Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding
Abstract Background Weight carrying capacity is an important trait in riding horses and it may be associated with conformation. This study examined the physiological response to a ridden incremental weight carrying test in 16 adult Icelandic horses used for tour riding. Horses carried 20% (BWR20%),...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00818-5 |
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| author | Denise Söderroos Guðrún Jóhanna Stefánsdóttir Sveinn Ragnarsson Víkingur Gunnarsson Anna Jansson |
| author_facet | Denise Söderroos Guðrún Jóhanna Stefánsdóttir Sveinn Ragnarsson Víkingur Gunnarsson Anna Jansson |
| author_sort | Denise Söderroos |
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| description | Abstract Background Weight carrying capacity is an important trait in riding horses and it may be associated with conformation. This study examined the physiological response to a ridden incremental weight carrying test in 16 adult Icelandic horses used for tour riding. Horses carried 20% (BWR20%), 25% (BWR25%), 30% (BWR30%) and 35% (BWR35%) of their body weight (BW) in tölt (~ 5.7 m/seconds, 640 m/step), and associations with body measurements and back conformation (score) were examined. Horses were divided into two groups (narrow or broad back) and body measurements were collected. Plasma lactate was analysed in blood samples collected after each step in the exercise test, an exponential equation was fitted, and BW-ratio was calculated for 2, 3 and 4 mmol/L (BWRLa2, BWRLa3 and BWRLa4). Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were analysed at rest and 24 h post exercise. Results Four out of 15 horses did not reach a plasma lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L, even at BWR35%. A positive correlation was found between chest width and BWRLa4 and between the difference between height at withers and croup and BWRLa2 (P < 0.05). Hock circumference and the difference between height at croup and back were negatively correlated with BWRLa2 (P < 0.05). The change in CK from rest to 24 h post exercise was negatively correlated with the difference between height at withers and height at back and croup (P < 0.05). Conclusions The physiological response to weight carrying was relatively low. A wider chest, “uphill” conformation, straight backline and smaller hock circumference were associated with weight carrying capacity, but group (narrow or broad back) was not. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec94cb8119d64bc4abb3402e1582ceb8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec94cb8119d64bc4abb3402e1582ceb82025-08-20T03:47:17ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472025-06-0167111210.1186/s13028-025-00818-5Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour ridingDenise Söderroos0Guðrún Jóhanna Stefánsdóttir1Sveinn Ragnarsson2Víkingur Gunnarsson3Anna Jansson4Department of Animal Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Equine Science, Hólar UniversityDepartment of Equine Science, Hólar UniversityDepartment of Equine Science, Hólar UniversityDepartment of Animal Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background Weight carrying capacity is an important trait in riding horses and it may be associated with conformation. This study examined the physiological response to a ridden incremental weight carrying test in 16 adult Icelandic horses used for tour riding. Horses carried 20% (BWR20%), 25% (BWR25%), 30% (BWR30%) and 35% (BWR35%) of their body weight (BW) in tölt (~ 5.7 m/seconds, 640 m/step), and associations with body measurements and back conformation (score) were examined. Horses were divided into two groups (narrow or broad back) and body measurements were collected. Plasma lactate was analysed in blood samples collected after each step in the exercise test, an exponential equation was fitted, and BW-ratio was calculated for 2, 3 and 4 mmol/L (BWRLa2, BWRLa3 and BWRLa4). Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were analysed at rest and 24 h post exercise. Results Four out of 15 horses did not reach a plasma lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L, even at BWR35%. A positive correlation was found between chest width and BWRLa4 and between the difference between height at withers and croup and BWRLa2 (P < 0.05). Hock circumference and the difference between height at croup and back were negatively correlated with BWRLa2 (P < 0.05). The change in CK from rest to 24 h post exercise was negatively correlated with the difference between height at withers and height at back and croup (P < 0.05). Conclusions The physiological response to weight carrying was relatively low. A wider chest, “uphill” conformation, straight backline and smaller hock circumference were associated with weight carrying capacity, but group (narrow or broad back) was not.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00818-5BackBody measurementsEquineRider weightWeight carrying exercise test |
| spellingShingle | Denise Söderroos Guðrún Jóhanna Stefánsdóttir Sveinn Ragnarsson Víkingur Gunnarsson Anna Jansson Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Back Body measurements Equine Rider weight Weight carrying exercise test |
| title | Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| title_full | Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| title_fullStr | Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| title_short | Physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in Icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| title_sort | physiological response to weight carrying and associations with conformation traits in icelandic horses used for tour riding |
| topic | Back Body measurements Equine Rider weight Weight carrying exercise test |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00818-5 |
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