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Standardized Exercise Test in Young Endurance Horses
Author(s) -
Robert C,
Younes M,
Borgetto B,
Barrey E
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_39
Subject(s) - heart rate , medicine , horse , mathematics , zoology , physical therapy , cardiology , blood pressure , biology , paleontology
The objective of this study was to validate a field standardized exercise test ( SET ) adapted for young endurance horses and to evaluate the effects of age/conditioning level on speed and heart rate values. Methods The study involved 31 horses of Arabian origin bred specifically for endurance and aged 4 yo (n = 11), 5 yo (n = 13) or 6 yo (n = 7). The SET consisted of a warm‐up, followed by 15 (4 yo), 30 (5 yo) or 45 (6 yo) minutes of canter at a comfortable steady speed, and finished with 500 meters of fast gallop. Heart rate ( HR ) was recorded continuously during the SET . The velocities at which HR reached 160 and 200 beats per minute (V160 and V200) were calculated by the linear regression of HR versus speed. Results All horses were able to complete the SET . Resting HR was higher in 4 y than in 5 y and 6 y (P<0.05 via Student's t test). HR and velocities during the SET did not vary significantly with age. Mean ± SD values for 4 yo, 5 yo and 6 yo respectively are as follows: Resting HR : 47.5 ± 7.2, 42.3 ± 3.2, 41.3 ± 5.4 bpm; HRcanter: 162.7 ± 14.3, 156.9 ± 17.3, 161.4 ± 10.7 bpm; Vcanter: 22.6 ± 0.9, 22.4 ± 1.2, 23.3 ± 1.6 km/h; HRsprint: 191.3 ± 18.1, 181.7 ± 18.5, 184.1 ± 16.2 bpm; Vsprint: 30.3 ± 3.0, 31.5 ± 6.4, 35.3 ± 6.9 km/h; V160: 25.8 ± 3.5, 24.8 ± 5.0, 27.1 ± 5.8 km/h; V200: 36.8 ± 6.1, 37.4 ± 7.3, 44.3 ± 10.9 km/h; Post‐exercice lactatemia: 7.4 ± 4.5, 13.5 ± 3.6, 5.6 ± 3.4 mmol/l. These values perfectly fit with those described previously for adult endurance horses. Conclusions The proposed field SET involved both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism reproducing the progress of an endurance race. Further studies are being conducted to discriminate if possible the effects of age from those of conditioning. Ethical Animal Research The study was approved by the E thics C ommittee for the A lfort V eterinary School and the U niversity of Paris‐Est; Owner informed consent for participation was obtained. Sources of funding: National Studs ( IFCE ), The Eperon Funds and the Arabian Horse Association ( ACA ). Competing interests: none.