Effects of training on biochemical values in standardbred horses.

This study explores the impact of routine exercise at a fixed intensity on various biochemical properties in adult Standardbred horses that had not been previously conditioned. The key finding of the study is a significant increase in venous lactic acid concentration as a result of training, which could potentially be a worthy metric for assessing fitness in horses.

Objective of the Study

• The research was designed to investigate the influence of regular, fixed load training on various biochemical values in unconditioned, healthy, adult Standardbred horses. These values include arterial and mixed venous blood gases, pH, serum muscle enzymes, and especially venous lactic acid concentrations.

Training Process

• The horses involved in the exercise were subjected to a standardized amount of exercise. They hadn’t undergone any form of conditioning before the study, and hence they represent a ‘baseline’ condition of Standardbred horses.

Biochemical measurements

• The readings of arterial and mixed venous blood gases, pH, and serum muscle enzymes were recorded both before and after the training period.
• The purpose of this process was to identify if any consistent changes were apparent throughout the training sessions. However, the study did not observe any systematic alterations in these biochemical markers due to the training.

Significance of Venous Lactic Acid Concentrations

• Unlike other metrics, venous lactic acid concentrations exhibited significant increase upon training. Lactic acid levels tend to rise during intense exercise, which happens because the body uses it as a fuel source during strenuous activities. Hence, high levels of lactic acid concentration might indicate better fitness levels.
• Based on these observations, the study concluded that venous lactic acid concentrations might be a potential biomarker for evaluating fitness levels in horses, requiring more investigation.

Conclusions

• While several biochemical markers were found to stay relatively stable during the training, an exception was noted for venous lactic acid concentrations. This marker increased significantly with training, implying it as a valuable gauge for determining horse fitness.