Cation-anionic and acid base status of Quarter Horse in vaquejada training

Abstract

The cation-anionic and acid base status were assessed and compared among pull and helper Quarter Horses in three times (T) in vaquejada training: before (T0) and immediately after three sprints (T1), one hour after the end of the sprints (T2). At each time blood samples were collected for gasometry, plasma and serological analyses, and the differences were calculated of strong ions (SID), anion gap (AG) and weak ions (Atot). Sodium, potassium, chloride and Atot did not vary among the times or between the groups. In T1, ionized calcium (iCa), pH, HCO3-, pCO2, CBase and SID decreased in the groups, but not between them, while the lactate and AG increased in both the groups, and the lactate was higher in the pull horse group. Only iCa and lactate remained, respectively, lower and higher in T2, compared to T0. It was concluded that the exercise caused hypocalcemia, hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis in both groups, however, a greater lactic acidosis in the pulling, characterizing that in this group the anerobic metabolism was of higher intensity.