| dc.description.abstract | Nine previously sedentary Quarter Horse mares were randomly assigned to three treatment groups of 3 mares each. Horses in treatment group I served as controls. Horses in treatment groups II and III were conditioned by daily exercise for 2.25 miles at a trot and gallop, respectively. On days 0, 14 and 28 of a 28 day conditioning period the horses in all three treatment groups were subjected to a submaximal exercise tolerance test on an equine treadmill. Blood samples were taken at rest, 10 and 30 min. of exercise and 10 and 30 min. of recovery during the exercise test. From these blood samples serum was extracted and analyzed for calcium, glucose, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen, creatine, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphitase, CKP, LDH, SGOT, SGPT, and total serum protein. Serum levels of these parameters were monitored in order to relate changes in response to exercise and conditioning to an objective means of measuring fitness levels in horses.
The serum levels of calcium, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen, creatine, total serum protein, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphitase and SGPT were within clinically normal ranges and did not vary greatly with exercise or conditioning. Serum glucose, CPK, LDH and SGOT levels increased in response to the exercise tolerance test. The magnitude of this increase remained consistent throughout the conditioning period for SGOT. On the other hand, serum CPK, LDH and glucose levels were lower on day 28 of conditioning than on day zero for all three treatment groups at 30 minutes of exercise during the exercise test. Because the control group responed in similar manner to the trot and gallop groups, it is difficult to conclude from this study that measuring serum CPK, LDH and glucose levels in response to and exercise test can be useful in measuring fitness levels in horses. | en |
