Abstract

The aim of this study was to study the physiological, especially thermoregulatory, responses during intense exercise in the clipped horse compared to the horse with winter coat. Six Standardbred trotters were studied before and after clipping. They performed an inclined incremental high intensity treadmill exercise test and were monitored during recovery. The clipped horse differed significantly (ANOVA) during exercise as compare to coated: less increase in central venous blood temperature, higher skin surface temperature, greater difference skin to ambient temperature and higher rate of nonevaporative heat loss. The clipped horse had significantly lower total cutaneous evaporative heat loss from walk to end of peak exercise and a shorter time for recovery for the respiratory rate using a paired t test. The clipped horse showed a tendency (P = 0.059) to decreased oxygen uptake during the stepwise increase in workload. We concluded that the clipped horse experienced less strain on the thermoregulatory system due to an enhanced heat loss. Some clipped horses in the study showed a more efficient power output; future studies with emphasis on respiration and oxygen demand are needed to explain this.

Keywords

horse; thermoregulation; heat loss recovery; blood temperature; oxygen uptake

Published in

Equine Veterinary Journal
2002, Volume: 34, number: S34, pages: 564-567
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Morgan, Karin

  • Department of Equine Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Funkquist, Pia

  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nyman, Görel

  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Medical Bioscience


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05484.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122959