Relationship between Exercises and Changes in Blood Characteristics in Horses

Abstract

Observation was made on changes in blood components immediately after a horse had finished three types of exercises, light (15 seconds/100 meters, 1, 100 meters), moderate (9 sec/100m, 1, 100 m), and heavy (8 sec/100m, 1, 600m). The following results were obtained. 1. After exercises, red blood count, white blood count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, eryth rocyte resistance, and blood lactic acid increased, but eosinophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and blood water content decreased. 2. These changes were relative phenomena induced by the decrease of blood water content. It was presumed, however, that the changes of eosinophils might have been caused by some other reasons. 3. The degree of changes of the blood components induced by exercises were raised in accordance with the increase in the strength of exercises.