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Comparative ergoespirometric adaptations to a treadmill exercise test in untrained show Andalusian and Arabian horses

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Abstract

Significant differences exist in the respiratory adaptation to exercise in different equine breeds. This research describes the ergoespirometric response to exercise of Andalusian (AN) and Arabian (A) horses, both selected according to morphological criteria. Thirteen untrained male horses (6 AN and 7 A) performed a treadmill exercise test (TET) with a slope of 6%, with workloads starting from 5 m/s and increasing 1 m/s every 3 min until the horses were not able to keep the required velocity. Tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate, minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), exercise time to fatigue (ETF) and respiratory aerobic threshold (RAT) were determined. AN horses presented higher TV and VE, whereas respiratory rate, VO2 and VCO2 were lower at the same velocities. RER was similar between breeds. ETF was longer in A horses (556.7 ± 66.5 in AN vs. 607.1 ± 71.1 s in A) and no significant differences were found in RAT (5.50 ± 0.50 in AN vs. 5.86 ± 1.07 m/s in A). In summary, despite the more intense ventilatory response to exercise at the same velocity, AN horses had lower VO2. The AN horse develops a more intense ventilatory response to fixed velocities than the A horse and it could be interesting to clarify the role of the locomotion characteristics in this response.

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Notes

  1. Mustang 2000, Fahrwangen, Switzerland

  2. Meta Vet 1.0, Leipzig, Germany.

  3. Statsoft, Inc, 2001. Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

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Acknowledgments

The authors are in debt with the owners of the horses, which gently accepted the participation in this study. Financial support was provided by the Department of Science and Innovation of the Spanish Government (Research Project, AGL-2005-05970/GAN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equine Sport Medicine Centre (CEMEDE), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Cristina Castejón-Riber, Ana Muñoz, Pablo Trigo, Cristina Riber, Rafael Santisteban & Francisco Castejón

  2. Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Ana Muñoz & Cristina Riber

  3. Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Rafael Santisteban & Francisco Castejón

Authors
  1. Cristina Castejón-Riber
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  2. Ana Muñoz
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  3. Pablo Trigo
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  4. Cristina Riber
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  5. Rafael Santisteban
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  6. Francisco Castejón
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Correspondence to Ana Muñoz.

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Castejón-Riber, C., Muñoz, A., Trigo, P. et al. Comparative ergoespirometric adaptations to a treadmill exercise test in untrained show Andalusian and Arabian horses. Vet Res Commun 36, 41–46 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-011-9510-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-011-9510-x

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