A szőrforgómintázatok és a neurofunkcionális lateralitás asszociációvizsgálata hazai angol telivér állományon = Association between hair whorl patterns and neurofunctional laterality in the Hungarian Thoroughbred population

Kis, Judit and Rózsa, László and Zsolnai, Attila and Anton, István and Husvéth, Ferenc (2026) A szőrforgómintázatok és a neurofunkcionális lateralitás asszociációvizsgálata hazai angol telivér állományon = Association between hair whorl patterns and neurofunctional laterality in the Hungarian Thoroughbred population. SCIENTIA ET SECURITAS, 6 (4). pp. 414-421. ISSN 3057-9759

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Abstract

Vizsgálatunk célja a szőrforgók számának, elhelyezkedésének és forgási irányának feltérképezése volt, valamint ezek asszociációs vizsgálata a neurofunkcionális lateralitással és temperamentumbeli jellemzőkkel, harmincegy hazai, tréningben álló angol telivér esetében. Az angol telivérek szőrforgóinak gyakorisági elemzését R Statistical Software 4.3.0 programmal végeztük. A fenotípusos jellemzők, a viselkedés és a lateralitás közötti kapcsolatot karámteszttel és prevalidált temperamentum-kérdőívvel vizsgáltuk. Minden ló legalább egy cirkuláris szőrforgóval rendelkezett a fején. A szőrforgók száma pozitív korrelációt mutatott az idomíthatósággal és a barátságossággal, de nem mutatott összefüggést a szorongási faktorokkal. A forgásirány szignifikáns kapcsolatban állt a lábpreferenciával. | Hair whorl patterns have long been regarded as heritable morphological features associated with behavioural characteristics, laterality, and temperament in horses. These trichoglyphic markers, particularly on the head, body, and limbs, are considered indicators of underlying neurodevelopmental asymmetries and may predict how an individual reacts to environmental stimuli. With regard to equine athletic performance, these phenotypic markers may serve as valuable indicators for training strategies, management practices, rider-horse pairing, especially in behaviourally sensitive breeds such as the Thoroughbred. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between hair whorl patterns, neurofunctional laterality, and behavioural traits in Hungarian Thoroughbred racehorses. Notably, we sought to investigate the frequency, location, and orientation of hair whorls and their associations with lateralized behaviour and temperament indicators, including trainability, anxiety, and affability. The study population comprised thirty-one Thoroughbred racehorses (n=31) in active training at Hungarian racing stables. Whorl data were collected by visual inspection and categorized by type (circular, linear), number, and anatomical location. Rotational direction was also recorded for cranial whorls. The behavioural data were gathered using a validated temperament questionnaire, while lateralized responses were assessed through controlled paddock tests focusing on preferred limb use during grazing posture. All horses exhibited at least one circular whorl on the head, with the majority located at or near the poll region. Notably, a high proportion of linear whorls was observed, exceeding the frequencies reported in earlier studies. Statistical analysis using R Statistical Software 4.3.0 revealed significant associations between the number and distribution of whorls and specific behavioural traits. The total number of whorls showed a positive correlation with the horses’ trainability and sociability scores. In contrast, no statistically significant association was found between whorl features and anxiety scores. Additionally, the rotational direction of head whorls was significantly related to limb preference in the paddock test. Horses with clockwise whorls tended to favour the right forelimb, whereas those with counterclockwise whorls showed a left-limb preference, suggesting a link between hair whorl orientation and cerebral lateralization. These findings reinforce the potential of hair whorl analysis as a non-invasive, early-life phenotypic indicator of behavioural predispositions and lateral tendencies in Thoroughbreds. As such, whorl profiling may be a useful supplementary tool in horse selection, training customization, and behavioural risk assessment in racing environments. Further research with larger cohorts and neurological imaging validation is recommended to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

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