A Field Study of Oxygen Consumption and Estimated Energy Expenditure in the Exercising Horse

Abstract

The major goal of this study was to estimate the aerobic and anaerobic contribution to energy expenditure in the running warmblood horse under field conditions. The oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) in 12 saddle horses was determined at rest, walk, trot, and canter and in 6 horses at gallop. In the 10 min immediately following exercise the relative oxygen debt (RD-VO 2 ) was measured. The horses were exercised by riders in the various gaits at speeds representing 15, 30, 50 and 70% of the their individual maximum speed (V max ). The distances covered were 3000 m in each walk, trot and canter and 1500 m in gallop. VO 2 and RD-VO 2 m and energy expenditure (J.kg.min -1 ) using the oxygen caloric equivalent of the measured respiratory quotient (RQ) were studied for possible relations to the speed. The proportion of anaerobic energy expenditure (%E anaer.) to the total energy production was also investigated. A linear relation between speed and aerobic energy expenditure (E) and a quadratic relation between speed and anaerobic energy expenditure (RD-E) and total energy expenditure (TE) was found. The %E anaer. was 1.21 ± 0.40 at a speed of 15% V max , 3.40 ± 0.38 at 30% V max , 18.58 ± 2.05 at 50% V max , and 29.47 ± 1.17 at 70% V max .Post-exercise oxygen uptake appears a suitable measure for the major part of the oxygen debt (relative oxygen debt) and could be considered as an indicator of anaerobically released energy. For this reason it may also be an indicator of the anaerobic capacity of the horse at a standard or maximal exercise. Horse, exercise, oxygen uptake, oxygen debt, energy consumption, anaerobic energyIn recent years, a considerable amount of research has been performed in an attempt to describe the physiological response of the horse to exercise and training. Mostly the changes in cardiorespiratory functions during different intensities of exercise have been studied extensively and reported for various breeds of horses. It has been suggested that heart rate and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), measured at sub-maximal exercise, are useful in assessing cardiovascular fitness in the horse. Calculated parameters such as the speed at a heart rate of 200 beats.min -1 (V-200) and oxygen consumption at a heart rate of 200 beats.min -1 (VO 2 -200) are considered as highly useful (Persson 1983;Persson et al. 1983;Rose et al. 1990). Other suitable indices of fitness have included the velocity (V) and heart rate (HR) at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol.l -1 i.e.

Implementation of field cardio-respiratory measurements to assess energy expenditure in Arabian endurance horses

“…Therefore, the calculation of EE from VO 2 measurements provided an estimation of the total energy expended during exercise. EE values measured at the different gaits, ranging from 133 to 1095 J/min per kg BW from walk to canter, respectively, (R s = 0.98; P ⩽ 0.001) (Table 1), were concordant with previous data reported in horses exercised in field conditions (Meixner et al, 1981;Pagan et al, 1986;Hanak et al, 2001). The relationship between EE and HR was best described as a polynomial function for each horse, with coefficients of determination above 80% for Figure 1 Illustration of one horse equipped with the equine K4b 2 and Equimask during exercise on track.…”

The use of equine K4b2 during incremental field exercise tests in driven Standardbred trotters: a preliminary study

“…HR and VO 2 values recorded at each step were consistent with previous data obtained from field exercise tests in Saddle horses (Hanak et al, 2001;Votion et al, 2006) and endurance horses (Cottin et al, 2010) using portable devices (Table 1). The VCO 2 values observed in our study were not markedly underestimated, contrary to those reported by Votion et al (2006) and van Erck et al (2007).…”

Exercise testing in the field

“…47 Aliquots of expired gas were collected via tubes in the face mask, and the rider manipulated the bags that were used to collect the gas at each step of the exercise test. 47 Aliquots of expired gas were collected via tubes in the face mask, and the rider manipulated the bags that were used to collect the gas at each step of the exercise test.…”