Chronic stress is indeed a serious health issue. This prolonged form of stress arises when a horse's basic needs are not met and when the horse experiences constant stress or anxiety. Chronic stress can lead to various (biochemical) changes in the body over time, compromise the immune system, and cause illnesses.

Positive Stress

On the other hand, horses can also experience positive stress. This happens, for example, during training sessions. By making exercises slightly more challenging or demanding, your horse learns something new, improves its condition, and ultimately becomes better in response to the challenges presented.

A common issue, however, is that these animals are often pushed beyond limits that would not typically occur in the wild. This can cause stress and reduce performance. Stress can have either a positive or negative effect on the horse's body and, therefore, can either enhance or limit performance.

Stress has many definitions, including the variety of responses an animal has to its environment. Since horses have evolved to cope with normal short-term stressors, stress does not always have a negative impact.

Especially when it comes to sport horses, stress responses can have either positive or negative effects on performance. During normal exertion, heart rate and plasma cortisol concentrations are elevated. Cortisol can have many beneficial physiological functions, but if high levels persist over extended periods, it can cause harmful effects.

There are two approaches to how stress can influence good performance—extrinsic and intrinsic. Both are discussed in this article, along with the five key components of a good performer: conformation, gait and movement; temperament and behavior; genetics; health and reproductive ability; and physiology.

Stress can impact performance in various ways, but there are methods to improve this. Less stressful training techniques can be used to allow the animals to gradually adapt to different stressors, especially those that are unavoidable in future competitions. It is also crucial for breeders, riders, and owners to better recognize stress in their horses.

A good sport performer is a combination of superior conformation, an appropriate temperament, a healthy physical condition, and optimized physiological mechanisms. These contribute to optimal fitness, keeping the horse performing at its best.

It is important to remember that stress should always be viewed in context and that when managed well, it can contribute positively to the well-being of horses.