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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J Suppl / Effects of ageing and training on maximal heart rate and VO2...
Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2002; (34); 100-105; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05399.x

Effects of ageing and training on maximal heart rate and VO2max.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that ageing would result in a decline in maximal heart rate (HRmax) and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and, secondarily, that those effects would be reversible with training. Eighteen, healthy, unfit Standardbred mares representing 3 age groups: young (Y = mean +/- s.e. 6.8 +/- 0.4 years, n = 6); middle-aged (MA = 15.2 +/- 0.4 years, n = 6); and old (O = 27.0 +/- 0.2 years, n = 6) were used. HRmax, VO2max and oxygen pulse at VO2max (OPmax) and the velocities producing HRmax (VHRmax) and VO2max (VVO2max) were measured during pretraining and post-training incremental exercise tests (GXT). During training, mares exercised 3 days/week (Weeks 1-8) and 4 days/week (Weeks 9-12) at a submaximal intensity (approximately 60% HRmax) for approximately 30 min/day. There were no differences (P>0.05) between Y and MA, before (218 +/- 2 vs. 213 +/- 3 beats/min; 116 +/- 3 vs. 109 +/- 3 ml/kg bwt/min; 0.55 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.02 ml/kg/beat; 9.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 9.3 +/- 0.2 ms; 8.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 8.8 +/- 0.2 m/s) or after training (224 +/- 2 vs. 218 +/- 2 beats/min; 131 +/- 3 vs. 120 +/- 2 ml/kg bwt/min; 0.58 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.01 ml/kg/beat; 10.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.1 ms; 10.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.1 m/s) for HRmax, VO2max, OPmax, VHRmax or VVO2max, respectively. Old horses had lower HRmax, VO2max and OPmax and reached them at lower velocities compared to Y and MA (P<0.05), both before (193 +/- 3 beats/min; 83.2 +/- 2.0 ml/kg bwt/min; 0.43 +/- 0.01 ml/kg/beat; 7.8 +/- 0.1 m/s; 7.2 +/- 0.1 m/s) and after training (198 +/- 2 beats/min; 95 +/- 2 ml/kg bwt/min; 0.48 +/- 0.01 ml/kg/beat; 8.2 +/- 0.2 m/s; 8.0 +/-0.2 m/s). Training did not alter HRmax in any age group (P>0.05) but did cause increases in VO2max, OPmax and VVO2max for all groups (P<0.05). Interestingly, training increased VHRmax only in Y (P<0.05). These data demonstrate that there is a reduction in HRmax, VO2max, OPmax, VHRmax and VVO2max in old horses, and that training can partially reverse some effects of ageing.
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Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405667DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05399.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research discusses the effects of ageing and training on a horse’s maximal heart rate and aerobic capacity using groups of young, middle-aged, and old Standardbred mares. It concludes that ageing lowers heart rate, aerobic capacity, and other measurements, but training can offset some of these age-related effects.

Age and Training Impact on Maximal Heart Rate and VO2max

  • The purpose of the study was to evaluate if ageing leads to a decrease in maximal heart rate (HRmax) and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), and if those effects could be reversed through training.
  • Three different age groups of Standardbred mares (young, middle-aged, and old) were tested to measure HRmax, VO2max, and the oxygen pulse at VO2max (OPmax) before and after training sessions.

Training Process and Intensity

  • The horses were trained 3 to 4 days a week at a submaximal intensity (approximately 60% HRmax) for about 30 minutes each day over a 12 week period.

Research Findings

  • The research showed that there were no significant differences in the HRmax, VO2max, OPmax and related velocities between the young and middle-aged horses both before and after training.
  • The older horses had lower values in all measurements and achieved these at lower speeds compared to the other two groups, before and after the training period.
  • The training didn’t alter the HRmax in any of the age groups, but did result in an increase in VO2max, OPmax, and VVO2max for all age groups, demonstrating that training can reverse some of the effects of ageing. Interestingly, training resulted in an increase in VHRmax only in young horses.

This study provides valuable insights into how training can counteract some of the effects of ageing on maximal heart rate and aerobic capacity in horses, which could have implications for the care and training of older horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Betros CL, McKeever KH, Kearns CF, Malinowski K. (2002). Effects of ageing and training on maximal heart rate and VO2max. Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05399.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 34
Pages: 100-105

Researcher Affiliations

Betros, C L
  • Equine Science Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08901-8525, USA.
McKeever, K H
    Kearns, C F
      Malinowski, K

        MeSH Terms

        • Aging / physiology
        • Animals
        • Exercise Test / veterinary
        • Female
        • Heart Rate / physiology
        • Horses / physiology
        • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
        • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
        • Pulmonary Gas Exchange / physiology
        • Respiration

        Citations

        This article has been cited 12 times.
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