Applied sport science for horses trained in Germany for endurance ride races

There is no scientific literature on the training used in practice for horses competing in endurance ride races. This article describes data obtained during 2001 to 2003 while providing sports science services to horses being prepared in Germany to compete in endurance ride races. Three services were given: 1) Performance diagnosis of 13 horses during the training and competition seasons; 2) Performance diagnosis of 18 horses gathered for a training camp to nominate the horses for the European Championships (EC); 3) Evaluation of the training protocals of 10 horses during the training and competition seasons (protocols of a horse were evaluated only when at least 3 months of a training and competition season were available). Performance diagnosis was based on the determination of v(4) and v(180) of the horses with standardized exercise tests (v(4), v(180): the horse's speed, which produced a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l, and a heart rote of 180 b/min). The standardized exercise test (SET) prescriptions differed according to the history of training and competition of the horses. In addition plasma glucose and cortisol concentration as well as CK activity were measured after each interval of SET in the horses participating in the EC nomination trials. The mean v(4) and v(180) of horses tested with the SET for experienced horses (had competed already at least once in a 160 km race and had been in training from March to June of a season without longer interruptions due to disease) were 9.10 +/- 0.46 m/s und 9.41 +/- 1.87 m/s respectively. The values of the horses tested with the SET for horses in preparation (those not complying with the definition for experienced horses) were 9.16 +/- 0.85 m/s and 9.20 +/- 0.52 m/s. The horse that won the German Championship in a year of the service had the highest v(4) of the horses measured, while his v(180) was average only. Another horse did not have good racing records during the 3 years of service despite of an overall good fitness, high v(4) and being even selected to compete at the EC. However, its v(180) values were low. It was assumed that this could have been of disadvantage for the horse during competition because its heart rate failed to recover fast in the vet gates loosing time against other horses. The introduction of Individual Recovery Rates in endurance ride races to give such horses a fair competition is suggested. The v(4) and v(180) of 6 out of 18 horses that participated in the trials for the EC nomination only could be determined. The reason was that most riders were not able to ride the prescribed speeds of the SET (they were too slow). The mean values of blood lactate, heart rate, plasma glucose and plasma cortisol as well as the median values of plasma CK increased continuously during SET (p < 0.05), but did not differ between the 5 horses nominated for the EC and the 13 not nominated horses (p > 0.05). The proportion of days where horses were not exercised was between 26% and 57% of the available days. On the days when horses were exercised it was mainly to maintain or improve endurance (17% to 73% of days when the exercise session was up to 60 minutes long, 11% to 46% when it lasted more than 1 hour). During the exercise sessions to maintain or improve endurance horses worked mainly at walk and trot (50 +/- 19 minutes and 49 +/- 15 minutes respectively; 16 +/- 3 minutes at galopp). The horse, that won the German Championship, was exercised shortest to maintai or improve endurance. This was because it was exercised at a walk for 25 minutes only. These data may indicate that walking does not provide for better endurance. In conclusion the data presented gives insight into the training of horses used for endurance racing in Germany. They provide the basis for examining the effect of changes within the training regimes to improve the preparation of horses for competition.