Acute training in racing horses at two different levels of effort: A haemorheological analysis

During acute exercise several significant cardiovascular alterations take place, along with possible physiopathological consequences, such as Exercise Inducted Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH). Given the relevance of blood rheology in the determination of flow resistance and its supposed participation in the stated events, the present paper focuses on the analysis of modifications in haematocrit, blood viscosity and erythrocyte deformability in Thoroughbred horses caused by two different levels of effort (6 to 9 m/s and 13 to 16 m/s), in the same track they train in and with their own jockeys. The results obtained show a deep modification in those parameters, as consequence of the exercise. However, no significant discrepancies were observed between the different levels of effort in which the training was performed.