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Effects of warm-up intensity on oxygen transport during supramaximal exercise in horses.
Abstract: To determine whether warm-up exercise at different intensities alters kinetics and total contribution of aerobic power to total metabolic power in subsequent supramaximal exercise in horses. Methods: 11 horses. Methods: Horses ran at a sprint until fatigued at 115% of maximal oxygen consumption rate (VO(2max)), beginning at 10 minutes following each of 3 warm-up protocols: no warmup (NoWU), 1 minute at 70% VO(2max) (moderate-intensity warm-up [MoWU]), or 1 minute at 115% VO(2max) (high-intensity warm-up [HiWU]). Cardiopulmonary and blood gas variables were measured during exercise. Results: The VO(2) was significantly higher in HiWU and MoWU than in NoWU throughout the sprint exercise period. Blood lactate accumulation rate in the first 60 seconds was significantly lower in MoWU and HiWU than in NoWU. Specific cardiac output after 60 seconds of sprint exercise was not significantly different among the 3 protocols; however, the arterial mixed-venous oxygen concentration difference was significantly higher in HiWU than in NoWU primarily because of decreased mixed-venous saturation and tension. Run time to fatigue following MoWU was significantly greater than that with NoWU, and there was no difference in time to fatigue between MoWU and HiWU. Conclusions: HiWU and MoWU increased peak values for VO(2) and decreased blood lactate accumulation rate during the first minute of intense exercise, suggesting a greater use of aerobic than net anaerobic power during this period.
Publication Date: 2008-05-02 PubMed ID: 18447803DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.69.5.690Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines how varying warm-up intensities affect the oxygen transport and endurance in horses during extremely intense exercise. Specifically, it reveals that warm-ups, both moderate and high intensity, lead to increased oxygen consumption and better endurance as compared to no warm-up.
Research Methodology
- The experiment involved 11 horses, divided into three groups, each subjected to a different warm-up protocol: no warm-up (NoWU), moderate-intensity warm-up (MoWU), and high-intensity warm-up (HiWU).
- Each horse was required to run until fatigue after warm-up, at a speed set to 115% of their maximum oxygen consumption rate (VO(2max)). The run started 10 minutes after the warm-up.
- Multiple factors like cardiopulmonary and blood gas variables were monitored throughout the exercise.
Primary Findings
- Oxygen consumption (VO2) was significantly higher in horses that went through a warm-up (HiWU and MoWU), compared to those that did not warm up (NoWU).
- The rate of blood lactate accumulation, indicative of anaerobic metabolism, was slower for horses that warmed up prior to exercise.
- Specific cardiac output, which indicates the volume of blood the heart pumps, after a minute of sprinting was not significantly different among the three protocols.
- However, the arterial mixed-venous oxygen concentration difference, a measure of the oxygen extraction by the body’s tissues, was much higher in HiWU compared to NoWU. This was mainly due to a decrease in mixed-venous saturation and tension, showing higher rate of oxygen consumption in these horses.
- Lastly, endurance (measured as run time to fatigue) was significantly higher in MoWU horses compared to NoWU horses. There was not a notable difference in endurance between MoWU and HiWU horses.
Conclusions
- Both types of warm-ups (HiWU and MoWU) led to enhanced peak oxygen consumption values and reduced blood lactate accumulation rate during the first minute of intense exercise.
- This suggests that warm-ups, regardless of intensity, favor the use of aerobic power over anaerobic power during the initial stages of intense exercise.
Cite This Article
APA
Mukai K, Hiraga A, Eto D, Takahashi T, Hada T, Tsubone H, Jones JH.
(2008).
Effects of warm-up intensity on oxygen transport during supramaximal exercise in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 69(5), 690-696.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.69.5.690 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-cho, Utsunomiya-city, Tochigi Prefecture 320-0856, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
- Body Temperature / physiology
- Cardiac Output / physiology
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Male
- Oxygen / blood
- Oxygen / metabolism
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Exertion / physiology
- Random Allocation
- Respiration
- Respiratory Transport
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Mukai K, Kitaoka Y, Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Takahashi K, Ohmura H. Moderate-intensity training in hypoxia improves exercise performance and glycolytic capacity of skeletal muscle in horses. Physiol Rep 2021 Dec;9(23):e15145.
- Mukai K, Ohmura H, Matsui A, Aida H, Takahashi T, Jones JH. High-intensity training in normobaric hypoxia enhances exercise performance and aerobic capacity in Thoroughbred horses: A randomized crossover study. Physiol Rep 2020 May;8(10):e14442.
- Robbins PJ, Ramos MT, Zanghi BM, Otto CM. Environmental and Physiological Factors Associated With Stamina in Dogs Exercising in High Ambient Temperatures. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:144.
- Hiraga A, Sugano S. Studies on the exercise physiology of draft horses performed in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s. J Equine Sci 2017;28(1):1-12.
- Glazier DS. Activity affects intraspecific body-size scaling of metabolic rate in ectothermic animals. J Comp Physiol B 2009 Oct;179(7):821-8.
- Glazier DS. Effects of metabolic level on the body size scaling of metabolic rate in birds and mammals. Proc Biol Sci 2008 Jun 22;275(1641):1405-10.
- Ohmura H, Ebisuda Y, Takahashi Y, Mukai K. Effects of pre-exercise cooling in hot environments on performance and physiological responses in Thoroughbred horses. J Equine Sci 2025;36(1):19-23.
- Frippiat T, Votion DM. Warm-Up Strategies and Effects on Performance in Racing Horses and Sport Horses Competing in Olympic Disciplines. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 19;14(6).
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