Effect of conditioning horses every third day at v10 on measures of fitness.

This research discusses the effects of training horses every third day at a specific intensity level. It was found that this training method improved the horse’s speed at which a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l can be achieved (v4) as well as their peak oxygen consumption, although their speed at a heart rate of 180 b/min remained the same.

Study Design and Methodology

• The study involved five Anglo-Arabian horses who were put on a treadmill conditioning program for a period of 6 weeks.
• To establish a baseline for assessing the fitness levels, a Standardized Exercise Test (SET) was carried out at the start of the Conditioning Period (CP), where measures like the Blood Lactate-Running Speed (BLRS) and the Heart Rate-Running Speed (HRRS) were established.
• The test was repeated every 2 weeks throughout the 6-week period to monitor progress.
• After each SET, the BLRS was used to calculate the horse’s speed at which their blood lactate concentration (LA) was 10 mmol/l (v10) and 4 mmol/l (v4).
• From the HRRS, the speed at which the horses had a heart rate of 180 beats per minute was calculated (v180).
• For the next two weeks of the study, each horse was then trained five times at its individual v10, with two 5-minute sessions and a 2 days gap between each session.
• The speed of exercise was adapted every 2 weeks according to the newly calculated v10.
• Also, the peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) of the horses was evaluated before the start of the CP, halfway (after 3 weeks), and at the end of the CP.

Findings

• The v4, or speed at lower lactate concentration, of the horses increased during the CP which suggests improved performance ability of the horses at lower levels of exertion.
• However, the speed at which the horses reached a heart rate of 180 bpm (v180) did not show any statistical change, indicating that the exercise regimen did not affect the heart rate response to speed.
• The VO2 peak, a measure of aerobic capacity, increased significantly within the first 3 weeks of the CP and then plateaued, showing that aerobic capacity was improved early during the conditioning period but did not progressively increase with continued training.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that conditioning horses five times every fortnight at their v10 for two 5-min bouts with two days of rest in between, improved the speed at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l (v4) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) but had no significant effect on the speed associated with a heart rate of 180 bpm (v180).