The effect of the change in the T1 final test for Icelandic Horses

What do we ask from our horses in the tölt T1 final?
Is it a survival of the fittest, or do we see the best tölter?
How can we expect such different endurance demands and physiological system from our horses comparing the preliminary round with the final.

Physiologically effects

You need to train the muscle fibers and the physiological system that is needed for the test.
If the T1 selection is ‘only’ three rounds (3 a 4 minutes) but the finals are up to 17 minutes, can we aks this form our horses, can we train our horses for this difference?
Roughly this is similar to a bodybuilder ask to run a marathon.

T1 final

Since 2014 there has been an adjustment in the tölt T1 final.
There are walk breaks introduced based on empirical evidence that this change is the best for the horses in this final.

To make our sport better, we need to know what we do and why we do things.
The best way to make adjustments in tests is when they are made based up on knowledge and where possible evidencie. This research is making a first step in this direction.

The aim of this research is to monitor the effect of introducing extra walk breaks in the tölt T1 final on the heart rate and blood lactate of the Icelandic Horse.
All of an optimal alignment between what we ask of our horses (horse welfair), education, train what we need to train, all within the physiological capabilities of our horses.

Previous research

In 2014 and 2015 there are two studies published and the conclusions and advice of G.J. Stefánsdóttir et al (Hólar 2014 and Uppsala 2015);

• Lack of knowledge on the physiological response of Icelandic horses to exercise and competition
• Further studies are needed
• Lack of information on current training strategies

Both studies toke place at FIZO tests, the outcome of those tests can't be used for the T1.
Since a FIZO has a different purpose and requires other physical aspects the horses

Method

• Clinical setting
• Using cross-over design
• Use of normal T1 final program
• Continuous heart rate monitoring
• Venous lactate concentration is determined each time the horse goes to walk

The results of both the heart rate monitoring and the venous lactate will be showed and compared in diagrams as shown below

T-new -> heart rates on the left and the orange and yellow lines in the centre
T-old -> heart rates on the right and the green and brown lines in the centre

Our team

Marco de Bruijn (DVM, Spec. KNMvD Eq Int Med, Dipl. ECEIM), Cees van Beckhoven and Eva Beun will be the team on this research.

Marco - Wolvega Equine Hospital - one of the few Equine Hospitals in Holland were dynamic respiratory endoscopy can be made.
His special interest: poor performance, neonatology/paediatrics and the pre-, intra- an postoperative care of the acute abdomen.
Author, co-author and (co-) supervisor of several studies, recent Marco was a co-supervisor for a research 'Monitoring blood lactate and heart rate during two different Standardised Exercise Tests in young Friesian horses'

Cees – owner of Heart for Horses.
His quote – don’t train harder, train smarter – works with national and international riders.
Better training and horse management by monitoring the heart rate, using hart rate for a better performance.
Cees has for example worked with the Dutch dressage team, for the baseline and follow up tests.

Eva – linking pin to the Iceland horse as a rider and trainer of Icelandic horses. After some bad luck she came in contact with Marco and he has been her inspiration to go on with this plan and finding answers to the questions she had as a human physiotherapist about the physiology in the Icelandic horse sport.

Funding

Making a research as this isn't possible without funding, we do not receive any direct financial support.
We are depending on sponsors and contributors from the community, everybody could help by pressing the 'donate' botton. Even small amounts make us come closer to our goal.

Larger amounts from businesses or individuals (>€1000,-) that can be seen as sponsoring, will be mentioned in the publications of this research.
All sponsors and supporters will be mentioned on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/T1finalicelandichorses/.

Outcome

The outcome will be used by the FEIF for making a well-considered decision to retain or remove the extra walk breaks or support for futher research in how to make the tölt T1 final physiologically ideal for the horses.

Our aim is to publish the outcome at least on the FEIF website and we will distribute it to the national member associations the FEIF, so they can publish it on their national website or magazines.