Stress Parameters of Horse Riders in Kok-Boru Games by Winning and Losing Situations

Abstract

Introduction This study examined the effects of winning or losing situations on the stress, metabolic, and physiological aspects of horse riders in Kok-Boru, a traditional equestrian team game. Methods Blood samples were collected from the riders of four different teams participating in two separate Kok-Boru games, both before and after gameplay. The samples were examined for levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta-endorphin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, triiodothyronine (T-3), and thyroxine (T-4) using species-specific commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The same samples were tested for biochemical and hematological parameters with an autoanalyzer. Results Post-game, the riders from the winning teams showed an increase in the serum levels of white blood count, granulocytes (GRA), percent GRA, mean corpuscular volume, platelet count, plateletcrit, creatine kinase, albumine, aspartate transferase, creatine, cortisol, and ACTH compared to their levels before the game. In contrast, the post-game serum levels of lymphocytes, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and T-3 of the winning team were lower. When the pre-game samples of winning and losing teams were compared, it was observed that sodium and T-4 levels were higher in the winners. Conclusions The data suggest that winning team riders put in more effort and experienced more stress. Conversely, those on losing teams exerted less effort and experienced less stress, as indicated by the parameter changes.