Effect of vaquejada exercise on the physiological and biochemical profiles of sporadic competitors and atletic horses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a cycle of three races as a part of the vaquejada test, on the serum biochemistry of horses that compete sporadically and athletic horses. Fourteen Quarter Horses was evaluated: group 1 (G1), with seven horses from the region that competed sporadically and group 2 (G2), with seven horses that competed regulary and were transported for >200 km. The physiological and serum biochemistry parameters were evaluated before exercise (M0) and after a cycle of three races of the vaquejada test: immediately after (M1); 30 min (M2) and 120 min (M3) after. Wilcoxon test was used to assess differences between the groups and Friedman test for moment effects, with a significance level of 5%. There was increase in M1 compared with M0 for heart and respiratory rate in G2, and rectal temperature in G1. The exercise transiently changed most of the biochemical parameters, with significant diferences for uric acid in M1, albumin and lactate in M2, compared with M0, in G2. The metabolic response to exercise was different between the groups for the following variables: uric acid, total protein, albumin, unsaturated iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation index. It was concluded that physiological and biochemical changes induced by Vaquejada are light, transiente, and within the normal range. The changes were more expressive in athletic horses that compete regularly and are transported, demonstrating the need for studies that establish specific training and management protocols for this category.

Hydration status and biochemical profile of Quarter Horses in vaquejada training

“…The results vary in the literature due to the differences for type, intensity and duration of the exercise carried out and physical conditioning of the animals and the different modalities (SOUZA et al, 2016). For example, similar results to the present study for CK and AST were observed by SOUSA et al (2018) in horses during vaquejada competition, both in a group of horses that competed sporadically and in a group of horses that did vaquejada regularly. The authors reported that in both groups there was a discrete non-significant raise for these enzymes immediately after sprinting, with later decrease of their concentration at 30 and 120 min., and at no time were there concentrations above normal limits.…”

“…Opposite results were obtained to Lopes et al (2009) who did not find an significant increase in hematocrit of the horses after vaquejada. However, this increase has been described in some studies on horses after vaquejada exercise (BINDA et al 2016, SOUSA et al 2018, HUNKA et al 2018, and may be justified by the fact that the horses have a good reserve of erythrocytes in the spleen (6 to 12 liters), and this, responding to the stimuli that alter the sympathetic activity and release of catecholamines under the influence of the exercise, releases the erythrocytes to the blood, transporting oxygen in the erythrocytic hemoglobin to the tissues. This is reflected in the total red cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration (WICKLER e ANDERSON, 2000).…”

Serum amyloid A and muscle activity biomarkers in horses submitted to equestrian show jumping

“…The authors attribute the result to the good physical fitness of the animals (Santos et al 2015). Study with quarter horses during vaquejada exercise also did not find AST alteration (Sousa et al 2018).…”

Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation in Assessing the Quality of Welfare of Conditioned Vaquejada Horses

“…Assessments of iron concentration were done in two groups of pull vaquejada horses, one that regularly performed with professional cowboys and in another group with amateur cowboys, and no variations in iron concentration were observed in each group or between groups after a vaquejada simulation test with three races [46]. On the other hand, in another study with three-barrel horses, an increase in serum iron was observed after a race but retuned to baseline val-ues at 30 minutes of recovery [47].…”