Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance

The racing industry is supported by a predominance of female stablehands and work riders, but few become professional jockeys. Female jockeys have recently had notable race success. No study has assessed whether the sex of the rider may subtly influence racehorse physiology to affect performance. Here, using a validated exercise tracking system (the 'Equimetre'™) that records many physiological parameters simultaneously, this study characterised racehorse cardiovascular (heart rate, heart rate recovery) and biomechanical (stride length and frequency) parameters at various exercise intensities (slow canter to hard gallop) to address the question whether any parameter varied according to sex of the rider. A total of 530 Thoroughbreds, varying in age (2-7 years old) and sex (including geldings), from one racing yard in Australia, completed a total of 3,568 exercise sessions, monitored by a single trainer, on varying track surfaces (sand, turf, or fibre). Different work riders,103 in total (male, n = 66; female, n = 37) of which n = 43 were current or past registered professional jockeys, participated in the study. Data were analysed using analysis of variation (ANOVA) or mixed-effect models, as appropriate. Sex of the rider did not influence (P > 0.05) racehorse speed nor stride length at any training intensity. Racehorse heart rate and peak heart rate increased with training intensity (P 0.05). Racehorse heart rate recovery was influenced by sex of the rider, but only at the extremes of the reversed, usual training intensity on each surface (e.g. heart rate after galloping on sand was significantly lower with male riders, P = 0.03). Finally, analysis of 52,464 race results indicated a similar chance of a top-three placing for male and female jockeys. In conclusion, this study, using objectively obtained data, demonstrates for the first time no overt effect of the rider's sex on racehorse physiology in training and performance in racing. Such data could encourage greater female participation in racing and improve access of female jockeys to better quality mounts in racing events

Cardiovascular Fitness and Stride Acceleration in Race-Pace Workouts for the Prediction of Performance in Thoroughbreds

In-training racehorse physiological data can be leveraged to further explore race-day performance prediction. To date, no large retrospective, observational study has analysed whether in-training speed and heart rate recovery can predict racehorse success. Speed (categorised as ‘slow’ to ‘fast’ according to the time taken to cover the last 600 m from a virtual finish line) and heart rate recovery (from gallop to 1 min after exercise) of flat racehorses (n = 485) of varying age, sex and type according to distance (e.g., sprinter, miler and stayer) were obtained using a fitness tracker from a single racing yard in Australia. Race-pace training sessions on turf comprised ‘fast gallop’ (n = 3418 sessions) or ‘jumpout’ (n = 1419). A posteriori racing information (n = 3810 races) for all 485 racehorses was extracted and combined with training data. Race performance was categorised as win/not-win or podium or not, each analysed by logistic regression. Colts (p < 0.001), stayers (p < 0.001) and being relatively fast over the last 600 m of a benchmark test in training (p < 0.008) were all predictive of race performance. Heart rate recovery after exercise (p = 0.21) and speed recorded at 600 m of a 1 km benchmark test in training (p = 0.94) were not predictive. In-training physiological data analytics used along with subjective experience may help trainers identify promising horses and improve decision-making

Bruit respiratoire et intolérance à l'effort: quel est votre diagnostic?

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Les myopathies subcliniques constituent-elles une cause d’intolérance à l’effort ?

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Quel prélèvement respiratoire – quelle(s) analyse(s) & quoi en attendre ?

International audienc

Pourquoi examiner le cheval à l’effort ?

peer reviewedExamination of the horse during daily work is essential to follow-up his athletic préparation, however a good level of expérience is required to judge if he is ready to perform in compétition. Beyond thé subjective estimation of his behaviour and progress, objective parameters can be measured to evaluate his athletic capacity, level of fitness and health. Simple exercise tests can be integrated to thé horse's regular work schedule and parameters such as speed, heart rate and cardio-respiratory recovery may be readily monitored and compared during thé course of thé season. More sophisticated tests allow investigating exercise physiology of thé horse during exertion and thé way he tolerates and adapts to physical strain. It also allows early détection of subclinical diseases liable to impair performance. Like in human sports medicine, treadmill tests represent a safe investigation tool that is particularly well adapted to examining horses during exercise and helps diagnose one or several causes of poor performance, as many ancillary examinations may be implemented.L'observation quotidienne du cheval au travail est un élément essentiel dans le suivi de sa préparation sportive, mais un bon niveau d'expérience est requis pour juger s'il est prêt à accomplir une performance en compétition. Au-delà d'une appréciation subjective de son comportement et de ses progrès, il est possible de mesurer des paramètres sportifs qui permettront d'évaluer de manière objective les capacités athlétiques du cheval, son niveau de condition physique et son état de santé. Des tests à l'effort simples peuvent être intégrés au programme habituel et des paramètres élémentaires, tels que la vitesse de parcours, la fréquence cardiaque ou la récupération cardio-respiratoire, peuvent être régulièrement comparés au cours de la saison. Des tests plus sophistiqués permettent d'investiguer la physiologie du cheval à l'effort, sa tolérance et son adaptation aux contraintes et de détecter précocement des affections subcliniques susceptibles de réduire ses capacités athlétiques et ses performances. A l'instar de la médecine sportive humaine, les tests sur tapis roulant représentent un outil d'investigation sûr, particulièrement adapté à l'examen du cheval à l'effort et au diagnostic de la ou les cause(s) de contre-performance, car de nombreux examens complémentaires sensibles peuvent y être associés

La contre-performance du cheval de CSO – une cause médicale

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L'analyse des gaz sanguins artériels dans l'examen du cheval contre-performant

peer reviewedThis paper analyses the usefulness of arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) as ancillary test during the examination of the poor performance horse. The principle of the measurement of the gas tensions and the methodological rules to be respected are presented. The functional troubles inducing impairments of pulmonary gas exchanges are described. Several papers reporting the effect of upper and lower airway dysfunction on ABG have been published. On the basis on this scientific information, the usefulness and the limits of the ABG analyses as ancillary test in the examination of the poor performer are presented and discussedL'utilité potentielle de l'analyse des gaz sanguins artériels (GSA) lors de l'examen du cheval contre-performant est étudiée dans cet article. Le principe de leur mesure ainsi que les exigences méthodologiques pour le prélèvement et l'analyse du sang artériel y sont présentés. Les troubles fonctionnels susceptibles de modifier la qualité des échanges gazeux pulmonaires, donc les valeurs des GSA y sont ensuite décrits. Plusieurs articles ont investigué l'effet de différentes atteintes des voies respiratoires hautes et basses sur la mesure des gaz sanguins au repos mais surtout au tours de l'effort. Sur la base de ces informations scientifiques, l'utilité et les limites de l'analyse des GSA dans l'examen du cheval contre-performant au repos et à l'effort sont discutée

Respiratory inflammation in endurance horses

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La Gourme: épidémiologie, pathogénèse, clinique, traitement et prévention

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