Blood parameter and heart rate response to training in Andalusian horses.

The research article is a study examining how the heart rate and blood parameters of Andalusian horses respond to progressive levels of training.

Objective and Study Set-up

• The objective was to determine how specific aspects of a horse’s physiology — namely heart rate and certain blood parameters — respond to progressive training.
• The training consisted of exercises of increasing intensity, conducted over a distance of 1000 meters.
• The horses’ speed was gradually increased from 4 m/s to 8.5 m/s over four stages of the exercise.
• A five-minute recovery period was implemented following each exercise stage.

Data Collection and Procedure

• Two tests were carried out, one at two months of training and another at four months of training. This allowed the researchers to analyze the physiological effects of a longer training period.
• All samples were collected from the horses while they were at rest, within the first minute following each stage of the exercise, and again at 10, 15, 20, and 30-minute intervals during the final recovery period.
• Jugular blood samples were collected for the analysis. These samples contained plasma which was used to measure levels of glucose, lactate, creatinine, and ions.
• The Polar Sport tester was used to measure the horses’ heart rates.

Findings and Conclusion

• The most significant parameters in both tests were found to be the glucose level, heart rate, and lactate concentration of the horses.
• Changes in electrolyte and creatinine levels were temporary, with normal resting values returning after 30 minutes of recovery.
• The horses’ adaptation to daily training was most evident in the altered lactine levels and heart rate.
• Recovery improved with increased training, which the researchers hypothesized to be a result of enhanced aerobic capacity and decreased metabolic acidosis.

This article gives valuable insight into the physiological adjustments that Andalusian horses experience in response to progressive training, with particular focus on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems.