{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T06:14:08Z","timestamp":1771481648723,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771459200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Espa\u00f1ola (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair whorl (FHW) patterns, behavioral traits, and physiological stress responses using ocular temperature (OT) assessed with infrared thermography as, an objective, non-invasive physiological stress indicator.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 98 male PRE horses, aged 4\u20136 years old and all gray coated, were evaluated during the 2022\u20132024 Young Horse Selection Tests for Dressage. The FHW that were present on these PRE horses were classified by number and location (above, along, or below the eye line), while OT was recorded at rest, immediately post-competition, and several hours post-competition. Seven behavioral traits assessed via a standardized rider survey were also analyzed. Behavioral traits were assessed during the competition period through a standardized questionnaire completed by the regular rider, reflecting the horse\u2019s general behavioral profile rather than responses to a single test.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results and discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Most horses presented a single FHW, predominantly along the eye line (60.2%). Behaviorally, a balanced profile was common, with strong correlations observed between aggression and dominance (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.75,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001), and learning and cooperation (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.72,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001). Eye temperature increased significantly just after competition, with higher values in horses with FHW along the eye line (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.019). The number and location of FHW were associated with some interactions between nervousness, dominance, and\/or aggression (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.05). Multivariate analyses identified three distinct clusters, with the most favorable group characterized by FHW below the eye line, lower post-test temperatures, and high learning and cooperation scores. These findings demonstrate that, although FHW alone are not sufficient to predict temperament or stress reactivity, their integration with behavioral and physiological measures allows the empirical identification of distinct functional profiles in PRE horses.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1709706","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T05:24:10Z","timestamp":1771478650000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Espa\u00f1ola dressage horses"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Mercedes","family":"Valera","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dpto. Agronom\u00eda, \u00c1rea de Producci\u00f3n Animal, Escuela T\u00e9cnica Superior de Ingenier\u00eda Agron\u00f3mica (ETSIA)","place":["Seville, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Encina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dpto. Agronom\u00eda, \u00c1rea de Producci\u00f3n Animal, Escuela T\u00e9cnica Superior de Ingenier\u00eda Agron\u00f3mica (ETSIA)","place":["Seville, Spain"]},{"name":"Real Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Espa\u00f1ola (ANCCE)","place":["Seville, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Guerrero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dpto. Agronom\u00eda, \u00c1rea de Producci\u00f3n Animal, Escuela T\u00e9cnica Superior de Ingenier\u00eda Agron\u00f3mica (ETSIA)","place":["Seville, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Arantxa","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Sainz de los Terreros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Real Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Espa\u00f1ola (ANCCE)","place":["Seville, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ester","family":"Bartolom\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dpto. Agronom\u00eda, \u00c1rea de Producci\u00f3n Animal, Escuela T\u00e9cnica Superior de Ingenier\u00eda Agron\u00f3mica (ETSIA)","place":["Seville, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-1591(01)00177-0","article-title":"Quantifying aspects of young horses\u2019 temperament: consistency of behavioural variables","volume":"74","author":"Visser","year":"2001","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref2","first-page":"621","article-title":"Adrenocortical and metabolic responses to ACTH injection in horses: an assessment by salivary cortisol and infrared thermography of the eye","volume":"81","author":"Cook","year":"2001","journal-title":"Can J Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jevs.2012.03.005","article-title":"Changes in eye temperature and 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