Venous Blood Acid-Base Status in Show Jumper Horses Subjected to Different Physical Exercises.

The study explores the impact of different levels of physical exercise on the acid-base profile of seven trained show jumping horses. It revealed that intense exercise over two consecutive days poses a larger workload for horses and may lead to problems with recovery, which vets should consider for horse health and performance maintenance.

Research Overview

• This study conducted by animal health researchers aimed at determining changes in the acid-base profile of Italian show jump horses undergoing varying exercise workloads.
• The researchers conducted an investigation involving seven female Italian saddle horses which were subjected to three different physical exercise phase trials, each increasing in workload.

Details of the Exercise Phases

• During the first exercise phase (EP1), horses were put through a standardized 15-minute treadmill exercise test.
• In the second phase (EP2), horses were made to undergo a simulated show jumping test with a height range of 0.9 to 1.1 meters and a course length of 300 meters.
• The third phase (EP3) included two consecutive days of jumping sessions.

Method and Measurements

• Blood samples were collected at three intervals – at rest, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after the end of the exercise.
• The collected samples were used to measure and observe any alterations in the values of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco), partial pressure of oxygen (Po), bicarbonate level (HCO), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct).

Findings and Conclusions

• Significant variation because of exercise workload and time were found in Pco, Po, HCO, Hb, and Hct values.
• The most notable observation was after the third phase of the exercise (EP3), which revealed that Po, Hb, and Hct remained higher than baseline values even after the recovery period, indicating a strain on the horses’ recovery capacity.
• The study concluded that conducting jumping sessions over two consecutive days imposes an additional workload on horses. This extra exertion can cause an acid-base imbalance and impact the overall health and performance of equine athletes.
• Hence, this additional stress factor should be taken into account by veterinarians and horse trainers while designing an exercise schedule or plan to ensure the maintenance of health and performance in horses.