Abstract
The study was conducted on 18 half-blood, clinically healthy horses. Blood for tests was collected twice: at the beginning of March, when the indoor season was approaching an end (smaller number of participations), and at the end of May, when an effort was particularly intensified due to the continuous training and the beginning of the open season (more starts). In the whole blood, the following determinants of well-being were determined: the total number of erythrocytes (RBC), hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), the total number of leukocytes (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. The study was performed using a hematology analyzer MS9. Mean values were compared between the collections (stallions and mares), and in I and II collections the animals of both sexes were compared among each other. The study showed that the growing physical effort of sport horses caused an increase in parameters such as: RBC, Ht, MCV, WBC and in the number of granulocytes. The decrease was noted in the Hb, the number of lymphocytes and MCHC. The results showed that the welfare of horses was maintained.
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