Comparison of some responses to exercise on the track and the treadmill in French trotters: determination of the optimal treadmill incline.

The study explores the most suitable treadmill incline for French trotters (a breed of horse) to generate the equivalent heart rate and blood lactate responses seen when exercising at varying speeds on a training track. The study suggests that a treadmill incline of 2.4% closely reproduces the responses from track exercises.

Research Design and Methodology

• The study was conducted on nine 2-year-old French trotters.
• The subjects performed the exercise tests on both a training track and treadmills set at different inclines (0%, 2%, and 4%).
• The testing regimen was split into two days. On the first day, the trotters ran on the track and on the subsequent day, they ran on the treadmill.
• The exercise tests consisted of three steps, each lasting 3 minutes, at speeds of 470, 530, and 590 meters per minute. These speeds were mirrored in the treadmill tests.

Measurement of Physiological Variables

• Derived physiological variables, such as speed at a heart rate of 200 beats per minute (V(200)) and speed inducing blood lactate concentrations of 4 mmol/L (V(4)), were calculated.
• The goal was to compare these physiological responses under different conditions (i.e., on a track and on a treadmill with different inclines).

Key Findings

• Significant differences were observed between track and treadmill results when the treadmill was set at 0 and 4% incline for both variables V(200) and V(4).
• No significant differences were observed when the treadmill was set at a 2% incline.
• Regression analysis was used to quantify the optimal treadmill incline that closely emulates responses similar to a track. This was found to be 2.4% for the two physiological variables.

This research has important implications for the training and workout schedules of horses, specifically French trotters. By optimising the incline of the treadmill, one can potentially improve a horse’s training efficiency, considering treadmill training is a common practice for these animals during poor weather conditions or when a training track is unavailable.