Training of Horses Used for Show Jumping and its Effect on VLa4

Introduction There are few data on training horses used for show jumping (SJ) in practice. This study presents such data and relates it to changes of VLa4 during an outdoors season (VLa4 = speed at which a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l is achieved). Methods The training of 19 SJ (11 managed by professional trainer, PSJ, and 8 by amateur riders, ASJ) was documented and related to changes of VLa4. All horses were submitted to 3 standardized exercise tests (SET) to calculate VLa4: April/May, June/July, September: SET1, SET2, SET3. Noted daily were: Minutes of turn-out on pasture, of walking in horse-walker, of lungeing and of specific exercise (gymnastics, jumping and others). Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA (Fisher's test as applicable) or linear regression. Results The duration of the specific exercises ranged between 30–60 minutes. PSJ were exercised less often and duration of each specific exercise was lower than for ASJ (P = 0.01). Considering all horses, the VLa4 increased between SET1 and SET2 when the duration of exercise and gymnastics was longer and the number of days on pasture higher (P<0.05 both). These relationships became not significant when groups were analysed separately. The VLa4 of ASJ increased between SET2 and SET3 when horses were kept on pasture for more time (P<0.05, r2 = 0.64). The VLa4 of PSJ tended to increase with a higher percentage of jumping days between SET1 and SET2 (P = 0.08, r2 = 0.30), and with longer duration of jumping exercise sessions between SET2 and SET3 (P = 0.06; r2 = 0.33). Conclusions The information may help to improve the training of show jumpers. Ethical Animal Research Horse owners gave consent for these procedures within a veterinary monitoring system. Sources of funding: none declared. Competing interests: none.