Comparison of standardbred trotters exercising on a treadmill and a race track with identical draught resistances.

This research study investigates how standardbred trotters (a type of horse) respond to exercise on a treadmill and a race track, with a particular focus on heart rate, plasma lactate, and rectal temperature. The results reveal that there could be significant differences in workload depending upon whether they are running on a treadmill or a racetrack.

Objective of the Study

• The main objective of this study was to compare the physiological responses (heart rate, plasma lactate, and rectal temperature) of standardbred trotters when they exercise under comparable load conditions on a treadmill and a race track.
• Part of the aim was to understand the potential differences in the workload for the horses on the two different surfaces.

Experimental Design

• The horses were made to exercise at incrementally increasing speeds for two-minute intervals.
• These exercise sessions, or intervals, were followed by two minutes of rest where the horses walked without any additional load.
• These exercises were conducted at three different draught loads – 10, 20, and 30 kilopond (kp).
• Measurements were taken at the end of each interval for heart rate and plasma lactate and at the end of overall exercise for the rectal temperature.

Study Findings

• The findings revealed that the heart rate and plasma lactate levels were significantly lower for treadmill exercise compared to track exercise in the 10 kp test.
• No significant differences were found between treadmill and track exercises for the 20 and 30 kp tests.
• Interestingly, there were no observed differences in rectal temperature in any of the tests between the treadmill and track conditions.

Conclusions of the Study

• In conclusion, it was noted that the workload appears significantly greater on a race track compared to a treadmill when the resistance is low (10 kp).
• However, as the resistance or draught load increased, the difference in workload between the race track and the treadmill diminished, suggesting that under heavier loads the treadmill is just as demanding as a racetrack for the horses.