Glycemia and lactacidemia in eventing horses in a high-speed treadmill test

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects on glycemia and lactacidemia as a function of the time of intake of concentrate ration in horses before a high-speed treadmill test. Fifteen eventing Brazilian Sport horses were used in two experimental trials in a completely randomized design. In the first trial, a glycemic index test was performed with four horses and the glycemic response was evaluated after concentrate ration intake. In the second trial, 12 horses were used, in three experimental treatments (time of supply of concentrate ration before the high-speed treadmill test - 2, 4 and 6h) and four horses / group, and submitted to test on a treadmill. Blood samples were collected for glucose, lactate and heart rate monitoring and, with these results, VL2, VL4 and V200 were estimated by exponential and linear regression, respectively. The evaluating of horse’s performance in the experimental groups it was verified that VL2, VL4, and V200 were not influenced by the time of supply of the concentrate ration in 2, 4 or 6 hours before the high-speed treadmill test. The time of supply of the concentrate ration before the high-speed treadmill test did not influence the glycemia, lactacidemia and heart rate of the horses before and during the test. Further studies are needed to understand the glucose restoration after exercise in standardized treadmill speed tests.