Studies on exercise physiology of the racehorse performed in Japan during the period from the 1930s to the 1970s: respiration and heart rate during exercise and the effect of exercise on blood characteristics

Abstract

After publication of the epic report on equine exercise physiology by Matsuba and Shimamura in 1933, papers on exercise physiology of the racehorse in Japan began appearing in scientific journals and increased in number. In 1944, respiration during exercise at a walk, trot, and canter was measured by recording expiratory sounds with a microphone attached near the nostril. Respiratory frequency during cantering was synchronized with stride frequency, and expiratory sounds were found to occur during the stance phase of the trailing forelimb. Development of a radiotelemetry system in 1964 for electrocardiogram recording enabled the first recording of an equine electrocardiogram during field exercise that included fast galloping and calculation of heart rate (HR) during exercise. During low intensity exercise including walking, trotting, cantering and extended cantering, HR increased from 45 beat/min during pre-exercise to 150 beat/min at an extended canter. HR increased to 200 beat/min or more in most horses during 100 m of high-intensity sprint galloping. When blood lactate was measured after 3 days of draft work in 12 warhorses in 1934, no increase in blood lactate was found. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was decreased by intense exercise and also decreased as training increased. It was suggested that measuring changes in ESR and body weight in relation to training might become useful as a screening index of training, condition, and fatigue. This evaluation method was named the “ESR-body weight method.”

Klinische Parameter in der Spätträchtigkeit bei der Stute

“…Bei einer vermehrten körperlichen Anstrengung werden die AF und das Atemzugvolumen gesteigert, um die Sauerstoffaufnahme zu erhöhen (24,35,43). Beim Sportpferd ist das respiratorische System der primäre limitierende Faktor für das Erbringen von Hochleistungen (14).…”

“…B. Transport (13,36), bei systemischen und schmerzhaften Erkrankungen (25,29,45) und bei sportlichen Leistungsanforderungen (11,21,24,35,37,45). Beim Quarter Horse im Training konnte ein linearer Zusammenhang zwischen dem Anstieg der Kortisolkonzentration…”

The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

“…It is also a very sure-footed gait with periods of tripedal support at slower speeds and with one limb always on the ground. Unfortunately, the biomechanics of the running walk including energetic consumption and ground contact forces remain to be studied; however, Holt [ 29 ] found that the average respiratory rate of Tennessee Walking Horses after a flat walk at 1.7 m/s was considerably less (26–27 breaths/minute) than that of a trot at 3.3 m/s (75–80 breaths/minute) or trot at 5.0 m/s (95–100 breathes/minute) [ 34 ]. Hence, it may well be the case that the running walk, with less vertical fluctuation of its center of mass, is more energy efficient than the trot at intermediate speeds and indeed than other alternative lateral gaits.…”

Studies on the exercise physiology of draft horses performed in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s

“…[47] of The University of Tokyo compared respiratory frequency (RF) during 3 different types of draft work: plowing, cultivating, and harrowing using the same equipment Okabe and Sugiyama had used [10, 38]. According to their observations, RF increased in a fluctuating manner and reached a given steady state for each exercise.…”