Why High Altitude

At altitude, where is less oxygen, the body strives to create enough energy for its operation. Eventually the body adapts to the hypoxic environment by improving lung function and oxygen utilization, improving blood oxygen transmission and its more efficient consumption in the cells.

Why Does Altitude Improve Equine Performance?

Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) or Altitude Training provides a cardiovascular stimulus for equines that increase endurance capacity and peak power output.
IHT can be used as a re-conditioning tool for equines that are undergoing rehabilitation processes.
IHT can be used for healthy equines to be trained at a higher intensity with less wear and tear, thereby preventing unnecessary injuries due to overtraining.
Equines which enter race training at two years of age are, in fact, found to have greater earnings and longer race careers. Training at High Altitude Regions also tackles the impact that exercising an animal at two years of age or younger has on bone, articular cartilage, and tendons.
Growing animals have found confinement to be detrimental to normal musculoskeletal growth. However, exercise of dynamic nature in moderate distances, such as that attained with pasture access or prescribed sprints, is beneficial to musculoskeletal development and may prevent injuries when entering race training.
Equines that have gone through IHT are able to jump back into peak race condition after air travel much faster than an ordinary equine. As they are already conditioned for higher altitudes, and they have an increased recovery speed.

But what is Hypoxic Training exactly?

Hypoxic (or Altitude) training is a training method that can help athletes and other health-concious individuals improve their physical performances and wellness. It can also be utilized to help people acclimatize to environments of higher altitudes. Because these environments have reduced levels of oxygen, they provide the perfect conditions to train in.

The result is a more efficient, increased oxygen carrying capacity when returning to sea level. Another benefit of training at altitude is an improvement in lactate buffering. The ability to buffer lactate is key to racecourse performance as lactate accumulation is the primary limiting factor in races.

As the cardiovascular system is forced to adapt and work harder at altitude the horse is able, and in fact must, work at a lower intensity to deliver the same stimulus required at sea level thus causing less wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system which can prolong the career of an athlete.

What are some of the benefits to altitude training?

DOES YOUR HORSE NEED HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING?

Stimulation of fat metabolism
Amplified pulmonary oxygen absorption
Stimulation of the generation of Red Blood Cells
Decreased average Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Improved oxygen transportation throughout the body
Increased capillarization for greater oxygen delivery to the tissues, muscles and brain
Allows for efficient use of oxygen for energy production

What is Equine training?

Equine training refers to the process of educating and conditioning horses for specific purposes, such as riding, driving, or competitive sports. It encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at developing the physical fitness, mental focus, and behavioural responsiveness of horses. Equine training may include teaching horses to respond to cues, commands, and aids from riders or handlers, as well as building strength, agility, and coordination through exercise and conditioning programs.

Training methods vary depending on the discipline, the individual horse’s temperament and abilities, and the desired outcomes. Overall, equine training aims to cultivate a partnership between horse and rider, ensuring the horse’s safety, welfare, and optimal performance in various activities.

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