Fluctuations of Physiological Variables during Conditioning of Lipizzan Fillies before Starting under Saddle.
Authors: Čebulj-Kadunc Nina, Frangež Robert, Kruljc Peter
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Physiological Responses in Young Lipizzan Fillies during Initial Training Understanding how young horses respond physiologically to early training is crucial for developing conditioning programmes that balance performance gains with welfare, yet published data remain sparse—particularly for specific breeds and age groups. Ten four-year-old Lipizzan fillies underwent four graded exercise tests via lunging (15 minutes each, spaced at two-week intervals), with researchers measuring cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, haematological, and biochemical parameters at rest and during exertion. Resting heart rates were initially elevated above normal ranges but declined progressively throughout the study, whilst exercise-induced increases in cortisol and lactate remained modest, indicating the workload intensity was appropriately low for this developmental stage; notably, body surface temperature maintained bilateral symmetry at rest and after exercise, with the warmest readings in cranial regions followed by caudal and distal areas. These findings provide baseline physiological values for young Lipizzans entering work and suggest that carefully graded early conditioning protocols can be tolerated without excessive stress markers, offering practitioners evidence-based reference points for monitoring welfare during the critical transition to ridden work.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Young Lipizzan fillies show elevated resting heart rates initially in training but adapt within weeks; use serial measurements to track training adaptation rather than single baseline values
- •Bilateral body surface temperature symmetry during lunging can serve as a non-invasive welfare indicator; asymmetry may suggest discomfort or lameness requiring investigation
- •Moderate cortisol and low lactate responses suggest lunging at the tested intensity is well-tolerated by 4-year-old fillies; progressive conditioning protocols can be scaled based on these markers
Key Findings
- •Basal cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, hematological, and biochemical parameters in 4-year-old Lipizzan fillies were within normal ranges for warm-blooded horses at baseline
- •Resting heart rates were initially elevated above physiological norms but decreased progressively over the 8-week study period
- •Body surface temperature showed bilateral symmetry and was highest in cranial regions, followed by caudal and distal regions
- •Moderate cortisol and small lactate increases indicated low exercise intensity during 15-minute lunging sessions