BLOOD-VISCOSITY IN EXERCISING HORSES

A study was performed at the University of Tennessee College of Veteri nary Medicine to determine the alterations in blood viscosity (BV) and plasma viscosity (PV) in horses after intense exercise. The primary p urpose of the study was to determine the effects of cross-country jump ing, a type of short-term periodically intense exercise, on blood hema tological values and viscosity. Forty-two Thoroughbred and Thoroughbre d type horses, that were competing in the cross country phase of two s eparate horse trials were used in the study. Results and conclusions o f the study are discussed.