Biological markers and metabolic energy indexes of show jumping horses during a field exercise test in Portugal.
Authors: Simões J, Santos A M, Santos C, Silva A S, Vintém C, Fonseca J, Coelho C
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Show jumping research has historically concentrated on elite-level competitors, leaving a significant knowledge gap regarding the physiological demands placed on novice horses and riders—a cohort that represents the majority of recreational and amateur athletes. Simões and colleagues investigated thirteen Portuguese show jumping horses competing over 80 cm obstacles, monitoring heart rate continuously whilst measuring blood biomarkers (haematological and biochemical parameters) and calculating metabolic energy expenditure at rest and post-exercise. The exercise induced significant changes across multiple physiological systems: heart rate and respiratory rate increased, blood glucose and lactate rose, whilst white blood cell counts (including neutrophils and lymphocytes) and haemoglobin concentrations all shifted measurably (P ≤ 0.05), indicating a marked inflammatory and haematological response to the jumping test. Importantly, estimated energy expenditure averaged 431.0 J/kg/min with a cost of transport of 0.10 beats·kg·m·10³, and lactate dynamics confirmed the horses maintained aerobic metabolism without crossing into anaerobic threshold during the novice-level test. These baseline metabolic and immunological markers provide practitioners with reference values for assessing fitness, training tolerance and recovery in novice showjumpers, enabling more evidence-based conditioning programmes and earlier identification of horses struggling with training load or systemic stress.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Use heart rate monitoring during jumping training to track aerobic workload and optimize conditioning programs for novice horses
- •Significant changes in blood biomarkers (lactate, albumin, WBC) indicate that even 80 cm jumping courses produce measurable metabolic stress; monitor recovery between sessions
- •These baseline values for novice jumping horses can help veterinarians and trainers identify abnormal physiological responses and detect overtraining or health issues early
Key Findings
- •Show jumping test at 80 cm significantly affected heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, glycaemia, lactatemia, and white blood cell counts (P ≤ 0.05)
- •Energy expenditure averaged 431.0 ± 222.5 J/kg/min with cost of transport 0.10 ± 0.05 beats·kg·m·10³
- •Horses maintained aerobic metabolism and performed at submaximal effort during the novice-level jumping test
- •Provides reference values for assessing physiological responses of novice show jumping horses in training evaluation