State of the art on daily rhythms of physiology and behaviour in horses

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the daily rhythm in horses. Many physiological processes have been studied in horses to investigate their daily rhythmicity. In horses many rhythms are driven by an endogenous pacemaker, some of them endogenously generated, others influenced by external stimuli. It then addresses the influence of maturation and ageing, physical exercise and jet lag on these rhythms. The study of daily rhythms in horses is of considerable importance in all aspects of horse management to maintain the natural physiological behaviours of this species, necessary to guarantee the good welfare in breeding and athlete horses. Chronophysiology in horses also has clinical implications, it can influence disease occurrence, diagnostic tests and the effect of medical treatments.

Keywords:

• daily rhythm
• horses
• physiological parameters
• behaviour

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by research grant PRIN 2008 (University of Messina, Italy).