Equine blood oxygenation as a coefficient of performance

Abstract

In horse breeding, it is important to introduce affordable methods for assessing the potential of the horse’s body to perform work of varying severity and in different terrain conditions (altitude, landscape features, type of work). The applicability of the method of dosing the load of working horses in highland conditions has been established on the basis of the value of the horse’s body weight calculated using the “heart girth” measurement, but the work should already be classified as heavy at a load weight of 15% of the horse’s body weight. The arterial molecular oxygen saturation of the blood and the pulse rate are sufficient to assess the state of respiratory function and the nature of the involvement of associated systems. The studies carried out on 14 mature working horses and also on 5 young horses used for work in lowland and highland conditions have made it possible to recommend the widespread use of the pulse oximeter for rapid analysis of blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate in order to dose the workload of these animals appropriately. Veterinary examination of horses with abnormal oxygen saturation and pulse pattern detected by the pulse oximeter confirmed the presence of clinical signs and laboratory markers of disorders in the body of a stallion and a repair mare, excluding the use of these animals as working animals. Early detection of inadequate respiratory function in young animals can allow a balanced decision to be made to refuse special training and prevent economic losses.