The Impact of Climatic and Anthropogenic Factors on Modern Equine Management: Challenges and Adaptation Strategies

Modern equine management is facing substantial challenges driven by climate change and anthropogenic pressures, which collectively affect the welfare, physiological resilience, and productivity of horses. A particularly critical threat is heat stress, which disrupts homeostasis, reduces performance capacity, and increases health risks. This review synthesises scientific evidence on the physiological, behavioural, and neuroendocrine responses of horses to elevated thermal loads, taking into account age, breed, and functional differences. Key adaptive mechanisms that support viability under heat conditions are examined, including thermoregulatory responses, hormonal changes, behavioural strategies, and the potential to enhance these mechanisms through feeding, cooling, and veterinary support. Special attention is paid to innovative welfare monitoring approaches, such as infrared thermography, heart rate analysis, video surveillance, non-invasive biomarkers, and digital technologies, which offer new opportunities for real-time assessment of animal status. A distinctive feature of this review is its interdisciplinary perspective on adaptation, integrating veterinary, ethical, environmental, and social aspects of horse use. Promising directions for further research are identified, including the selection of heat-tolerant breeds, the development of individualised adaptation programmes, and the implementation of the One Health approach in equine industry management.