Effect of conditioning horses every third day at v10 on measures of fitness.
Authors: Lindner A, López R A, Durante E, Hernandez H, Botta V, Sadaba S, Boffi F M
Journal: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Conditioning Protocol Effects on Equine Fitness Parameters Five Anglo-Arabian horses underwent a six-week treadmill conditioning programme consisting of five exercise sessions per fortnight, each comprising two 5-minute bouts performed at their individually determined v10 (the velocity eliciting 10 mmol/l blood lactate) with two days separating consecutive sessions. Standardised exercise tests conducted every two weeks allowed researchers to track changes in three key fitness markers: v4 (velocity at 4 mmol/l lactate threshold), v180 (velocity at 180 beats per minute), and peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak). The conditioning protocol significantly improved both v4 and VO₂peak—the latter showing the greatest gains in the first three weeks before plateauing—whilst v180 remained unchanged throughout the programme. These findings suggest that threshold-based training at v10 effectively develops aerobic capacity and lactate clearance in horses, making it a practical tool for conditioning programmes; however, the lack of improvement in v180 indicates this protocol may not substantially enhance cardiovascular efficiency at submaximal intensities. For equine professionals designing training regimes, this relatively modest conditioning frequency (five sessions per fortnight) appears sufficient to drive measurable fitness gains, though practitioners should consider whether additional work might be needed to improve heart rate response if cardiovascular parameters at moderate intensities are a priority.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Conditioning horses every third day at their v(10) intensity for short duration (5 minutes) can improve aerobic fitness within 3-6 weeks, with most gains occurring in the first 3 weeks
- •This moderate-frequency, moderate-duration protocol appears effective for improving lactate threshold and oxygen utilization without requiring longer training sessions
- •Heart rate thresholds remain stable with this conditioning approach, suggesting heart rate alone may not be a reliable indicator of fitness improvements in conditioned horses
Key Findings
- •v(4) (speed at 4 mmol/l blood lactate) increased significantly during the 6-week conditioning period (p < 0.05)
- •VO(2 peak) increased in the first 3 weeks of conditioning (p < 0.05) then plateaued thereafter (p > 0.05)
- •v(180) (speed at 180 bpm heart rate) showed no significant change throughout the conditioning period (p > 0.05)
- •Five exercise sessions per fortnight at individual v(10) for two 5-minute bouts with 2-day intervals improved aerobic fitness markers but not cardiac response thresholds