability, and superficial body temperature, in horses lunged either with hyperflexion of the neck or with an extended head and neck position. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01274.x
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120724104131.htm
jenelle evans mlb 12 the show sabu google play franchise tag lesotho a wrinkle in time
Cracks in concrete are a normal occurrence and can be found everywhere, even on beautiful Main Street in Royal Oak, MI. There are many different reasons as to why concrete cracks. Today we?re going to go over these reasons with precautions that you can take to ensure you concrete doesn?t crack prematurely.
When they provide a group plan, try not to provide any help, it may be smart to take a look at other available choices. Though guidelines vary, they are health frequently standard in a nutshell- term medical health insurance coverage. Is the ideal the first day spent on the run, or silently researching and writing? If you? re a resident of Toronto then its confirmed that you simply lead a quick existence which has its demands. Healthcare, LLC * B J Healthcare Services * Baptist Trinity Home st. Care * Cabel Huntington Hospital Home Health * Caring Nurses HHA, Corporation * Carvell Homecare Corporation * Comm Mc of Izard Co HH& Hospice * DCH Home Healthcare Agency * Excellence Home Care health bridge fitness center Services * Jewel Home Care health Corporation * Gentiva Health Services * Hale County Hospital Home Health * Home Care Professionals, Corporation * Interim Health care of Amarillo * Lengthy Beach Healthcare * Marion Co Home Care Services * Mohave Home Health * Neocare Home Care * Omni Home Healthcare * Parkview Home Care * Petit Jean Home Health * Progressive Home Healthcare * The Medical Team Corporation * Unicare Home Health Systems * Virtua Home Care at West Jersey * Wentworth Home Care & Hospice * Wright Memorial Hospital Home Health They are only area of the seniors care provider list, however. Benefits:
Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing Marcia Gruver, a multi-published author of historical fiction set in "The Old South." Her latest novel, Hunter's Prize, was published this month by Barbour.
Marcia, how did you get into writing?
How did you get your first book contract?