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Home / Equine Research Bank / ISRN Vet Sci / Physiological parameters of endurance horses pre- compared t...
ISRN veterinary science2013; 2013; 684353; doi: 10.1155/2013/684353

Physiological parameters of endurance horses pre- compared to post-race, correlated with performance: a two race study from scandinavia.

Abstract: Few studies have investigated the physiological parameters of endurance horses in Scandinavia. Hence, this two race study has focused on the effects of endurance racing in terms of equine clinicopathological blood parameters, heart score, and fluid use. Race A involved 15 horses (120 km). Two pre- and one post-race blood samples were taken, body condition score was assessed in triplicate pre-race, and an ECG was used to determine heart score. Race B involved 16 horses (65-120 km). One pre- and two post-race blood samples were taken. For both races, horse data as well as fluid intake estimates and cooling water were noted. Race A showed that blood haematocrit, albumin, sodium, and triglycerides increased significantly with endurance racing, whilst chloride, glucose, iron, and potassium decreased significantly. In race B, blood creatinine, cholesterol, and inorganic phosphate continued to increase significantly during the first post-race sampling period compared to pre-race levels, whilst iron, which decreased significantly during the race, increased significantly over the two post-race sampling periods. It is concluded that whilst no correlation between heart score and speed was observed, a significant correlation exists between experience and changes in blood parameters with endurance racing and between fluid intake and average speed.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-18 PubMed ID: 24167733PubMed Central: PMC3791564DOI: 10.1155/2013/684353Google 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.

This research explores the effects of endurance racing on the physiological parameters of horses like blood values and heart score in Scandinavian horses. It concluded significant changes in various blood values post-race and asserted that experience and fluid intake impact these changes and average speed, respectively.

Introduction and Methodology

  • The research team conducted a two-race study focusing on Scandinavian endurance horses, a group inadequately studied previously. Endurance racing has been known to affect horses’ physiological parameters, and this study aimed to understand these changes better.
  • Two races were studied: Race A involving 15 horses that ran 120 km, and Race B containing 16 horses covering distances between 65-120 km. The team then measured these horses’ clinicopathological blood parameters, heart scores, body condition, and fluid usage.
  • Two pre-race and one post-race blood samples were taken for Race A, while for Race B, one pre-race and two post-race blood samples were gathered. In addition, ECG was used for determining heart scores, and the horses’ fluid use was assessed.
  • Statistics about the horses like age, breed, gender, previous racing experience and more were also collected to give a well-rounded view of the subjects’ characteristics.

Results

  • Race A presented significant increases in horses’ blood haematocrit, albumin, sodium, and triglycerides due to endurance racing. In contrast, chloride, glucose, iron, and potassium levels decreased considerably.
  • Race B showed significant continuous increases in creatinine, cholesterol, and inorganic phosphate levels in the first post-race sampling period compared to pre-race levels. Meanwhile, iron levels, which had decreased significantly during the race, increased significantly over the two post-race sampling periods.
  • No correlation was found between heart score and speed in the horses which means heart rate didn’t seem to affect their speed of running.

Conclusion

  • The research demonstrates a significant correlation between the racing experience and changes in blood parameters due to endurance racing. In other words, those horses with more racing experience showed different adaptations in their blood values following a race.
  • A correlation was also found between fluid intake and average speed, highlighting that the amount of fluid a horse consumes might affect how fast it can run.
  • This knowledge could potentially be used to optimise horse training programs and race-day strategies, as it provides insights into the physiological changes horses undergo during endurance racing.

Cite This Article

APA
Larsson J, Pilborg PH, Johansen M, Christophersen MT, Holte A, Roepstorff L, Olsen LH, Harrison AP. (2013). Physiological parameters of endurance horses pre- compared to post-race, correlated with performance: a two race study from scandinavia. ISRN Vet Sci, 2013, 684353. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/684353

Publication

ISRN veterinary science
ISSN: 2090-4452
NlmUniqueID: 101568322
Country: Egypt
Language: English
Volume: 2013
Pages: 684353
PII: 684353

Researcher Affiliations

Larsson, J
  • Department of Animal & Veterinary Basic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Pilborg, P H
    Johansen, M
      Christophersen, M T
        Holte, A
          Roepstorff, L
            Olsen, L H
              Harrison, A P

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