Investigation of Standardized Exercise Tests According to Fitness Level for Three-Day Event Horses

Abstract

Nine three-day event horses were divided into two groups. In Group A (4 horses), prior to the start of training, horses were subjected to standardized exercise test (SET) A: after a warm-up of 5 min walking and 6 min trotting, horses were galloped at 400 m, 500 m, 600 m, and 700 m/min over 1000 m with 5 min walking in between. In Group B (5 horses), after four months of training, horses were subjected to SET B: after a warm up of 5 min walking and 20 min trotting, horses were galloped at 400 m, 500 m, and 600 m/min over 1000 m with 5 min walking in between. For the SET of Group A, six physiological indices (V₁₅₀, V₂₀₀, V_LA2, V_LA4, HR_LA2, HR_LA4) were determined. Among these, V_LA4 is an important index, being the exercise intensity needed to improve both aerobic and anaerobic capacities. At the conclusion of SET A, since blood lactate levels exceeded 4 mmol/l the final gallop at 700 m/min was eliminated. Two horses in Group B required a more intense exercise to realize blood lactate levels of 4 mmol/l. Increasing the exercises intensity of SET B can be accomplished by shortening the walking interval between galloping exercises, and this would decrease the risk of musculoskeletal injury.