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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / How Much Energy Vaquejada Horses Spend in a Field Simulation...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(12); doi: 10.3390/ani11123421

How Much Energy Vaquejada Horses Spend in a Field Simulation Test?

Abstract: Vaquejada is a high-intensity and short-duration exercise in which helper horses (HH) are responsible to keep a bull running in a line while pull horses (PH) work to put the bull down after 100 m of running. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare energy expenditures (EE), transport costs (COT) and metabolic energy requirements (Pmet) of horses used in Vaquejada. Thus, eight Quarter Horses, in randomly formed pairs, performed a vaquejada simulation test (VST), which consisted of three races on a sand track (130-150 m), with a 5-min interval between them. All horses used an integrated heart rate (HR) and GPS monitoring system (V800, Polar Electro) and, from these data, EE, COT and Pmet were calculated using the formulas: EE (J/kg/min) = 0.0566 × HR1.9955, COT = (HR-35)/kg/m × 103 and Pmet = (HR-35)/min/kg. Blood samples were collected for lactate analysis at rest, immediately after the first, second and third race and after 30 min of recovery. Data obtained were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p ≤ 0.05). In VST, HH had higher EE and higher HR at trot; while PH presented higher EE and HR at canter. Finally, considering total VST, PH had higher EE and COT, while HH had higher Pmet. Lactate was higher in PH. Despite practicing the same sport, PH and HH should be considered distinct athletes, and these must be considered to set up appropriate physical and nutritional programs, which will lead to better performance and guarantees of well-being.
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Publication Date: 2021-11-30 PubMed ID: 34944197PubMed Central: PMC8698090DOI: 10.3390/ani11123421Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 article investigates the energy expenditure and metabolic costs of horses used in Vaquejada, a high-intensity equine sport. The study finds that despite both being part of the same sport, pull horses (PH) and helper horses (HH) have distinct energy needs based on their primary activities in the game.

Subject and Research Method

  • The research involved eight Quarter Horses performing a simulated Vaquejada test (VST) consisting of three races on a sandy track. These horses were randomly divided into helper horses (HH) and pull horses (PH). HH are responsible for maintaining a running bull’s direction, while PH work to take down the bull after it has run for about 100 meters.
  • The heart rate and movements of horses were monitored using an integrated heart rate and GPS system (V800, Polar Electro).
  • Blood samples were collected at different stages of the race for lactate analysis to evaluate the horses’ physical exertion levels.

Data Gathering and Analysis

  • Energy expenditure (J/kg/min), transport costs and metabolic energy requirements of horses were calculated by measuring heart rates after each run.
  • Data collected were then submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests to determine statistical significance.

Findings

  • The study found that HH and PH present differing levels of energy expenditure and heart rates during the exercise. Specifically, HH had higher energy expenditure and heart rate at trotting speed, while PH had higher measures at cantering speed.
  • PH had higher overall energy expenditure and transport costs during the VST, while HH had higher metabolic energy needs.
  • The levels of lactate post-exercise were also higher in PH, indicating they incurred greater physical stress in the sport.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that HH and PH, while playing the same sport, have different energy and metabolic requirements due to their differing roles in the sport.
  • These differences should be taken into account when creating targeted physical training and nutritional programs for the horses to improve their performance and ensure wellbeing.

Cite This Article

APA
Coelho CS, Sodre TDRP, Sousa LN, Siqueira RF, Manso Filho HC, Aragona F, Fazio F. (2021). How Much Energy Vaquejada Horses Spend in a Field Simulation Test? Animals (Basel), 11(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123421

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Coelho, Clarisse S
  • Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (ULHT), Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal.
Sodre, Ticiane D R P
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40170-110, Brazil.
Sousa, Lara N
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40170-110, Brazil.
Siqueira, Renata F
  • Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil.
Manso Filho, Helio C
  • Núcleo de Pesquisa Equina, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife 52171-900, Brazil.
Aragona, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Fazio, Francesco
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 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. Aragona F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Arfuso F, Arrigo F, Costa A, De Caro S, Cannuli A, Fazio F. Effect of time of day and physical exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in athletic horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1608770.
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  3. Aragona F, Rizzo M, Giudice E, Fazio F, Costa A, Di Bella B, De Caro S, Arfuso F, Briglia M, Piccione G, Giannetto C. Circadian Oscillation of Leukocyte Subpopulations and Inflammatory Cytokines over a 24-H Period in Horses. Vet Sci 2025 Apr 20;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12040386pubmed: 40284888google scholar: lookup
  4. Piccione G, Arfuso F, Giudice E, Aragona F, Pugliatti P, Panzera MF, Zumbo A, Monteverde V, Bartolo V, Barbera A, Giannetto C. Dynamic Adaptation of Hematological Parameters, Albumin, and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids in Saddlebred and Standardbred Horses During Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 21;15(3).
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