BLOOD-GAS PROFILE IN THE SHOW JUMPER UNDERGOING INCREASING WORKLOADS DURING A 2 DAY EVENT

The pattern of several blood–gas indices has been investigated in eight show jumpers during a 2-day showjumping event. The effectiveness of the athlete horse’s physiological buffering systems has been pointed out, as well as the similarity between the patterns of the indices regarding the acid–base status and those metabolically defining the horse’s physical potential. The results of this study draw attention to the importance of a qualitative and quantitative determination of the blood–gas parameters in the show jumper, not only to define the horse’s acid–base status but also to analyse the potential performance more accurately.