Transportation of Sport Horses: New Perspectives at the Intersection of Ethics, Science, and Technology Introduction: From Logistics Challenge to Comprehensive Welfare Challenge The transportation of sport horses, whether for participation in the Olympics, world championships, or commercial tournaments, has traditionally been considered an inevitable operational cost. However, in recent decades, the approach to this process has undergone a radical change under the influence of three factors: growing public and animal welfare pressure, the accumulation of scientific data on stress and its impact on performance, and the emergence of new technologies. Modern perspectives shift the focus from minimizing physical injuries to optimizing overall welfare and maintaining the maximum sports potential of the horse after transportation. Physiology and Neurobiology of Transportation Stress: New Data Transportation is a complex stressor affecting several systems of the body simultaneously. The latest research using portable sensors and biomarker analysis clarifies the picture: Neuroendocrine system: It has been confirmed that even well-organized transportation causes a significant release of cortisol and catecholamines. However, the key discovery is the individual variability of the response. Horses with certain genetic polymorphisms related to stress processing (e.g., in the dopamine and serotonin systems) and negative previous experience demonstrate a more pronounced and prolonged stress response. This requires a personalized approach to preparation. Immune function: Long-term stress from transportation leads to a transient immunosuppressive state. Increased susceptibility to respiratory pathogens (so-called "transport fever") and exacerbation of latent herpesvirus infections (EHV-1) occur. New protocols include pre-transport immunomonitoring and adaptive vaccination. Metabolism and hydration: The use of sensors to monitor water consumption on the road has revealed that many ho ... Read more