Hands-On Horse Research: What Is A Sprint Test?

A sprint test simulates a racing exercise bout and is used to investigate critical metabolism events during high-speed exercise.

Horses are galloped at 115% of maximal oxygen consumption until fatigued. Indirect calorimetry is used to measure oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production to ascertain maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD). In turn, anaerobic capacity is determined by MAOD. Information derived from sprint tests is applicable to racehorses.

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