Parâmetros fisiológicos e análise conformacional de equinos utilizados para equoterapia e hipismo

Abstract

The horse is suitable for several sports that may require a great variety of requirements to provide a good performance. For this reason, it is important to understand which metabolic pathways are required and which physiological adaptations are involved by different types of exercise. In addition, for every sporting activity, there is an ideal conformation, which contributes to the animal's good resourcefulness. Thus, the objective was to analyze and compare the conformation of horses that perform Riding Therapy and Equestrian activities, trace the blood biochemical profile and assess the possible metabolic adaptations of horses in each activity and, therefore, provide useful knowledge to improve the performance of this group of animals. The experimental design was in Entirely Randomized Blocks and 17 trained and conditioned horses were used for Riding Therapy and Equestrian activities, between 5 and 15 years old, both sexes, receiving the same nutritional management, complying with the requirements of NRC 2007. The animals were divided into three groups, being group 1 composed of 5 riding horses (light intensity), group 2 consisting of 7 riding animals that were mounted (medium intensity), and group 3 consisting of 5 riding animals that were free in the picket. On the days of the study, two blood samples were collected (one before exercise and the other after) by jugular venipuncture, using vacuum tubes for analysis of Hematological Parameters, Fat Metabolism, Carbohydrate Metabolism and Protein Metabolism. Furthermore, the conformation of the animals was measured using Morphometry and the Heart Rate was measured at rest and after activities. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey Test with a significance level of 5%. Heart Rate, Measurements and some Hematological and Fat Metabolism Parameters showed statistical differences (p<0.05) between treatments and between different moments of the study. These data indicate that the various intensities of exercise have a direct influence on the metabolism and biochemical profile of the horse, however, as they are light to medium intensity activities, the exercises were not able to generate any physiological imbalance, leading to the belief that the horses were well conditioned and adapted to the activities. The different exercises also require and result in different conformations, being proportional to the type of effort and aptitude of that animal, and it is extremely important that there is adequate knowledge of the horse, its physiological condition and its physical structure, so that it is providing better performance and animal welfare.