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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 182; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02400-9

Comparison of physiological demands in Warmblood show jumping horses over a standardized 1.10 m jumping course versus a standardized exercise test on a track.

Abstract: A greater understanding of exercise physiology and biochemistry is required for the sport horse disciplines, including show jumping. Conditioning of horses for show jumping is empirical because they are primarily trained on flat ground, however the equivalent workload between jumping and flat work is currently unknown. The objectives of the study were therefore to compare the physiological demands of Warmblood show jumpers over a standardized 1.10 m course vs a 600 m standardized incremental exercise test on flat ground, and to report reference field test values for competitive show jumping horses. In this prospective field study, 21 healthy, actively competing Warmblood show jumping horses were assessed to determine physiological variables after a standardized jumping course at 6.4 m/s (average speed) and track standardized incremental exercise test at 5 m/s, 8 m/s and 11 m/s. Heart rate, velocity, blood lactate, blood pH, pCO2, bicarbonate, PCV and TP concentrations were recorded. V200, V170 and VLa4 were calculated. Parametric statistics were performed on analysis of all 21 horses' variables. Results: Contrary to exercise at 5 m/s and 11 m/s, cantering at 8 m/s did not induce any significant difference in blood lactate, mean heart rate or mean venous blood pH compared to after completion of the jumping course. Conclusions: Jumping a 1.10 m course demands a statistically similar workload to cantering around a flat track at 8 m/s. This study will help to test fitness and design conditioning programs for Warmblood show jumping horses.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-08 PubMed ID: 32513241PubMed Central: PMC7282170DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02400-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on understanding and comparing the physiological demands of Warmblood show jumping horses by analysing them under two conditions: jumping a 1.10m course and an exercise test on flat ground. The findings suggest that jumping a 1.10m course requires similar effort as running around a flat track at 8 meters per second.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary aim of this study is to compare the physiological impacts of two types of exercises on Warmblood show jumping horses: running on a flat ground and jumping a 1.10 m course. Additionally, the research also aims to establish field test reference values for competitive jumping horses.

Methodology

  • This study is a prospective field study involving 21 healthy, actively competing Warmblood show jumping horses. The horses were assessed under two conditions: after jumping a standardized 1.10m course at an average speed of 6.4m/s and after undergoing a track standardized incremental exercise at different speeds (5m/s, 8m/s, and 11m/s).
  • The physiological variables like heart rate, velocity, blood lactate, blood pH, pCO2, bicarbonate, PCV, and TP concentrations were recorded and analysed. Variables V200, V170, and VLa4 were calculated.

Results

  • The results revealed that there was no significant difference in blood lactate, mean heart rate, and mean venous blood pH when the horses were cantering at 8m/s when compared to after they completed the 1.10m jumping course.
  • However, significant differences were noted at the speed of 5m/s and 11m/s.

Conclusion

  • The research concludes that the physiological demands of jumping a 1.10m course and cantering around a flat track at 8m/s are similar for Warmblood show jumping horses.
  • These findings could help in the designing of tailored conditioning programs for these horses, and can be instrumental in testing fitness.

Cite This Article

APA
Léguillette R, Bond SL, Lawlor K, Haan T, Weber LM. (2020). Comparison of physiological demands in Warmblood show jumping horses over a standardized 1.10 m jumping course versus a standardized exercise test on a track. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 182. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02400-9

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 182

Researcher Affiliations

Léguillette, Renaud
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada. rleguill@ucalgary.ca.
Bond, Stephanie L
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Lawlor, Kelda
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Haan, Tineke de
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Weber, Lauren M
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
  • Blood Proteins
  • Exercise Test / methods
  • Exercise Test / veterinary
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Hematocrit
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lactic Acid / blood
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Sports

Grant Funding

  • n/a / Investigative Medicine Fund, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services, University of Calgary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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