Changes in Skeletal Muscle Composition in Response to Swimming Training for Young Horses

Abstract

To investigate muscular adaptation to swimming training in young horses, 18 two-year-old Thoroughbred horses were trained in a program which included both running and swimming, and the changes in skeletal muscle composition during the training period were evaluated histochemically. The horses were divided into the following three groups: Group A, trained by running only; Group B, trained by running plus a gradual increase in swimming; Group C, trained by running plus constant swimming. In Groups B and C, fast twitch-low oxidative (FT) fibers tended to decrease, while fast twitch-high oxidative (FTH) fibers to increase with the training progressed. The tendency was more remarkable in Group B. Therefore, in these two groups, it was suggested that the horses' aerobic capacity at the muscular level was improved significantly.