Topic:Athletic Horses
The topic of athletic horses encompasses the study and analysis of horses that are trained and conditioned for performance in various disciplines such as racing, show jumping, dressage, and eventing. These horses are subject to specialized training regimens and nutritional plans to optimize their physical capabilities and performance outcomes. