The response to exercise following a rest period may vary among horse breeds based on the importance of the hematological and hematochemical profiles of athletic horses. Ten Standardbred and ten Italian Saddlebred mares were subjected to a 4-week training program after a seasonal rest, and hematological parameters (red blood cells-RBCs
hemoglobin-Hb
hematocrit-Hct
platelets-PLTs
platelet aggregation-AG
aggregation slope-Slope
fibrinogen-Fb), as well as Albumin (Alb) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), were analyzed. Blood samples were obtained each week during the training program following a simulated exercise performed at T0 and T4 (T0pre-T0post
T1, T2, T3, and T4pre-T4post). A two-way ANOVA revealed an increase in all assessed parameters post vs. pre at T0 and T4 (