Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Sport horses are widely used for performance in jumping, dressage, endurance etc. To enable comparisons of horses, training facilities, programs or physical status, an exercise test can be used. Exercise tests are also important to increase knowledge about exercise physiology of the horse considering different ways of training to compare training methods or individual qualities, development of an individual or other investigations of equine exercise physiology.

Since several investigations are done on standard- and thoroughbred horses but less on sport horses, it is of great importance to get an overview of the investigations done. Most common is to investigate heart rate and lactate concentration. Lately, studies on kinematics have been done, a combination of haematological and biomechemichal values is likely advantageous.

This study aims to give an overview of what can be done when exercise testing under field conditions. Heart rate, lactate concentration, cortisol concentration, packed cell volume, muscle fibers and kinematics are discussed.