Effect of high ambient temperature on physiological responses during incremental exercise in Thoroughbred horses

Several reports have suggested that the risk of exertional heat illness (EHI) in Thoroughbred racehorses increases in high ambient temperatures. Heat dissipation in horses during exercise becomes less efficient when the body temperature and ambient temperature are close. Therefore, we hypothesised that exercise at 40 °C may increase body temperature, oxygen consumption, and cardiac output during incremental exercise tests compared to 20 and 30 °C. Six trained Thoroughbred horses were studied in a randomised, crossover design at three ambient temperatures with a 6-day washout period. Using a 3% inclined treadmill, horses performed incremental exercise tests at 1.7, 3.5, 6, 8, and 10 m/s for 90 s at ambient temperatures of 20, 30, and 40 °C. The effects of ambient temperature at 10 m/s on physiological variables were analysed using mixed models (P<0.05). Pulmonary arterial temperature and rectal temperature at 40 °C were higher than those at 20 °C (P<0.001) and 30 °C (P<0.001). Similarly, oxygen consumption (vs 20 °C, P=0.009; vs 30 °C, P=0.006) and cardiac output (vs 20 °C, P=0.001; vs 30 °C, P=0.001) at 40 °C were higher than those at 20 and 30 °C. Arterial O2 partial pressure, O2 saturation, and pH at 40 °C were lower than those at 20 and 30 °C. Arterial CO2 partial pressure at 40 °C was higher than that at 20 and 30 °C. No differences were observed in arterial-mixed venous O2 concentration difference (P=0.391) and plasma lactate concentration (P=0.134) at different ambient temperatures. These results indicate that exercise at 40 °C causes excessive high body temperature, decreased running economy, and increased cardiac output compared to exercise at 20 and 30 °C. We strongly suggest that trainers and veterinarians should anticipate the occurrence of increased thermal stresses when ambient temperature is extremely high even in dry conditions and prepare to mitigate the risk of EHI from the perspective of equine welfare.