Mitigation of effects of heat and humidity at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games equestrian events
In: Comparative Exercise PhysiologySearch for other papers by J.H. Foreman in
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Abstract
The physiological challenge of Tokyo 2020, the XXXII Olympic Summer Games held in July-August 2021, was adaptation to training and competing in the subtropical summer weather conditions. Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping horses (n = 248) arrived at 05:00-06:30 h on six European and two Australian overnight chartered flights 8-to-10 days prior to beginning competition. All horses were housed at Japan Racing Association Equestrian Park in Bagi Koen. Eventing Cross Country was held an hour’s drive away at Sea Forest. All stables and conveyances were air-conditioned. Cooling stations were available at both venues and consisted of tall arched tents with large containers of water chilled to ≤15 °C, cooling/misting fans, and rubberised flooring for traction safety. Training hours began at 06:00 h daily with a mandatory mid-day break between 11:00 and 15:00-16:00 h when arenas were re-opened until 22:00. Daytime temperatures ranged 28.8-36.8 °C and peak humidity remained high throughout the Games (58-97%). There were no heat-related illnesses in horses observed by clinic veterinarians who were present at all training and competition rings whenever horses were exercising. Individual horses received elective intravenous fluids (10 litre minimum) on arrival in Japan, after cross country, and/or before departure. Reported ailments included post-transport pneumonia, exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage, orthopaedic injury, laceration, impaction colic, acute piroplasmosis, and laminitis. A persistent brisk westerly wind began nightly around 17:00 h, making evening competition sessions cooler than daytime training sessions. It was concluded that safe competitions were held despite persistently elevated subtropical ambient heat and humidity conditions.
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Aida, H., Foreman, J.H., Ochi, A., Takizawa, Y. and Yamanaka, T., 2023. A case of equine piroplasmosis in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Journal of Equine Science 34: 93-99.
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Anonymous, 2021. Immediate notification: equine piroplasmosis, Japan. World Organisation for Animal Health founded as OIE. Available at: https://wahis.woah.org/#/report-info?reportId=36810
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Foreman, J.H., Grubb, T.L., Benson, G.J., Frey, L.P., Foglia, R.A. and Griffin, R.L., 1995. Physiological effects of shortening steeplechase in a 3-day-event. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 20: 73-77.
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Foreman, J.H., 1996. Modifications to the 1996 Olympic 3-day-events to optimize safety under hot and humid conditions. Pferdeheilkunde 12: 397-400.
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Foreman, J.H., 1998. Equine thermoregulation, three-day-eventing, and the Olympic Games. Atti Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti 84: 15-32.
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Geor, R.J., McCutcheon, L.J., Ecker, G.L. and Lindinger, M.I., 1995. Thermal and cardiorespiratory responses of horses to submaximal exercise under hot and humid conditions. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 20: 125-132.
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Jeffcott, L., Leung, W.-M. and Riggs, C., 2009. Managing the effects of the weather on the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Veterinary Journal 182: 412-429.
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Jeffcott, L.B. and Kohn, C.W., 1999. Contributions of equine exercise physiology research to the success of the 1996 Equestrian Olympic Games: a review. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 30: 347-355.
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Kohn, C.W., Hinchcliff, K.W. and McKeever, K.H., 1999. Effect of ambient temperature and humidity on pulmonary artery temperature of exercising horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 30: 404-411.
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Marlin, D., 2019. Horse monitoring project at Ready Steady Tokyo test event August 2019. Fédération Equestre Internationale, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Takahashi, Y., Ohmura, H., Mukai, K., Shiose, T. and Takahashi, T., 2020. A comparison of five cooling methods in hot and humid environments in Thoroughbred horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 91: 103130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j/jevs.2020.103130
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 591 | 102 | 10 |
| Full Text Views | 32 | 7 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 89 | 16 | 0 |
Mitigation of effects of heat and humidity at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games equestrian events
In: Comparative Exercise PhysiologySearch for other papers by J.H. Foreman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The physiological challenge of Tokyo 2020, the XXXII Olympic Summer Games held in July-August 2021, was adaptation to training and competing in the subtropical summer weather conditions. Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping horses (n = 248) arrived at 05:00-06:30 h on six European and two Australian overnight chartered flights 8-to-10 days prior to beginning competition. All horses were housed at Japan Racing Association Equestrian Park in Bagi Koen. Eventing Cross Country was held an hour’s drive away at Sea Forest. All stables and conveyances were air-conditioned. Cooling stations were available at both venues and consisted of tall arched tents with large containers of water chilled to ≤15 °C, cooling/misting fans, and rubberised flooring for traction safety. Training hours began at 06:00 h daily with a mandatory mid-day break between 11:00 and 15:00-16:00 h when arenas were re-opened until 22:00. Daytime temperatures ranged 28.8-36.8 °C and peak humidity remained high throughout the Games (58-97%). There were no heat-related illnesses in horses observed by clinic veterinarians who were present at all training and competition rings whenever horses were exercising. Individual horses received elective intravenous fluids (10 litre minimum) on arrival in Japan, after cross country, and/or before departure. Reported ailments included post-transport pneumonia, exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage, orthopaedic injury, laceration, impaction colic, acute piroplasmosis, and laminitis. A persistent brisk westerly wind began nightly around 17:00 h, making evening competition sessions cooler than daytime training sessions. It was concluded that safe competitions were held despite persistently elevated subtropical ambient heat and humidity conditions.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 591 | 102 | 10 |
| Full Text Views | 32 | 7 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 89 | 16 | 0 |
