Effects of warm-up intensity on kinetics of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production during high-intensity exercise in horses

Influence of Stretching Exercises, Warm-Up, or Cool-Down on the Physical Performance of Mangalarga Marchador Horses

The Horse Agribusiness Complex is an important activity in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Mangalarga Marchador (MM) is the most numerous breed of horses in Brazil and its temperament and gait characteristics (4-beat stepping gait) allow for the constant growth of the breed and the performance of vs. equestrian activities. The training management currently adopted with MM horses is based on empiricism, and scientific support is necessary to improve the well-being of horses in competitions and maintain the physical integrity of these athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the effects of stretching, warming up, and/or cooling down on their performance in marcha tests. 6 MM geldings (aged between 3 and 7 years and average weight of 400 kg) were used. The pre-experimental stage for the physical conditioning of the horses lasted 46 days. The experimental phase lasted 42 days and consisted of 6 marcha tests performed every 7 days. The experimental design was in a Latin square (6 × 6), in which each horse was submitted to the following exercise protocols: A) 50-min marcha test following the official regulations of the Brazilian Association of Horse Breeders Mangalarga Marchador (ABCCMM); B) 10 min of warm-up before marcha test; C) 10 min of cooling after marcha test; D) 10 min of warm-up before marcha and 10 min of cool-down after marcha test; E) 10 min of stretching before the marcha test; F) 10 min of stretching, 10 min of warm-up before and 10 min of cool-down after the test. Horses were evaluated before and after marcha tests for heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, rectal temperature, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and cortisol. Data were submitted to 2-way analysis of variance (exercise protocols and evaluation moments) and means were compared by Tukey's test (P≤0.05). The HR and blood lactate results indicated a beneficial effect of warm-up or stretching practices on the performance of Mangalarga Marchador horses submitted to simulated marcha tests in accordance with the official ABCCMM regulation and lasting 50 minutes.

Thermographic Analysis of the Metacarpal and Metatarsal Areas in Jumping Sport Horses and Leisure Horses in Response to Warm-Up Duration

This study aimed to assess the impact of various types of warm-up on the metacarpal and metatarsal surface temperature in jumping sport horses in comparison to leisure horses, which work usually less intensively. Six clinically healthy sport geldings, contestants in showjumping competitions, and six geldings used for leisure riding were included in the study. The experiment was conducted for four consecutive days, during which the horses were warmed up by walking and trotting for various durations. Images were taken with a FLUKE Ti9 thermal imager to determine the resting, post-effort, and recovery temperature of the dorsal and plantar surface of the metacarpus and metatarsus of the four limbs. The obtained data were analysed with SmartView 4.1. software. The increase of measured rectal and surface temperatures was proportional to the warm-up duration. The surface temperature increase in the distal limb parts in jumping sport horses was greater than in horses used for leisure. The plantar surface was also warmer than the dorsal surface of the metacarpal/metatarsal areas, with a forelimb being warmer than a hind limb. Elevated temperatures after warm-up persist for 30 min in the recovery period, especially in jumping sport horses compared to leisure horses. Thus, the warming up effect is achieved earlier and lasts longer in heavily trained horses than in non-performance horses.

What’s in a warm-up? A preliminary investigation of how European dressage riders and show jumpers warm-up their horses for training and at competition

