Body composition in young standardbreds in training: relationships to body condition score, physiological and locomotor variables during exercise.

The research paper is exploring the relationship between the body composition of young standardbred horses in training and their athletic performance. It suggests that body composition significantly influences the aerobic capacity of the horses, an essential factor for middle-distance running, and therefore should be carefully evaluated to optimize performance.

Objective and Methods

• The primary goal of the researchers was to understand the relationship between body composition (percentage of fat, fat mass, fat-free mass), body score, physiological attributes, and locomotor variables among young Standardbreds undergoing training.
• The researchers observed twenty-four 2-year-old Standardbreds, recording their body condition, body weight, and height. Body composition was estimated using echography.
• During a standardized exercise test on the racetrack, various factors such as heart rate, velocity, respiratory frequency, and blood lactate concentrations were recorded.
• The velocities resulting in a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l (V4) and a heart rate of 200 beats/min (V200) were calculated.
• Basic gait variables were recorded at three different speeds using an accelerometric device.

Results

• The researchers found significant correlations between body composition variables, specifically percentage of fat and fat mass, and physiological attributes such as body condition scores.
• There was a strong correlation between body score and both percentage of fat and fat mass.
• The study found that the V4 and V200 velocities were negatively correlated to both percentage of fat and fat mass, meaning that an increase in fat content relates to a decrease in these velocities.
• No significant correlations were identified between body composition and gait characteristics.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that body composition is significantly related to aerobic capacity, a crucial aspect of athletic performance in middle-distance running horses.
• Similar to human athletes, these findings highlight the need for trainers to thoughtfully assess the body weight and composition of racehorses to optimize their performance.