Athletes, including equine athletes need high intensity training in order to achieve high performance. However, continuous high intensity training often results in injuries to the locomotive system. The buoyancy of water reduces the force born on joints; therefore, training in water has been used for rehabilitation purposes both in humans and horses. The few studies dealing with water treadmill training of horses suggest that the fitness of horses can be improved using this training method, but none tested the subsequent performance of horses after water training. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the effect of water training of varying intensity on the fitness-related parameters of show jumpers during training and after competition. Four similarly trained show jumper sport horse (aged between 7−11 years) competing at the same level (110 cm) were selected. Horses were subjected to 44-min deep water treadmill training with three intensities (9, 11, 13 km/h maximum speed) three times a week in addition to their normal training. At the conclusion of the week, horses participated in a two-day indoor show jumping event. Blood samples (4 ml) were taken from the jugular vein during the third water training and before and after the completion of the show jumping course on each day. From the blood plasma, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, as well as lactate, glucose and triglyceride levels were determined. Data analysis was carried out with SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, USA) using the GLM procedure and Duncan’s new multiple range test. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the same blood parameters from different sampling times. No interactions were detected between training intensity and sampling time during water training. Plasma lactate and glucose levels were decreased during the water training, while values increased afterwards. In contrast, heart rate, triglyceride and cortisol levels were elevated as a result of water training. Increasing the maximum speed of the water treadmill had no influence on the average heart rate of horses subjected to the training. Plasma lactate levels decreased with the increased maximum speed of the water trainer. Activities of AST, CK, LDH, and levels of cholesterol, cortisol and bilirubin decreased when the maximum speed of the treadmill was set to 11 km/h compared to the 9 km/h training. Water training resulted in lower heart rate measured right after completing the show jumping course when horses were subjected to medium intensity water training. The AST, CK and LDH activities measured before and after water training had only weak to moderate positive correlations with values measured after competition. In conclusion, our results indicate that deep-water training alters the biochemical processes and can improve the aerobic energy supply of show jumpers. Water training is a strenuous exercise, which initially leads to increased muscle damage. However, this initial phase is followed by subsequent adaptation.

This article compares different methods of scatterplot analysis to assess the optimal methodology. The scatterplot (Poincaré plot) is a nonlinear heart rate variability method where a "return map" is constructed by plotting each current cycle against the previous beat (RR vs. RR(n-1)). Geometric analysis of the scatterplot allows short-term and long-term heart rate variability (HRV) to be assessed. A three-dimensional construct is also possible, where the third axis represents the density of values, at any given RR vs. RR(n-1) intersection. Topological methods of analysis can compute the density distribution function or compactness of a dataset. Scatterplots that otherwise appear very similar in the two-dimensional plot may be clearly differentiated using this approach. Correct characterization may improve the ability of scatterplot analysis to predict outcomes in cardiovascular disease. We have assessed two computational approaches that take account of scatterplot density, namely, the heart rate variability fraction and the compactness measure. Scatterplots were constructed from three double-blind and randomized placebo controlled studies conducted in a total of 49 healthy subjects. Single oral doses of antagonists (atenolol 50 mg [beta-1], propranolol 160 mg [beta-1 and beta-2], and ICI 118,551 25 mg [beta-2]) or agonists (xamoterol 200 mg [beta-1], salbutamol 8 mg [beta-2], prenalterol 50 mg [beta-1 and beta-2], and pindolol 10 mg [mainly beta-2] of the cardiac beta-adrenoceptor were studied. Salbutamol, pindolol, and xamoterol increased compactness and reduced HRV fraction significantly compared with placebo. However, when compared with the more conventional scatterplot parameters, these newer density methods were found to be less discriminating. An alternative approach to improve scatterplot discrimination, using the combination of several scatterplot features, is under investigation.

The aim of the study was to test the effect of different dietary energy sources on several blood biochemical parameters on aqua treadmill trained show jumpers. Four horses in latin square arrangements consumed identical amounts of meadow hay, and four concentrates differing mainly in their energy source (control, starch from oat, oil from sunflower and sugar from sugar beet molasses) but providing the same amount of energy. One experimental period consisted of a 10 day adaptation and 4 day test period involving deep water aqua treadmill training. Blood samples were taken during and after the last aqua treadmill training and lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose and triglycerides levels were determined from the plasma. The different dietary energy sources resulted in similar plasma lactate levels. The increased starch content of the feed resulted in significantly lower (p < 0.05) creatine kinase level at the end of the first walking section of aqua training. This result appeared later as a tendency (p 0.1). Horses fed sunflower oil as a main energy source had higher aspartate aminotransferase level after two hours of the aqua training. The plasma triglyceride concentration in the sunflower oil group tended (p < 0.1) to be lower at the end of aqua training; while one hour after the training it was significantly lower. The elevated level of creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase indicates that lactate does not correctly reflect the strenuousness of the aqua training. The dietary energy source modifies the metabolic response to aqua training, even if it is not considerable. ARTICLE HISTORY