Cardiovascular Fitness of Horses Conditioned by Treadmill Work

Nine mature Quarter Horse mares were used in a three part study to examine the effects of submaximal treadmill conditioning on the cardiovascular response to a standard exercise test (SET). Parameters measured included heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, packed cell volume, lactic and pyruvic acid concentrations, blood gases and blood pH. In all three experiments, the SET consisted of a rest period and warm-up walk followed by a period of trotting (11.4 to 12.1 kph) and a six minute standing recovery period on the treadmill. Parameters were measured at rest and at the end of both the trot and recovery periods. In the first experiment, previously unconditioned horses performed a SET before and after a four week conditioning program of increasing work time on a flat (0% grade) treadmill. In the second experiment, the same SET was performed on a flat treadmill and then on an 11% grade. In the third experiment, four horses were conditioned for 10 weeks of increasing periods of continuous trotting on a 3% grade while five horses were conditioned by intermittent periods of work and rest on a steeper grade (9%).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Rodiek, Anne Virginia

• Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8409826

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/70012