Effects of training on maximum oxygen consumption of ponies.
Abstract: To establish maximum oxygen consumption VO2max) in ponies of different body weights, characterize the effects of training of short duration on VO2max, and compare these effects to those of similarly trained Thoroughbreds. Methods: 5 small ponies, 4 mid-sized ponies, and 6 Thoroughbreds. Methods: All horses were trained for 4 weeks. Horses were trained every other day for 10 minutes on a 10% incline at a combination of speeds equated with 40, 60, 80, and 100% of VO2max. At the beginning and end of the training program, each horse performed a standard incremental exercise test in which VO2max was determined. Cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), and arteriovenous oxygen content difference (C [a-v] O2) were measured in the 2 groups of ponies but not in the Thoroughbreds. Results: Prior to training, mean VO2max for each group was 82.6 = 2.9, 97.4 +/- 13.2, and 130.6 +/- 10.4 ml/kg/min, respectively. Following training, mean VO2max increased to 92.3 +/- 6.0, 107.8 +/- 12.8, and 142.9 +/- 10.7 ml/kg/min. Improvement in VO2max was significant in all 3 groups. For the 2 groups of ponies, this improvement was mediated by an increase in Q; this variable was not measured in the Thoroughbreds. Body weight decreased significantly in the Thoroughbreds but not in the ponies. Conclusions: Ponies have a lower VO2max than Thoroughbreds, and larger ponies have a greater VO2max than smaller ponies. Although mass-specific VO2max changed similarly in all groups, response to training may have differed between Thoroughbreds and ponies, because there were different effects on body weight.
Publication Date: 2000-08-22 PubMed ID: 10951995DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.986Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study focused on understanding the impact of short duration training on the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) of horses and ponies. The findings indicate that all groups demonstrated a significant improvement in their VO2max after training. However, the increase in VO2max was found to be related to an increased cardiac output in ponies and weight loss in Thoroughbreds.
Methodology
- The research experimented on 5 small ponies, 4 mid-sized ponies, and 6 Thoroughbreds.
- All the horses went through a training program for 4 weeks, undergoing exercises every second day for 10 minutes on a 10% incline at varying speeds corresponding to 40, 60, 80, and 100% of their VO2max.
- Training impact was evaluated at the start and end of the training with an incremental exercise test to determine VO2max.
- The cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), and arteriovenous oxygen content difference (C [a-v] O2) were measured only in ponies.
Results
- Before training, the mean VO2max for the small ponies was 82.6, for the mid-sized ponies it was 97.4 and for the Thoroughbreds it was 130.6 ml/kg/min. After training, these values increased to 92.3, 107.8, and 142.9 ml/kg/min respectively.
- It was observed that the increase in VO2max was facilitated by an increase in cardiac output (Q) for the two groups of ponies. This measurement was, however, not taken for the Thoroughbreds.
- There was a significant weight decrease in the Thoroughbreds post-training, while this change was not observed in the pony groups.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that ponies have a lower VO2max than Thoroughbreds and that larger ponies have a higher VO2max than smaller ones.
- Even though the mass-specific VO2max changed similarly across all groups, the response to training varied between Thoroughbreds and ponies due to the different effects on body weight.
This research helps in understanding how training impacts the physiological responses of different horse breeds and sizes, and could help in developing more effective and breed-specific training programs.
Cite This Article
APA
Katz LM, Bayly WM, Roeder MJ, Kingston JK, Hines MT.
(2000).
Effects of training on maximum oxygen consumption of ponies.
Am J Vet Res, 61(8), 986-991.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.986 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Carbon Dioxide / analysis
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Heart Rate
- Hemoglobins / analysis
- Horses / physiology
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Regression Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ. Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles.. Animals (Basel) 2017 May 26;7(6).
- Munsters CC, van den Broek J, Welling E, van Weeren R, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. A prospective study on a cohort of horses and ponies selected for participation in the European Eventing Championship: reasons for withdrawal and predictive value of fitness tests.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Sep 13;9:182.
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