Abstract：
Little literature exists on horses in adaptive horsemanship (AH) despite concerns about their well-being. The study objective was to evaluate behavioral and physiological responses of horses to ground-based AH lessons for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lessons were expected to alter horses\' hormone concentrations, behavior, and muscle activity. Geldings were assigned to AH (n=6; 20.3 ± 1.9 yrs., mean ± SE) or control (CON; stall in arena, n=6; 13.8 ± 1.7 yrs.) conditions for 8-week sessions based on current occupation (AH = equine-assisted services; CON = recreational riding). Plasma cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin concentrations from samples at 0 (start of lesson), 3, 5, 25, and 30 (end) min were determined using assays validated in horses. Surface electromyography (sEMG) (masseter and brachiocephalic; Noraxon, Scottsdale, AZ, USA) and video were recorded continuously. Average rectified values (ARV) and median frequency (MF) were calculated (100 ms) after sEMG data were normalized, rectified, and filtered. The number, number of unique, and duration of stress related behaviors (ethogram) were recorded by three trained (ĸ ≥ 0.7) observers. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVAs (significance P ≤ 0.05) with fixed effects of treatment, time point, week, and their interactions as appropriate and random effect of horse. CON horses had elevated cortisol concentrations (P = 0.0023) at 25 and 30 min. AH horses displayed fewer (P ≤ 0.0491) stress related and unique behaviors. CON horses were described as more (P < 0.0001) anxious, nervous, and stressed than AH horses (calm, comfortable, patient, and relaxed) in qualitative behavior analysis (22 observers). AH horses were less stressed than CON horses.
摘要：
尽管人们担心马的健康状况，但在适应性马术（AH）中的马很少有文献。研究目的是评估马匹对创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）退伍军人的地面AH课程的行为和生理反应。预计课程会改变马的激素浓度，行为，和肌肉活动。凝胶被分配到AH（n=6；20.3±1.9年。,平均值±SE)或对照(CON；竞技场失速，n=6；13.8±1.7年。)基于当前职业的8周课程条件(AH=马匹辅助服务；CON=休闲骑行)。血浆皮质醇,肾上腺素,去甲肾上腺素,和催产素浓度从样品在0（课程开始），使用在马中验证的测定确定3、5、25和30(结束)分钟。表面肌电图（sEMG）（咬肌和头臂；Noraxon，斯科茨代尔,AZ,美国）和视频连续录制。在sEMG数据归一化后，计算平均整流值（ARV）和中值频率（MF）（100ms），纠正,过滤。数字,唯一的数量，并由三名经过训练（≥0.7）的观察者记录压力相关行为的持续时间（心电图）。数据采用重复测量方差分析(显著性P≤0.05)，固定治疗效果，时间点,week,以及它们的相互作用，作为马的适当和随机效应。CON马在25和30分钟时皮质醇浓度升高（P=0.0023）。AH马表现出较少（P≤0.0491）的压力相关和独特行为。CON马被描述为更多（P<0.0001）焦虑，紧张,比AH马强调（平静，舒适,病人,和放松)在定性行为分析中(22名观察者)。AH马比CON马压力小。
