The validity of swimming training for two-year-old thoroughbreds

To investigate the validity of swimming training, the following matters were considered: 1) changes in the performance capacity, 2) changes in the constitution and 3) frequency of locomotor diseases. These were evaluated during a training program including both conventional exercise on a track and swimming. In this study, 24 two-year-old thoroughbred horses were studied, and divided into the following three groups: Group A, trained by only running; Group B, trained by running plus a gradual increase in swimming; Group C, trained by running plus constant swimming. As a result of standardized exercise tests, only the intercepts of the 3 regression curves between the speed and the blood lactate concentration in Group B increased significantly as the training progressed. While the growth in height in Groups B and C were greater than in Group A, the increase in girth and weight in Groups B and C were smaller than in Group A. The percentages with locomotor diseases during this experiment in Groups A, B, and C were 62.5%, 12.5% and 25.0%, respectively, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between Group A and Group B. As mentioned, it was suggested that a training program including swimming training is seen as being useful for improvement in performance capacity, since it can reduce locomotor diseases in young horses and allow for smooth progress in future training.