STANDARDIZATION OF FIELD INCREMENTAL TO MAXIMAL EXERCISE TEST FOR SHOW JUMPING HORSES

Abstract

Because of the great number of horses practicing highly competitive physical activities, the need to follow the training program and the observation of its effects on the animals’ performance, we proposed the standardization for a field incremental to maximal exercise test for horses, adapted from the human UM-Track Test. For thus ten Brazilian Sport Horses were used. Biochemical (CK, LDH, plasma lactate and glucose) parameters and heart rate (HR) were evaluated each 20 seconds end-stage of acceleration. There was significant difference in all the variables (Plasma lactate and HR) when comparing the exercise intensity levels to the rest. The analysis of CK and LDH at rest and after three hours showed no significant changes throughout the test. Plasma lactate presented a positive correlation with heart rate and this latter a positive correlation with exercise intensity. Regarding glycemia observed a significant negative correlation with HR. The test proposed here demonstrated to be a tool of easy application and reproducibility in the field, permitted the observation and confirmation of the lactate threshold.