Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand
The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of racing greyhound trainers in New Zealand in order to provide an overview of their training practices. A survey regarding training practices was posted to all registered greyhound training license holders in New Zealand in August 2019....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2032 |
| _version_ | 1797548913862901760 |
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| author | Anna L. Palmer Chris W. Rogers Kevin J. Stafford Arnon Gal Darryl J. Cochrane Charlotte F. Bolwell |
| author_facet | Anna L. Palmer Chris W. Rogers Kevin J. Stafford Arnon Gal Darryl J. Cochrane Charlotte F. Bolwell |
| author_sort | Anna L. Palmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of racing greyhound trainers in New Zealand in order to provide an overview of their training practices. A survey regarding training practices was posted to all registered greyhound training license holders in New Zealand in August 2019. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 48 trainers (35.6%; <i>n</i> = 48/137) who completed the survey. Other than the differences in the number of greyhounds in race training, the training programmes described by public trainers and owner trainers were similar. Trainers reported that the primary reason for registering young dogs for racing and for qualifying for racing was the ability to meet time milestones. Young dogs had a median of six (interquartile range (IQR): 4–10) trials before they commenced their racing career. Trainers described training practices that aimed to prepare greyhounds for race-day. Regardless of whether the dogs raced once or twice a week, most training programmes demonstrated high specificity where training involved two periods of load cycles through high-intensity workload. Trainers racing their greyhounds once a week simulated the workload of trainers racing their greyhounds twice a week by introducing one high-intensity (speed) workout during the week. Training programmes were structured to condition the dogs to the physiological and metabolic requirements of sprint racing. This study highlights the importance of the need for an improved understanding of training and competition load in order to enable future research in the field of racing greyhounds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f00bc8323096446ebdebc479d40a9f0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f00bc8323096446ebdebc479d40a9f0f2023-11-20T19:44:53ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-11-011011203210.3390/ani10112032Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New ZealandAnna L. Palmer0Chris W. Rogers1Kevin J. Stafford2Arnon Gal3Darryl J. Cochrane4Charlotte F. Bolwell5School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1008 W Hazelwood Drive, IL 61802, USASchool of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandThe aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of racing greyhound trainers in New Zealand in order to provide an overview of their training practices. A survey regarding training practices was posted to all registered greyhound training license holders in New Zealand in August 2019. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 48 trainers (35.6%; <i>n</i> = 48/137) who completed the survey. Other than the differences in the number of greyhounds in race training, the training programmes described by public trainers and owner trainers were similar. Trainers reported that the primary reason for registering young dogs for racing and for qualifying for racing was the ability to meet time milestones. Young dogs had a median of six (interquartile range (IQR): 4–10) trials before they commenced their racing career. Trainers described training practices that aimed to prepare greyhounds for race-day. Regardless of whether the dogs raced once or twice a week, most training programmes demonstrated high specificity where training involved two periods of load cycles through high-intensity workload. Trainers racing their greyhounds once a week simulated the workload of trainers racing their greyhounds twice a week by introducing one high-intensity (speed) workout during the week. Training programmes were structured to condition the dogs to the physiological and metabolic requirements of sprint racing. This study highlights the importance of the need for an improved understanding of training and competition load in order to enable future research in the field of racing greyhounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2032greyhoundracing greyhoundtraining |
| spellingShingle | Anna L. Palmer Chris W. Rogers Kevin J. Stafford Arnon Gal Darryl J. Cochrane Charlotte F. Bolwell Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand Animals greyhound racing greyhound training |
| title | Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand |
| title_full | Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand |
| title_short | Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training Practices of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand |
| title_sort | cross sectional survey of the training practices of racing greyhounds in new zealand |
| topic | greyhound racing greyhound training |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2032 |
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