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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2012; 54(1); 42; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-42

Temperature regulation in horses during exercise and recovery in a cool environment.

Abstract: Clipping the winter coat in horses is done to improve heat dissipation during exercise and make grooming easier. It is often combined with blanketing to keep the horse warm. The aims of the present study were to investigate how clipping and the use of blankets affect thermoregulation during exercise and recovery in horses. Methods: One Gotland pony, one New Forest pony, and one warm-blooded horse exercised one after the other on a 6450 m long track. The horses walked, trotted and cantered according to a predetermined scheme, which took about 50 minutes including three stops. The scheme was repeated on five consecutive days when horses were: 1) unclipped 2) unclipped + blanket during recovery, 3) left or right side clipped, 4) clipped, and 5) clipped + riding blanket + blanket during recovery. Heart rate (HR) was measured with telemetry, respiratory rate (RR) by counting flank contractions, skin temperatures by thermistor probes, and rectal temperature with a digital thermometer. Skin wetness (SW) was estimated by ocular inspection (dripping = 5, dry = 0). Results: Mean outdoor temperature varied from -1.1 to - 8.7°C. HR increased progressively during exercise with no difference between treatments. Maximum RR was 77 ± 30 breaths/min (unclipped) and 49 ± 27 breaths/min (clipped). The lowest skin temperature was 17.5 ± 2.7°C in a hind leg during exercise, which increased to 34.5 ± 0.1°C during recovery. Rectal temperature was elevated during recovery in unclipped, but not in clipped horses and skin temperature at base of tail was elevated during recovery except in unclipped horses without blanket. Moisture after exercise scored 3.2 ± 0.8 in unclipped and zero in clipped horses. Conclusions: Leg skin temperature initially dropped at onset of exercise in clipped horses, and then increased after about 30 minutes due to internal heat from the working muscles. These changes were not significant when clipped horses had riding blankets, whereas unclipped horses became overheated as judged from respiratory rate and elevated rectal temperature. Providing clipped horses with blankets dampened the changes in leg skin temperature during exercise.
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Publication Date: 2012-07-17 PubMed ID: 22805591PubMed Central: PMC3427134DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-42Google 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.

The research studies how clipping the winter coat on horses and using blankets affect their temperature regulation during physical exercise and rest periods in colder weather. The findings suggest that clipping can help avoid overheating, and the use of blankets on clipped horses can stabilize the skin temperature changes during exercise.

Study Methodology

In this study, the scientists used a Gotland pony, a New Forest pony, and a warm-blooded horse, and made them exercise on a 6450 m long route. The exercise included walking, trotting, and cantering based on a pre-decided schedule, spanning over 50 minutes with three stops. This exercise routine was carried out for five days under different conditions:

  • Unclipped
  • Unclipped but with a blanket during recovery
  • Either the left or right side clipped
  • Fully clipped
  • Fully clipped with a riding blanket and a recovery blanket

During these exercises, measurements were taken of the horses’ heart rates, respiratory rates, skin temperatures, rectal temperatures, and skin wetness.

Results and Conclusions

The heart rate of the horses increased consistently during exercise, regardless of treatment. Upon clipping, the horses’ maximum respiratory rate dropped. The skin temperature on a hind leg dropped at the beginning of the exercise in clipped horses, then rose after about 30 minutes due to heat generated from the muscles in use.

The role of clipping and blanketing in temperature regulation became clear with these observations. Unclipped horses overheated, as indicated by elevated respiratory and rectal temperatures. On the other hand, horses with clipped coats did not show elevated rectal temperatures during recovery. Clipper horses initially experienced a drop in skin temperature, but blankets used during exercise helped prevent large temperature changes.

The study indicates that clipping a horse’s winter coat can help in thermoregulation during exercise and recovery in cold environments. Furthermore, using blankets on clipped horses can smooth the temperature fluctuations and also augment heat loss during recovery.

Cite This Article

APA
Wallsten H, Olsson K, Dahlborn K. (2012). Temperature regulation in horses during exercise and recovery in a cool environment. Acta Vet Scand, 54(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-42

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 42

Researcher Affiliations

Wallsten, Hanna
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Olsson, Kerstin
    Dahlborn, Kristina

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Body Temperature
      • Body Temperature Regulation
      • Cold Temperature
      • Female
      • Hair / physiology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal
      • Physical Exertion
      • Random Allocation
      • Respiratory Rate
      • Seasons
      • Skin Temperature
      • Sweating

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      Citations

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