The effect of induced training on selected equine blood plasma indicators on treadmill trained horses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of induced training on the horses' metabolism during an experiment lasting nine weeks where we continually scaled up the load on the horses by three defined stages. Blood was obtained from eighteen horses - two stallions, eight mares and eight geldings. In the experiment, we focused on the biochemical analysis of the blood plasma on multiple mineral profile indicators - Ca, P, Mg, K, Cl and Na, and some other variables (energy, nitrogen, AST, ALT, glucose, urea, creatinine kinase, total proteins). The result showed significant changes between the groups in most indicators. A significant increase in the potassium, phosphorus and calcium and a decrease in the concentrations of magnesium over the course of the experiment were found. For the other indicators, a significant increase in the activities of the AST and ALT out of the other indicators and the fluctuating values in the total proteins were noticed. Summarised, significant changes of multiple indicators were observed in different stages of the experiment. These changes had no visible effect on the horses' organisms throughout entire duration of the experiment and were most probably caused by the muscular work and possible muscular damage during training.

Keywords

• stress
• horse
• biochemical profile
• blood
• training