Sessions

The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanical properties of tail hair from Akhal-Teke horses and to investigate potential biological, environmental, and genetic factors influencing them. A total of 108 tail hairs from 18 horses were examined for hair diameter, breaking force, tensile strength, and elongation, considering sex, coat colour, tail colour, and housing location. Inbreeding and coancestry coefficients were also determined.

Sex was significantly associated with hair diameter (p=0.032); stallions showed higher mean values in diameter than the mares. Coat colour significantly affected hair diameter and breaking force (p<0.001 for both), although only one grey horse was included. Tail colour was also associated with these properties (p<0.001); higher values appeared in black tail hairs than in non-black ones. Significant individual differences were found in hair diameter (p<0.001), breaking force (p<0.001), and tensile strength (p=0.037), while housing location had no detectable effect.

Hair diameter was strongly positively correlated with breaking force at both locations (Agostyán: r=0.87; Ópusztaszer: r=0.83; p<0.05 for both) and negatively correlated with tensile strength (r=–0.46 and r=–0.45, respectively; p<0.05 for both). Tensile strength and elongation showed a positive correlation (r=0.50 and r=0.62, respectively; p<0.05 for both). Analysis at the individual horse level also confirmed the positive relationship between hair diameter and tensile strength.

The inbreeding coefficient ranged from 0 to 6.25%. Higher inbreeding was associated with lower hair diameter and lower breaking force in the hair-level analysis (p<0.05), although these relationships were not significant in the horse-level model.

Overall, Akhal-Teke tail hair showed considerable individual variation. Thicker hairs withstood greater breaking forces but had lower tensile strength. Sex, pigmentation, and genetic background may influence hair properties, whereas housing location showed no detectable effect. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.