The Journal
Notes from the track and the lab
Methods · 8 min
How reliable is an equine exercise test? Reading changes without overreacting
Blood lactate and heart rate do not vary equally between tests. Learn what research says about repeatability and how to compare your horse's results responsibly.
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Results · 8 min
V4 versus lactate minimum speed in horses: what each test measures
An incremental V4 test and a lactate minimum speed test answer different questions. Compare their protocols, evidence and limits before interpreting results.
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Tracking · 7 min
How training changes a horse's muscles—and what a lactate curve can show
A rightward lactate-curve shift may reflect training adaptation, but it does not reveal muscle biology on its own. Here's what equine muscle studies measured.
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Tracking · 6 min
Why tracking blood lactate changes how you train
A single number tells you little. A series of tests tells you whether your program is working.
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Results · 7 min
Reading the lactate curve: VLa2, V4 and the rightward shift
How to interpret the two key thresholds and what a moving curve means for your horse.
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Methods · 8 min
Designing a standardized step test
Repeatable protocols are what make results comparable. Here is a practical field template.
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Results · 5 min
Recovery clearance: what the 5-, 15- and 30-minute samples tell you
How quickly lactate falls after exercise gives you a second view of fitness.
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Equipment · 6 min
Equipment for field lactate testing
Analysers, heart-rate monitors, GPS and the small things that keep samples reliable.
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Methods · 5 min
Turning thresholds into heart-rate training zones
Use HRLa2 and HRLa4 to guide everyday work without taking blood every session.
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