The Effect of a Complementary Training Program on Metabolic Load Profiles: Performance Diagnostics Under Field...

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of complementary training on metabolic load in para equestrian sports in 2 standardized training sessions at the beginning and end of the 2023 competition season under field conditions. Based on pretest diagnostic results, the individual performance was optimized through specific compensatory training using metabolic profiles.

The study design was an exploratory pre-post study approach in which blood lactate, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion were measured during a standardized 40-minute training session with 5 measurement time points. A total of 11 athletes from the national youth squad and national talent pool were included in the analyses. Descriptive comparisons of mean values were carried out. For inferential statistical analyses, linear mixed models were calculated to assess the difference between training load in pretest and posttest.

Athletes were primarily in the aerobic range of energy provision within the 5 measurement time points (maximum values pretest, 4.14 mmol/L; posttest, 5.91 mmol/L). Heart rate increased as the number of ridden gaits increased. The results show that athletes who noticeably increased their compensatory training over the 2023 season showed significantly lower rating of perceived exertion in training when riding a standard competition task at the end of the season.

Athletes' potential for promoting a competitive sport career could be further exploited by an increase in complementary training (eg, endurance and strength training) to enhance sport-specific performance capability with regard to long-term performance development. The research was funded by the German Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp).