Air Speed to Increase Rate of Cool Out for Horses After Intense Exercise.

This research article investigates whether combining air velocities with traditional cooling procedures, such as walking and drenching, can increase the rate of cooling in horses after intense exercise.

Understanding the Research Context

• The study provides insights into the practice of cooling out horses after rigorous exercise to ensure their physiologic responses return to baseline levels promptly.
• It sheds light on the efficacy of using water in the cool-out process, as well as analyzing the potential effects of enhancing evaporation rates with the aid of forced air flows.

The Experiment Design and Procedure

• The research involved 7 Thoroughbred horses that were subjected to intense exercise on a track, covering either 1 or 1.5 miles.
• Post-exercise, the horses were given a cooling-off period that included a mixture of walking and drenching.
• This cooling period also had three varying air conditions— no fan, fan directed towards the horse’s lateral side, and fan directed at posterior.
• The main intention of this manipulation was to investigate if increased air speed could enhance the rate of cool-out post exercise.

Data Analysis and Findings

• A Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) procedure was applied to analyze the horses’ physiological responses, specifically looking at heart rate and rectal temperature.
• Although no statistical significance was identified in the rate of cooling, the study hints at the possibility that the fan’s addition may expediate the return of both the rectal temperature and heart rate towards their baseline levels.
• The results indicate that using a fan during the cooling down process might potentially improve the efficiency of the cool-out period post intense physical activity in horses.