Metabolic and physiological changes during and after vaquejada exercise in horses

Abstract

Metabolic and physiological changes during and after vaquejada exercise in horses [Adaptações metabólicas e fisiológicas durante e após o teste de vaquejada em cavalos]

How Much Energy Vaquejada Horses Spend in a Field Simulation Test?

“…Both categories of athletes worked with lactate indices above the anaerobic threshold of 4 mmol/L [ 25 ], which characterizes a predominance of the glycolytic energy production pathway in this type of effort (high-intensity and short-duration exercises) [ 16 ], similarly to other sports using Quarter Horses [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. PH mobilized this energy pathway more, which has been also observed by other authors studying vaquejada [ 15 , 20 , 21 ], which corroborates the findings for HR. A higher lactate concentration was also associated with higher energy expenditure in Marchador horses [ 13 ], although these values were quite inferior in marcha gait [ 29 ].…”

“…The recovery of HR and plasma lactate values to pre-exercise levels (in stable) within 30 min of recovery denotes the good athletic conditioning of all horses used in the present experimental protocol [ 20 ]. This was observed for both PH and HH.…”

“…As it is considered a high-intensity and short-duration exercise [ 17 , 18 ], energy production occurs mainly by anaerobic pathways [ 19 ]. Horses used in this particular equine discipline play different roles during the physical effort [ 20 , 21 ]. Pull horses are responsible to put the bull down; meanwhile, helper horses are responsible to run along with the bull, aligning it with the pull horse [ 21 ].…”

Training Effects on the Stress Predictors for Young Lusitano Horses Used in Dressage

“…This rise typically occurs to meet the greater physical and energy demand of active working muscles and the need for the dissipation of metabolic by-products and heat [ 5 , 6 , 34 ]. Nonetheless, the recovery of the horses’ HRs to pre-exercise levels (in the stable) within 30 min denotes the good athletic conditioning of all the horses used in the present experimental protocol [ 9 , 34 ], which was established even before the setting of the training schedule.…”

“…The main purpose of exercising horses is to enhance the energy mobilization of the nervous system and the muscles during activity [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]. Furthermore, cardiovascular effects are observed, with increases in heart rate (HR), stroke and systolic volume [ 4 , 5 ], and an effort-dependent splenic contraction that enhances tissue perfusion through a transient increase in circulating red blood cells (RBC) [ 9 , 10 ].…”