Equestrian sports such as dressage and show jumping cause physical and physiological stress on the horses’ musculoskeletal structures, which can lead to decreased performance and injury. Warming-up prior to intense exercise can increase utilisation of the aerobic pathway, increase performance and decrease injury risk. Whilst duration of equestrian warm-up regimes has been reported, details of which gaits and skills related tasks, such as jumping and lateral movements, riders elect to use have not been evaluated to date. The purpose of this study was to understand dressage and show jumping riders’ decision-making when warming up at home and prior to a competition. Surveys (dressage: 39 questions; show jumping: 41 questions) were distributed online via social media. Mann Whitney U tests identified significant differences in warming up practice between dressage and show jumping riders. Most riders reported that a warm-up was beneficial for getting the horse ready for work, increasing responsiveness to aids, enhancing suppleness and relaxation, and decreasing injury risk. Both dressage and show jumping riders typically warm-up between 10-20 min. While dressage riders use the walk as their main warm-up gait, show jumpers preferred the trot. Both dressage riders and show jumpers incorporate technical skills in their warm-up such as lateral work, and quick transitions (when riders change gait for only few strides before changing again). Show jumpers include 4-10 jumping efforts, using different fence types. During a competition most dressage and show jumping riders agreed that factors such as perceived stress level of both the horse and rider, crowdedness of the arena, arena footing and size, as well as time allocated by the venue, were important factors that could impact the duration and content of their warm-up routines. Both groups of riders considered horses were sufficiently ‘warmed up’ when they were responsive to the aids and felt supple and relaxed.

Assessment of high-intensity over-ground conditioning and simulated racing on aerobic and anaerobic capacities in racehorses

A prospective, randomised study assessed the impact of high-intensity racetrack conditioning on aerobic and anaerobic capacities in seasoned Thoroughbred racehorses. The effect of 10 weeks race conditioning and two simulated races on V̇O2maxand maximum accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) were evaluated. An incremental treadmill test to determine V̇O2max, followed by three supramaximal runs to fatigue (at speeds (V105%, V115%, V125%) corresponding to oxygen requirements 105%, 115% and 125% of V̇O2max, in randomised order) were performed at each timepoint (T1 [pre-conditioning] and T2 [post-conditioning]). Prior to T1, racehorses were briefly de-trained for four-six weeks and given low-level treadmill conditioning to prepare them for the more strenuous race conditioning after T1. Paired variables between T1 and T2 were analysed using a paired t-test. A 2-way RM ANOVA compared variables with >1 measurement. Speed at V̇O2max(P=0.04) and V̇O2max(P=0.01) increased with conditioning. Calculated speeds for the supramaximal runs increased for V105% (P=0.02) and V115% (P=0.03) but not for V125% (P=0.08). There was no conditioning effect on time to fatigue (P=0.34), although it was different between all intensities (2.8, 2.2 and 1.4 mins at V105%, V115% and V125% respectively at T2). O2demand increased with conditioning (P=0.02) for each supramaximal intensity. On average, horses’ aerobic capacity improved 4.43% after conditioning. MAOD was unchanged with conditioning (P=0.25) and unaffected by exercise intensity. Fit racehorses that have undergone repeated intensive training programs, experience smaller, incremental improvement than completely unfit horses. The anaerobic capacity of previously trained racehorses is relatively stable, despite brief periods of de-training.

Assessment of two methods to determine the relative contributions of the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems in racehorses

A prospective, randomized, controlled study was designed to determine relative aerobic and anaerobic (lactic and alactic) contributions at supramaximal exercise intensities using two different methods. Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 5) performed a maximal rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o2max) test and three supramaximal treadmill runs (105, 115, and 125% V̇o2max). Blood lactate concentration (BL) was measured at rest, every 15 s during runs, and 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min postexercise. In method 1, oxygen demand was calculated for each supramaximal intensity based on the V̇o2max test, and relative aerobic and anaerobic contributions were calculated from measured V̇o2 and the accumulated oxygen deficit. In method 2, aerobic contribution was calculated using the trapezoidal method to determine V̇o2 during exercise. A monoexponential model was fitted to the postexercise V̇o2 curve. Alactic contribution was calculated using the coefficients of this model. Lactate anaerobic contribution was calculated by multiplying the peak to resting change in BL by 3. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of exercise intensity and method (as fixed effects) on measured outcomes (P ≤ 0.05). Relative aerobic and anaerobic contributions were not different between methods (P = 0.20). Horses' mean contributions were 81.4, 77.6, and 72.5% (aerobic), and 18.5, 22.3, and 27.4% (anaerobic) at 105, 115, and 125% V̇o2max, respectively. Individual alactic anaerobic energy was not different between supramaximal exercise intensities (P = 0.43) and was negligible, contributing a mean of 0.11% of the total energy. Relative energy contributions can be calculated using measured V̇o2 and BL in situations where the exercise intensity is unknown. Understanding relative metabolic demands could help develop tailored training programs. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Relative energy contributions of horses can be calculated using measured V̇o2 and BL in situations where the exercise intensity is unknown. Horses' mean contributions were 81.4, 77.6, and 72.5% (aerobic), and 18.5, 22.3, and 27.4% (anaerobic) at 105, 115, and 125% of V̇o2max, respectively. Individual alactic capacity was unaltered between supramaximal exercise intensities and accounted for a mean contribution of 0.11% of energy use.

