Serum electrolyte and protein modification during different workload in jumper horse

Abstract

Five clinically healthy Italian saddle horses were used to assess serum electrolyte and protein modification during different workloads. Blood samples were collected from each horse at rest, immediately after each exercise and at 30 and 60 min after the end of exercise. Our results confirm that exercise has variable effects, depending on work intensity, on some electrolytes, total protein and haematocrit. Based on our results, it is possible to affirm that the studied indices could be useful in the assessment of the fitness of sport horses and that it is appropriate to correlate these electrolytic modifications to blood density.