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Gait and respiration in standardbred horses when pacing and galloping.
Abstract: The relationship between gait and the respiratory response to exercise was examined in five standardbred racehorses which exercised on a treadmill at a pace and a gallop. After an initial warm-up, respiratory rate and stride frequency were measured after one and two minutes of treadmill exercise at 80 per cent of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), after one minute at 100 per cent VO2max and after two minutes at 100 per cent VO2max (galloping horses only). Exercise at 100 per cent VO2max continued until the horses showed signs of fatigue. Arterial blood was collected during exercise and when they were fatigued for the measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, haemoglobin saturation and pH. Venous blood temperature was also recorded. The mean (SE) time to signs of fatigue was significantly (P < 0.05) less in the pacing horses (7.2 [0.4] minutes) than in the galloping horses (8.0 [0.4] minutes). The mean (SE) resting PCO2 was 47.7 (1.9) torr. During the pacing and galloping exercises at 80 per cent and 100 per cent VO2max the PCO2 remained in the range of 41.1 to 66.8 torr, despite concurrent hyperthermia and acidosis. The PCO2 during exercise was not significantly dependent on gait or exercise intensity. The PO2 was significantly higher in pacing horses during exercise at 80 per cent VO2max (111 [7] vs 96 [6] torr). The mean (SE) arterial blood pH decreased from 7.428 (0.025) during pacing at 5 m sec-1 to 7.250 (0.042) when the horses were fatigued.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1994-09-01 PubMed ID: 7817012DOI: 10.1016/0034-5288(94)90063-9Google 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.
- Clinical Trial
- Comparative Study
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 investigates how exercise intensity and mode (pacing versus galloping) affects respiratory responses, oxygen consumption, blood parameters and fatigue in standardbred horses. It discovers no significant correlation between exercise mode or intensity and PCO2 (a measure of carbon dioxide in the blood), but finds a higher PO2 (a measure of oxygen in the blood) in pacing horses at 80% maximum oxygen consumption, as well as different heart rate and fatigue markers in pacing and galloping horses.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study involved five standardbred racehorses, which were made to pace and gallop on a treadmill.
- Various parameters were gauged at specified timelines: at the start, after one and two minutes of 80% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) exercise, after one minute of 100% VO2max exercise, and finally after two minutes of 100% VO2max in galloping horses.
- The exercise continued until the horses registered signs of fatigue.
- Arterial blood was collected at different points, for analysis of oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, haemoglobin saturation, and pH levels.
- Venous blood temperature was also recorded.
Key Findings
- The study found that pacing horses showed signs of fatigue more rapidly than the galloping ones—averaging around 7.2 minutes compared to 8.0 minutes in galloping horses.
- Interestingly, the level of PCO2 remained within a certain range—41.1 to 66.8 torr—irrespective of the gait or intensity of exercise and even during periods of hyperthermia and acidosis.
- However, a higher PO2 was observed in pacing horses when exercising at 80% VO2max compared to the galloping ones.
- The arterial blood pH showed a decrease from 7.428 during pacing at 5m/sec-1 to 7.250 when the horses reached the point of fatigue.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that the type of gaits (pacing or galloping) and the intensity of exercises do not significantly affect the level of PCO2. However, pacing horses demonstrated a higher PO2 at 80% VO2max and showed signs of fatigue faster than galloping horses.
- The result can provide further insights into the physiological response of horses to different types of exercise which can be valuable in training and medical intervention strategies in equine sports.
Cite This Article
APA
Evans DL, Silverman EB, Hodgson DR, Eaton MD, Rose RJ.
(1994).
Gait and respiration in standardbred horses when pacing and galloping.
Res Vet Sci, 57(2), 233-239.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-5288(94)90063-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Carbon Dioxide / blood
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Gait
- Hemoglobins / analysis
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Locomotion
- Male
- Muscle Fatigue
- Orchiectomy
- Oxygen / blood
- Oxygen Consumption
- Partial Pressure
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Respiration
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Vincelette A. The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 8;13(16).
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