Changes in blood lactate and heart rate in thoroughbred horses during swimming and running according to their stage of training.

The research seeks to evaluate the efficiency of a standardized swimming test as a measure of observing performance capacity changes in thoroughbred horses trained by running. The study uses the relationship between horse’s swimming speed, blood lactate concentration, maximum heart rate and running speed.

Research Methodology

• The sample considered for this study were seven two-year-old thoroughbred horses.
• The horses were trained by running for a period of four months.
• At the start, two, and four months into the training, the horses were subjected to a standardized swimming exercise tolerance test. This was in addition to a running tolerance test conducted at the two and four-month marks.
• The main focus was on observing the correlation changes in the horse’s swimming speed and their blood lactate concentration along with their maximum heart rate and running speed after enforced running training.

Results and Findings

• It was understood from the study that running training had an observable significant impact on the correlation between the swimming speed of the horses and their blood lactate concentration.
• Furthermore, significant changes in correlation were observed between the blood lactate concentration and maximum heart rate as well as running speed post two months into the training.

Implication

• The changes observed imply that the swimming exercise test could possibly be used as an efficient tool to evaluate changes in performance capacity after running training.
• It further implies that even with training in different disciplines (swimming or running), physiological adaptions and responses can cross-transfer and affect each other, enhancing overall athletic performance.