Oxygen uptake kinetics

Muscular exercise requires transitions to and from metabolic rates often exceeding an order of magnitude above resting and places prodigious demands on the oxidative machinery and O2-transport pathway. The science of kinetics seeks to characterize the dynamic profiles of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems and their integration to resolve the essential control mechanisms of muscle energetics and oxidative function: a goal not feasible using the steady-state response. Essential features of the O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics response are highly conserved across the animal kingdom. For a given metabolic demand, fast VO2 kinetics mandates a smaller O2 deficit, less substrate-level phosphorylation and high exercise tolerance. By the same token, slow VO2 kinetics incurs a high O2 deficit, presents a greater challenge to homeostasis and presages poor exercise tolerance. Compelling evidence supports that, in healthy individuals walking, running, or cycling upright, VO2 kinetics control resides within the exercising muscle(s) and is therefore not dependent upon, or limited by, upstream O2-transport systems. However, disease, aging, and other imposed constraints may redistribute VO2 kinetics control more proximally within the O2-transport system. Greater understanding of VO2 kinetics control and, in particular, its relation to the plasticity of the O2-transport/utilization system is considered important for improving the human condition, not just in athletic populations, but crucially for patients suffering from pathologically slowed VO2 kinetics as well as the burgeoning elderly population.

Comparison of net anaerobic energy utilisation estimated by plasma lactate accumulation rate and accumulated oxygen deficit in Thoroughbred horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Accumulated O(2) deficit (AOD) and plasma lactate accumulation rate (PLAR) are alternative methods for estimating net anaerobic energy utilisation (NAEU) in exercising horses. How they compare or their accuracy is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesised net anaerobic energy utilisation calculated by PLAR (NAUE(PLAR)) is equivalent to NAUE estimated by AOD (NAUE(AOD)).

METHODS

Six Thoroughbred horses ran at identical supramaximal speeds (118% aerobic capacity) until exhaustion for 2 runs while breathing normoxic (NO, 21% O(2)) or hyperoxic (HO, 26% O(2)) gas. Jugular blood was sampled at 15 s intervals to measure plasma lactate concentration. Horses also ran at incremental submaximal speeds from 1.7-11.0 m/s to determine the linear relationship between speed and O(2) consumption to estimate O(2) demand for AOD calculations.

RESULTS

Maximum O(2) consumption of horses increased 11.6 ± 2.3% in HO and NAEU(PLAR) and NAUE(AOD) decreased 38.5 ± 8.0% and 46.2 ± 17.7%, respectively. The NAEU(PLAR) in NO was 114.5 ± 27.4 mlO(2) (STPD) equivalent/kg bwt contributing 23.5 ± 3.7% to total energy turnover and in HO was 70.9 ± 19.8 mlO(2) (STPD) equivalent/kg bwt contributing 14.6 ± 3.8% to total energy turnover. The NAUE(AOD) in NO was 88.6 ± 24.3 mlO(2) (STPD) equivalent/kg bwt contributing 19.9 ± 2.1% to total energy turnover and in HO was 56.2 ± 19.1 mlO(2) (STPD) equivalent/kg bwt contributing 10.9 ± 4.3% to total energy turnover. Overall, NAEU(AOD) was systematically biased -23.5 ± 16.8 mlO(2) (STPD) equivalent/kg bwt below NAEU(PLAR). Total energy demand estimated by PLAR was 11.1 ± 5.4% greater than that estimated by AOD and was higher in every horse.

