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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(7); doi: 10.3390/ani12070836

Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning of Lipizzan Fillies before Starting under Saddle.

Abstract: Scientific studies on the physiological responses of young horses to workloads are limited. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the basal values of some cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, hematological, and biochemical parameters in 10 purebred Lipizzan fillies aged 4 years in the initial phase of training, and their responses to a graded workload, i.e., by lunging for 15 min in four exercise tests at 2-week intervals. The basal values of the measured parameters were within a range for warm-blooded horses and mostly increased after exercise in all four exercise tests. Resting heart rates were above physiological values at the baseline but decreased as the study progressed. Bilateral symmetry of body surface temperatures (BSTs) was confirmed at rest and after exercise. The highest BSTs were measured at the cranial, followed by the caudal and distal body regions. A moderate increase in cortisol and a small increase in lactate concentration indicated a low intensity of workload. The results presented contribute to the knowledge of the complex physiological processes that occur in young horses during exercise and provide a basis for further research into the field of sports physiology and welfare, as well as the conservation and development of the Lipizzan breed.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-25 PubMed ID: 35405826PubMed Central: PMC8997064DOI: 10.3390/ani12070836Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research involved studying the physiological effects of load-bearing exercises on young Lipizzan horses in an attempt to understand how the horses respond to work and develop data that will contribute to improvements in equine sports physiology, welfare, and breed preservation.

Overview of the Study

  • The study aimed to address a gap in understanding of how young horses respond to load-bearing exercises.
  • The subjects of study were ten purebred Lipizzan fillies, all aged 4 years.
  • The comprehensive experiment involved monitoring various parameters such as cardiovascular activity, thermoregulation, and various hematological and biochemical factors.
  • The period of study entailed initial training phase, followed by a regime of workload increase carried out as four exercise tests at two-week intervals consisting of lunging exercises for 15 minutes.

Findings from the Study

  • The baseline values for all these parameters were found to be in the normal range for warm-blooded horses.
  • As was expected, these values mostly showed an increase in response to exercise in all the four exercise tests.
  • The resting heart rates for the horses were found to be above normal initially, which can be attributed to the initial stress or lack of conditioning. However, they reduced as the study progressed and training conditioned their bodies.
  • The study confirmed the bilateral symmetry of body surface temperatures (BST), both at rest and post exercise. The researchers found that the horses had the highest BST at the cranial region, followed by the caudal and distal body regions.
  • The increase in cortisol and lactate concentration post exercise indicated a relatively low intensity workload. Cortisol is a hormone released during stress and lactate is a product of anaerobic metabolism that is seen in muscle cells when the body is under exertion.

Conclusions

  • The study adds to the pool of knowledge about physiological responses in horses during exercises and will be useful in designing effective training and conditioning programs for young horses.
  • It also provides a scientific baseline that can support further research into equine sports physiology, welfare, and the conservation and development of the Lipizzan breed.

Cite This Article

APA
Čebulj-Kadunc N, Frangež R, Kruljc P. (2022). Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning of Lipizzan Fillies before Starting under Saddle. Animals (Basel), 12(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070836

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 7

Researcher Affiliations

Čebulj-Kadunc, Nina
  • Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Frangež, Robert
  • Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Kruljc, Peter
  • Clinic for Breeding and Health Care of Horses, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Grant Funding

  • 6000,00€ / Slovenian Research Agency (Program Group Number P4-0053) and Lipizza Stud Farm (Cooperation agreement 802-3/2016-09).

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Čebulj-Kadunc N, Frangež R, Kruljc P. Long-Term Changes of Physiological Reactions in Young Lipizzan Stallions During Exercise Testing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 23;15(17).
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  2. Kastelic M, Gregurić Gračner G, Tomažič I, Kvapil P, Harej M, Dovč A. Comparison of Cortisol Concentrations in Different Matrices in Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) at the Zoo. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 2;13(15).
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