Is There an Ideal Rest Interval Between Races During Vaquejada in Which It Would Be Possible to Associate Best Performance and Welfare?

This study aimed to figure out the ideal rest period between races for horses in the Brazilian sport of Vaquejada, with an objective to maximize both performance and animal welfare. In this sport, a team of horses — a puller and a helper — engage in intense physical activity to bring down a bull. The rest intervals between races were set at three different durations: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. The study found that a 15-minute rest interval was most beneficial for the horses, allowing them to better manage energy sources and cardio functions.

Objective and Method of the Research

• The primary purpose of this research was to identify the optimal rest interval for horses participating in Vaquejada, a Brazilian equine sport, that can maximize the horse’s performance while ensuring its welfare.
• The study involved ten healthy Quarter horses as participants. They were involved in three Vaquejada simulation tests (VSTs), conducted five days apart, with varying rest intervals.

Procedure in Vaquejada Simulation Tests

• In a Vaquejada, two horses – one being the ‘puller’ and the other, the ‘helper’ – run along with a bull on a soft sand track with the objective to bring it down.
• The VSTs replicated this setup and were run three times for each horse with rest intervals of 5, 10, and 15 minutes between the runs (tagged as M1, M2, and M3 respectively).

Measurements and Observations

• Clinical evaluation and blood sampling were methodically conducted before, immediately after the first, second and third runs, and at four and thirty-minute marks of recovery period following the runs.
• Parameters including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, body temperature, and levels of lactate, triglycerides, packed cell volume, red blood cells, and hemoglobin concentration were measured and assessed.

Findings from the Study

• The exercise in VSTs led to increased heart and respiratory rates, body temperature, lactate, triglyceride levels, and packed cell volume among horses, with ‘pull’ horses showing higher values due to their more intensive work.
• It was found that helper horses showed lower levels of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, body temperature, but higher levels of triglycerides when rested for 15 minutes between runs. Despite running at the same speed and distance, they recorded a lower HRmax and HRmed.

Conclusions

• The research concludes that a 15-minute rest interval between races optimizes the performance of helper horses as they can efficiently utilize energy sources and maintain a better cardiovascular function.
• Importantly, the recommended rest interval also adheres to the principles of animal welfare as it provides the horses with adequate recovery time from the intense physical effort, ensuring their well-being.