Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« Training stimulates changes in the muscle, which improve its working capacity. Training increases the lactic acid threshold or the intensity at which fatigue begins to increase. A horse with the lactate threshold of 80 percent can work or perform at a much higher heart-rate with the same degree of stress as the less well trained horse. Training intensities can be based on the blood lactate response to different speeds, enabling the trainer to control the degree of stress placed on the horse. Changing the intensity, duration or frequency of the application of the stress controls the level of stress. Intensity is the prime component that determines whether the activity is aerobic or anaerobic. In training there is a minimum threshold for intensity and duration that must be applied before adaptations occur, this also increases with fitness. Intensity and duration are inversely related i.e. the higher the intensity the shorter the duration. Training below the threshold can be important for maintaining existing adaptations while allowing growth processes to occur. » Présentation de l’éditeur (2003)