Field exercise testing for assessing fitness in French standardbred trotters.

This research article presents a detailed review of standardized exercise testing performed for French Trotters on the track. The testing measures certain physiological variables related to the horse’s aerobic and cardiac capacities, which are important for assessing fitness levels and detecting potential health issues.

Objective of the Study

• The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the practicality and clinical usefulness of field exercise testing on French Trotters. The testing measures heart rate and blood lactate concentration during exercise, which help in determining physiological variables like V200 and V4. These are related to the horse’s cardiac and aerobic capacities respectively.
• The researchers aim to establish a correlation between these variables and the racing performance of the horse.
• The study also seeks to demonstrate how changes in V200 and V4 variables could indicate different factors like physical capability of the horse, effectiveness of training, and presence of diseases.

Methodology of the Study

• Track testing is performed in the horse’s natural environment. While it provides a limited range of measurements compared to treadmill testing, it offers valuable insights into the horse’s cardiac and aerobic capacities.
• The heart rate during exercise and the blood lactate concentration after exercise are measured. These measurements allow for the calculation of physiological variables like V200 and V4.
• V200 indicates the velocity at which the horse’s heart rate reaches 200 beats per minute and is an indicator of the horse’s cardiac capacity during exercise.
• V4 represents the velocity at which the blood lactate concentration reaches 4 mmol/L. It relates to the onset of blood lactate accumulation and thus denotes the aerobic capacity of the horse.

Key Findings of the Study

• V4 is related to racing performance and is an important measure for assessing changes in fitness.
• In mature horses, V200 is closely related to V4, indicating a strong correlation between cardiac and aerobic capacities.
• Changes in V4 and V200 could be influenced by factors like the horse’s physical ability, the effectiveness of the training program, or the presence of certain health disorders.
• These variables provide crucial data for trainers and veterinarians. Trainers could use such information in optimizing the intensity of a training program, and veterinarians could use them in early detection of potential health issues.