Evaluation of a traditional program of training in chilean rodeo criollo horses through the analysis of physiological and blood biochemical changes

A study in order to determine the effects on cardiovascular, respiratory, e ndocrine and metabolic variables of a traditional training program for Chil ean Criollo horses was carried out. In order to analyse the level of work u nder which the horses are trained, the race track and the time of exercise were measured to determine work speed. Heart rate, respiratory rate were me asured. Blood samples were used to measure packed cell volume, haemoglobin total proteins, glucose, triglycerides, lactic acid, insulin, cortisol, and electrolites (Na, Cl and Ca). The activity of enzymes, creatin kinase, lac tic dehydrogenase and aspartate amino transferase were obtained before and after each training exercise. The physiological and blood biochemical varia bles were measured on days 0, 15, 30 and 45 of training. According to the results obtained it is concluded that the traditional on f arm training exercise for Chilean Criollo horses is a short term and low sp eed exercise which represent a physical work of moderate intensity, produci ng small changes on physiological and blood biochemical variables suggestin g that the principal aim of the conditioning program is to improve the abil ity of horses to stop the steers in the rodeo track than to obtain better p hysical fitness.