Heart rate and blood lactate responses during exercise in preparation for eventing competition.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the heart rate and blood lactate responses to exercise in event horses in normal training, and to compare them to those encountered in eventing competition. It was hypothesised that the responses during exercise in the course of training for CCI*** events would be significantly different from those of the Cross-Country day. Heart rates and blood lactate concentrations were measured in 13 elite event horses after intense exercise sessions conducted during the late stages of preparation for CCI*** or CCI**** 3-day-event competition. Mean +/- s.d. heart rate during exercise was 138 +/- 17 beats/min and mean blood lactate concentration after exercise was 1.0 +/- 0.6 mmol/l. These values were compared to heart rates and blood lactate concentrations recorded during and after a CCI*** Cross Country course using unpaired t tests (unequal variances) and 99.9% confidence interval analysis. Mean heart rates during and blood lactate concentrations after the competition were 195 +/- 8 beats/min and 10.2 +/- 4.2 mmol/l. The 99.9% confidence intervals were 183-207 beats/min and 7.7-12.6 mmol/l. Heart rates and blood lactate concentrations recorded during exercise sessions were significantly lower than competition values (P<0.001) and lay outside 99.9% confidence intervals for most horses. Only one horse achieved heart rates and blood lactate concentrations during exercise sessions that were similar to those occurring in competition. The intensity of exercise during normal training sessions was much lower than during competition, suggesting that many event horses are not appropriately trained.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405674DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05406.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article examines how the heart rate and blood lactate levels of elite event horses vary between regular training sessions and actual competition events. The findings suggest that the intensity of regular trainings is significantly lower than that of competitions, implying that many event horses aren’t adequately prepared for competition.
Objective and Hypothesis of the Study
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the variances in heart rate and blood lactate responses in event horses during their training and to compare them with the ones observed during the actual competition.
- The researchers hypothesized that the responses during training would be noticeably different from those during a competitive Cross-Country event.
Methodology
- For the purpose of this study, 13 elite event horses were observed. Heart rates and blood lactate concentrations were measured after intense exercise sessions during the latter stages of preparation for CCI*** or CCI**** 3-day-event competition.
- The average heart rate during exercise was noted to be 138 +/- 17 beats per minute (bpm), while the mean blood lactate concentration after exercise was 1.0 +/- 0.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/l).
- These outcomes were then compared to heart rates and blood lactate concentrations recorded during and following a CCI*** Cross Country course. This comparison was made using unpaired t-tests (unequal variances) and with a 99.9% confidence interval analysis.
Findings
- The mean heart rates recorded during competition and the blood lactate concentrations assessed afterward were calculated to be 195 +/- 8 bpm and 10.2 +/- 4.2 mmol/l respectively.
- The 99.9% confidence intervals for these results were between 183-207 bpm and 7.7-12.6 mmol/l.
- The heart rates and blood lactate concentrations taken during training sessions were found to be significantly lower than those observed during competition (P < 0.001), indicating a disparity between the intensity of training sessions and competitions. These figures were beyond the 99.9% confidence intervals for most horses.
- Out of all the horses, only a single one exhibited heart rates and blood lactate concentrations during exercise sessions that compared to those seen in competition.
Conclusion
- From these findings, the study concluded that the intensity of exercise during regular training sessions was substantially lower than during competition. This suggests that many event horses may not be receiving the rigorous training necessary to prepare them physically for competitive events.
Cite This Article
APA
Serrano MG, Evans DL, Hodgson JL.
(2002).
Heart rate and blood lactate responses during exercise in preparation for eventing competition.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 135-139.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05406.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Female
- Heart Rate
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Lactates / blood
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Čebulj-Kadunc N, Frangež R, Kruljc P. Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning of Lipizzan Fillies before Starting under Saddle.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 25;12(7).
- De Maré L, Boshuizen B, Vidal Moreno de Vega C, de Meeûs C, Plancke L, Gansemans Y, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Deforce D, de Oliveira JE, Hosotani G, Oosterlinck M, Delesalle C. Profiling the Aerobic Window of Horses in Response to Training by Means of a Modified Lactate Minimum Speed Test: Flatten the Curve.. Front Physiol 2022;13:792052.
- Kirsch K, Fercher C, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Augustin J, Lagershausen H. Monitoring Performance in Show Jumping Horses: Validity of Non-specific and Discipline-specific Field Exercise Tests for a Practicable Assessment of Aerobic Performance.. Front Physiol 2021;12:818381.
- Klous L, Siegers E, van den Broek J, Folkerts M, Gerrett N, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MS, Munsters C. Effects of Pre-Cooling on Thermophysiological Responses in Elite Eventing Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 16;10(9).
- Cravana C, Medica P, Ragonese G, Fazio E. Influence of training and competitive sessions on peripheral β-endorphin levels in training show jumping horses.. Vet World 2017 Jan;10(1):67-73.
- Le Moyec L, Robert C, Triba MN, Billat VL, Mata X, Schibler L, Barrey E. Protein catabolism and high lipid metabolism associated with long-distance exercise are revealed by plasma NMR metabolomics in endurance horses.. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e90730.
- 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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