Long-term changes of physiological reactions in young Lipizzan stallions during exercise testing

Čebulj-Kadunc, Nina (author), Frangež, Robert (author), Kruljc, Peter (author)

The aim of the study was to determine the fluctuations of selected physiological parameters in young Lipizzan stallions (n = 10) during the initial phase of their training as indicators of adaptation to a graded exercise load and stress exposure. For this purpose, four exercise tests (ExT) with lunging were carried out over a period of one year. Physiological parameters (gait speed, heart and respiratory rate (HR and RR), rectal and body surface temperature (RT and BST), and cortisol and lactate concentration (CORT and LAC)) were measured before and after training. In all ExT, gait speeds increased (p < 0.001) during the transitions from walk to trot and canter, followed by a significant (p < 0.001) increase in HR, RT, BST, and CORT, but not LAC values. However, the gate speed has no influence on the measured parameters. The highest BST values and corresponding warming were measured in the cranial region, followed by the caudal and distal body regions. The values of the measured variables remained within the ranges for warm-blooded horses, indicating adequate adaptation of the stallions to the applied stress level, but their variations could depend on air temperature or humidity. The results presented contribute to the knowledge of the complex physiological processes that occur in horses during exercise and point to the importance of environmental factors for adaptation to exercise.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Lipizzan breed, stallions, exercise testing, infrared thermography, physiological values
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 19 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 17, art. 2479
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-175184
• UDC: 636.09:612
• ISSN on article: 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani15172479
• COBISS.SI-ID: 246469635
• Publication date in RUL: 20.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Animals
• Shortened title: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2615
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519120409

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0053-2019
• Name: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Lipizza Stud Farm
• Project number: 802-3/2016-09
• Name: Lipizza Stud Farm cooperation agreement