title: Standardized exercise test and daily heart rate responses of thoroughbreds undergoing conventional race training and detraining.
abstract: Ten healthy sedentary male Thoroughbreds with previous race training experience were studied for 14 weeks. Horses were trained for 9 weeks, using a program designed after those used commonly in the United States. Horses were trained conventionally by slow trotting (250 m/min) for 2 weeks and galloping (390 to 450 m/min) for 4 weeks, followed by 3 weeks of galloping (440 to 480 m/min) and intermittent sprinting exercises (breezes) at distances between 600 and 1,000 m (900 to 950 m/min). The horses were then pasture rested for 5 weeks. A standardized exercise test (SET) involving an 800-m gallop at 800 m/min was administered before and after the 9-week training period and after the 5-week detraining period. Heart rate (HR) was monitored during exercise and at standardized intervals after exercise for 60 minutes. Venous blood for determination of plasma lactate concentration was obtained at 5 minutes after exercise. Heart rate was monitored daily at rest, during exercise, and through the first 60 minutes of recovery. Venous plasma samples (for lactate determination) were obtained 5 minutes after the sprinting exercises. Horses were observed daily before exercise for signs of lameness and were not allowed to train if lame. Differences after 9 weeks' training were seen in the SET recovery HR at 0.5 through 5 minutes after exercise (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.01). Differences after detraining were seen in the SET recovery HR at 40 and 60 minutes after exercise (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.01). Neither training nor detraining resulted in differences in plasma lactate concentration after the SET gallop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bayly
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gollnick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010653:Phenylbutazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000592:standards*; D012420:Running; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010653:Phenylbutazone