{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,18]],"date-time":"2026-06-18T09:15:39Z","timestamp":1781774139920,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Instituci\u00f3n Universitaria Visi\u00f3n de las Am\u00e9ricas"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Colombian Paso horses (CPs) excel in gait competitions due to their endurance, speed, and precision, which demand a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness. However, their training regimes often lack scientific support, and few studies have linked physiological parameters to optimal training zones. This study aimed to estimate the aerobic lactate threshold (LTaer) using mathematical methods and to correlate it with heart rate (HR) zones and blood lactate. Eighteen CPs were evaluated and classified into trained (GT) and untrained (GD) groups. All animals underwent a field-based incremental exercise test (IET) with continuous HR monitoring and serial blood sampling for lactate, creatinine, BUN, AST, and CK analysis. LTaer was estimated using three methods: visual inspection, and fixed thresholds at 2 mmol\/L (ZL2), and 4 mmol\/L (ZL4). HR zones corresponding to each threshold were then calculated based on a maximum estimated HR of 220 bpm. The visual method placed LTaer in zone 2 for both groups. ZL2 located the threshold in zone 2 for GT and in zone 3 for GD, whereas ZL4 placed the threshold in zone 4 for both groups. Although no intergroup differences in lactate or HR were observed, intragroup differences emerged above 75% of HRmax, indicating exponential lactate accumulation. Biochemical parameters revealed significant pre- to post-exercise changes, but no differences between groups, suggesting a standardized workload. This is the first study to propose field-based prediction of LTaer in CPs using HR derived from wearable technologies, based on blood lactate and a standardized exercise test\u2019s results. Correlating HR zones with lactate thresholds facilitates workload analysis in the field. Future studies should investigate the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in this breed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15223308","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,18]],"date-time":"2025-11-18T09:58:42Z","timestamp":1763459922000},"page":"3308","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Defining the Heart Rate Zone Corresponding to the Lactate Threshold in Colombian Paso Horses"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5527-3995","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ang\u00e9lica Mar\u00eda","family":"Zuluaga-Cabrera","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"GISCA Research Group, Faculty of Zootechnics and Veterinary Medicine, Instituci\u00f3n Universitaria Visi\u00f3n de las Am\u00e9ricas, Medell\u00edn 050031, Antioquia, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1773-4604","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Guilherme","family":"Barbosa da Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine School, Barretos Educational Foundation University Center\u2014UNIFEB, Barretos 14784-400, SP, Brazil"},{"name":"Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences\u2014FCAV, S\u00e3o Paulo State University J\u00falio de Mesquita Filho\u2014UNESP, Jaboticabal Campus, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil"},{"name":"Large Animal Research Group (LARG), Dr. Francisco Maeda College (FAFRAM), Ituverava 14500-000, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Iv\u00e1n Dar\u00edo","family":"Martinez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Animal Welfare and Ethology Specialization, Fundaci\u00f3n Universitaria Agraria de Colombia (UNIAGRARIA), Bogot\u00e1 111321, Cundinamarca, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mar\u00eda Patricia","family":"Arias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INCACES Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, CES University, Medell\u00edn 050021, Antioquia, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"211","article-title":"Hematological, biochemical, and endocrine parameters in acute response to increasing-intensity exercise in Colombian Paso horses","volume":"13","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. 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