Can the training regimen influence night time physical activity in racehorses?

• Published in: Veterinary and animal science Vol. 14; p. 100208
• Main Authors: Rumpel, Aires Santana, Alievi, Marcelo Meller, Jardim Filho, José Osvaldo, Rozo, Cesar Augusto Camacho, Schuster, Lucas Antonio Heinen, da Silva, Alessandra Ventura, Ferreira, Márcio Poletto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accelerometer; Equine; Ethology; Locomotor activity; Rest; Training protocol; Accelerometer; Ethology; Training protocol; Rest; Equine; Locomotor activity
• ISSN: 2451-943X; 2451-943X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2021.100208

•The training regimen influenced the night time physical activity of athlete horses.•Thoroughbred racing horses trained on continual days had lower physical activity in the night time than those trained on intermittent days.•Accelerometry is a good tool for measuring horse movements in box stalls, and there is an area for further studies with the use of accelerometers in equines.
Physical activity has been widely investigated in horses to elucidate locomotion characteristics and behavior. However, research in real environment of training stables is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of training regimen on night time physical activity of racehorses. Physical activities of twenty animals were monitored during the night time using accelerometers. The animals were compared in terms of training regimen: horses subjected to training on continual days, and horses subjected to training on intermittent days; age and sex were also considered. The variables analyzed were: counts per minute, percentage of time in (sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous) physical activity. Statistical analysis was performed by the PROCGLM procedure (ANOVA) and the means were calculated by Tukey's test. The training regimen impacts the physical activity of thoroughbreds. The mean counts per minute showed a higher physical activity in the intermittent trained animals in relation with continuously trained animals. The continuously trained animals presented a greater percentage of time in sedentary physical activity than those intermittent trained. However, intermittently trained horses spent a larger percentage of time in moderate and vigorous physical activity, in comparison with continuously trained animals. In conclusion, racehorses subject to training on continual days have lower physical activity in the night time than those that train on intermittent days.