CONCLUSIONS

The NAUE(PLAR) estimates average 40.0 ± 29.6% higher than NAUE(AOD) and are highly correlated (r(2) = 0.734), indicating both indices are sensitive to similar changes in NAEU. Accuracy of the estimates remains to be determined. Multiple considerations suggest NAUE(AOD) may underestimate total energy cost during high-speed galloping, thus biasing low the AOD estimate of NAEU.

Effects of three warm-up regimens of equal distance on VO2 kinetics during supramaximal exercise in Thoroughbred horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Several studies have indicated that even low-intensity warm-up increases O(2) transport kinetics and that high-intensity warm-up may not be needed in horses. However, conventional warm-up exercise for Thoroughbred races is more intense than those utilised in previous studies of equine warm-up responses.

OBJECTIVES

To test the hypothesis that warm-up exercise at different intensities alters the kinetics and total contribution of aerobic power to total metabolic power in subsequent supramaximal (sprint) exercise in Thoroughbred horses.

METHODS

Nine well-trained Thoroughbreds ran until fatigue at 115% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) 10 min after warming-up under each of 3 protocols of equal running distance: 400 s at 30% VO2max (LoWU), 200 s at 60% VO2max (MoWU) and 120 s at 100% VO2max (HiWU). Variables measured during exercise were rates of O(2) and CO(2) consumption/production (VO2,VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate, blood lactate concentration and accumulation rate and blood gas variables.

RESULTS

VO2 was significantly higher in HiWU than in LoWU at the onset of the sprint exercise and HR was significantly higher in HiWU than in LoWU throughout the sprint. Accumulation of blood lactate, RER, P(a)CO(2) and PvCO2 in the first 60 s were significantly lower in HiWU than in LoWU and MoWU. There were no significant differences in stroke volume, run time or arterial-mixed venous O(2) concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest HiWU accelerates kinetics and reduces reliance on net anaerobic power compared with LoWU at the onset of the subsequent sprint.

Effects of warm-up intensity on oxygen transport during supramaximal exercise in horses

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether warm-up exercise at different intensities alters kinetics and total contribution of aerobic power to total metabolic power in subsequent supramaximal exercise in horses.

ANIMALS

11 horses.

PROCEDURES

Horses ran at a sprint until fatigued at 115% of maximal oxygen consumption rate (VO(2max)), beginning at 10 minutes following each of 3 warm-up protocols: no warmup (NoWU), 1 minute at 70% VO(2max) (moderate-intensity warm-up [MoWU]), or 1 minute at 115% VO(2max) (high-intensity warm-up [HiWU]). Cardiopulmonary and blood gas variables were measured during exercise.

RESULTS

The VO(2) was significantly higher in HiWU and MoWU than in NoWU throughout the sprint exercise period. Blood lactate accumulation rate in the first 60 seconds was significantly lower in MoWU and HiWU than in NoWU. Specific cardiac output after 60 seconds of sprint exercise was not significantly different among the 3 protocols; however, the arterial mixed-venous oxygen concentration difference was significantly higher in HiWU than in NoWU primarily because of decreased mixed-venous saturation and tension. Run time to fatigue following MoWU was significantly greater than that with NoWU, and there was no difference in time to fatigue between MoWU and HiWU.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

HiWU and MoWU increased peak values for VO(2) and decreased blood lactate accumulation rate during the first minute of intense exercise, suggesting a greater use of aerobic than net anaerobic power during this period.

Oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics in different species: a brief review

When a human begins to move or locomote, the energetic demands of its skeletal muscles increase abruptly and the oxygen (O2) transport system responds to deliver increased amounts of O2to the respiring mitochondria. It is intuitively reasonable that the rapidity with which O2transport can be increased to and utilized by (VO2) the contracting muscles would be greater in those species with a higher maximal VO2capacity (i.e., VO2max). This review explores the relationship between VO2maxand VO2dynamics or kinetics at across a range of species selected, in part, for their disparate VO2maxcapacities. In healthy humans there is compelling evidence that the speed of the VO2kinetics at the onset of exercise is limited by an oxidative enzyme inertia within the exercising muscles rather than by VO2delivery to those muscles. This appears true also for the horse and dog but possibly not for a certain species of frog. Whereas there is a significant correlation between VO2maxand the speed of VO2kinetics among different species, it is possible to identify species or individuals within a species that exhibit widely disparate mass-specific VO2maxcapacities but similar VO2kinetics (i.e., superlative human athlete and horse).

Influence of recovery mode (passive vs. active) on time spent at maximal oxygen uptake during an intermittent session in young and endurance-trained athletes

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of recovery mode (active/passive) on time spent at high percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) i.e. above 90% of VO2max (t90VO2max) and above 95% of VO2max (t95VO2max) during a single short intermittent session. Eight endurance-trained male adolescents (15.9 +/- 1.4 years) performed three field tests until exhaustion: a graded test to determine their VO2max (57.4 +/- 6.1 ml min(-1) kg(-1)), and maximal aerobic velocity (MAV; 17.9 +/- 0.4 km h(-1)), and in a random order, two intermittent exercises consisting of repeated 30 s runs at 105% of MAV alternated with 30 s passive (IE(P)) or active recovery (IE(A), 50% of MAV). Time to exhaustion (t(lim)) was significantly longer for IE(P) than for IE(A) (2145 +/- 829 vs. 1072 +/- 388 s, P < 0.01). No difference was found in t90VO2max and t95VO2max between IE(P) (548 +/- 499-316 +/- 360 s) and IE(A) (746 +/- 417-459 +/- 332 s). However, when expressed as a percentage of t(lim), t90VO2max and t95VO2max were significantly longer (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) during IE(A) (67.7 +/- 19%-42.1 +/- 27%) than during IE(P) (24.2 +/- 19%-13.8 +/- 15%). Our results demonstrated no influence of recovery mode on absolute t90VO2max or t95VO2max mean values despite significantly longer t(lim) values for IE(P) than for IE(A). In conclusion, passive recovery allows a longer running time (t(lim)) for a similar time spent at a high percentage of VO2max.

Effects of recovery mode on performance, O2 uptake, and O2 deficit during high-intensity intermittent exercise

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of activity performed during the recovery period on the aerobic and anaerobic energy yield, as well as on performance, during high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIT). Ten physical education students participated in the study. First they underwent an incremental exercise test to assess their maximal power output (Wmax) and VO2max. On subsequent days they performed three different HITs. Each HIT consisted of four cycling bouts until exhaustion at 110% Wmax. Recovery periods of 5 min were allowed between bouts. HITs differed in the kind of activity performed during the recovery periods: pedaling at 20% VO2max (HITA), stretching exercises, or lying supine. Performance was 3-4% and aerobic energy yield was 6-8% (both p < 0.05) higher during the HITA than during the other two kinds of HIT. The greater contribution of aerobic metabolism to the energy yield during the high-intensity exercise bouts with active recovery was due to faster VO2 kinetics (p< 0.01) and a higher VO2peak during the exercise bouts preceded by active recovery (p < 0.05). In contrast, the anaerobic energy yield (oxygen deficit and peak blood lactate concentrations) was similar in all HITs. Therefore, this study shows that active recovery facilitates performance by increasing aerobic contribution to the whole energy yield turnover during high-intensity intermittent exercise.

Effects of prior contractions on muscle microvascular oxygen pressure at onset of subsequent contractions

In humans, pulmonary oxygen uptake (.V(O2)) kinetics may be speeded by prior exercise in the heavy domain. This "speeding" arises potentially as the result of an increased muscle O(2) delivery (.Q(O2)) and/or a more rapid elevation of oxidative phosphorylation. We adapted phosphorescence quenching techniques to determine the.Q(O2)-to-O(2) utilization (.Q(O2)/.V(O2)) characteristics via microvascular O(2) pressure (P(O2,m)) measurements across sequential bouts of contractions in rat spinotrapezius muscle. Spinotrapezius muscles from female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were electrically stimulated (1 Hz twitch, 3-5 V) for two 3 min bouts (ST(1) and ST(2)) separated by 10 min rest. P(O2,m) responses were analysed using an exponential + time delay (TD) model. There was no significant difference in baseline and DeltaP(O2,m) between ST(1) and ST(2) (28.5 +/- 2.6 vs. 27.9 +/- 2.4 mmHg, and 13.9 +/- 1.8 vs. 14.1 +/- 1.3 mmHg, respectively). The TD was reduced significantly in the second contraction bout (ST(1), 12.2 +/- 1.9; ST(2), 5.7 +/- 2.2 s, P < 0.05), whereas the time constant of the exponential P(O2,m) decrease was unchanged (ST(1), 16.3 +/- 2.6; ST(2), 17.6 +/- 2.7 s, P > 0.1). The shortened TD found in ST(2) led to a reduced time to reach 63 % of the final response of ST(2) compared to ST(1) (ST(1), 28.3 +/- 3.0; ST(2), 20.2 +/- 1.8 s, P < 0.05). The speeding of the overall response in the absence of an elevated P(O2,m) baseline (which had it occurred would indicate an elevated.Q(O2)/.V(O2) or muscle blood flow suggests that some intracellular process(es) (e.g. more rapid increase in oxidative phosphorylation) may be responsible for the increased speed of P(O2,m) kinetics after prior contractions under these conditions.

High intensity exercise conditioning increases accumulated oxygen deficit of horses

High intensity exercise is associated with production of energy by both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Conditioning by repeated exercise increases the maximal rate of aerobic metabolism, aerobic capacity, of horses, but whether the maximal amount of energy provided by anaerobic metabolism, anaerobic capacity, can be increased by conditioning of horses is unknown. We, therefore, examined the effects of 10 weeks of regular (4-5 days/week) high intensity (92+/-3 % VO2max) exercise on accumulated oxygen deficit of 8 Standardbred horses that had been confined to box stalls for 12 weeks. Exercise conditioning resulted in increases of 17% in VO2max (P<0.001), 11% in the speed at which VO2max was achieved (P = 0.019) and 9% in the speed at 115% of VO2max (P = 0.003). During a high speed exercise test at 115% VO2max, sprint duration was 25% longer (P = 0.047), oxygen demand was 36% greater (P<0.001), oxygen consumption was 38% greater (P<0.001) and accumulated oxygen deficit was 27% higher (P = 0.040) than values before conditioning. VLa4 was 33% higher (P<0.05) after conditioning. There was no effect of conditioning on blood lactate concentration at the speed producing VO2max or at the end of the high speed exercise test. The rate of increase in muscle lactate concentration was greater (P = 0.006) in horses before conditioning. Muscle glycogen concentrations before exercise were 17% higher (P<0.05) after conditioning. Exercise resulted in nearly identical (P = 0.938) reductions in muscle glycogen concentrations before and after conditioning. There was no detectable effect of conditioning on muscle buffering capacity. These results are consistent with a conditioning-induced increase in both aerobic and anaerobic capacity of horses demonstrating that anaerobic capacity of horses can be increased by an appropriate conditioning programme that includes regular, high intensity exercise. Furthermore, increases in anaerobic capacity are not reflected in blood lactate concentrations measured during intense, exhaustive exercise or during recovery from such exercise.