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Estimation of performance potential of Standardbred trotters from blood lactate concentrations measured in field conditions
Author(s) -
COUROUCÉ ANNE,
CHATARD J. C.,
AUVINET B.
Publication year - 1997
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/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03140.x
Subject(s) - blood lactate , horse , medicine , zoology , environmental science , biology , heart rate , blood pressure , paleontology
Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between V 4 (velocity which results in a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/1), age and racing performance of Standardbred trotters and to establish V 4 normal values to select good and poor performers. The specific influence of racing (RT) and training (T1 and T2) tracks was also examined. A total of 159 horses were divided into 5 age‐groups from 2 to 6 and over and performed 330 standardised exercise tests of 3 steps performed at increasing speeds. The velocity of the horses was measured with a tachometer on the sulky. Blood lactate concentrations were measured from the jugular vein after each step. For the 5 age‐groups, mean V 4 values increased significantly (P<0.05) with age between 2 and 4 years. After 5 years, this increase was reduced and became nonsignificant. The highest V 4 values were obtained on the racing track (RT) and the lowest on the training tracks (T1; P<0.05). No significant difference was found between RT and T2 nor between T1 and T2. Horses were defined as good performers (GP) when finishing between the first and the fifth place in a race or poor performers (PP) when finishing lower than fifth. V 4 was significantly higher for GP than for PP (P<0.05). Normal value of V 4 were established for good and poor performers taking into account the 95% confidence interval of the data. Therefore, V 4 depends on age and track and can be considered an important parameter to evaluate trotters' racing potential.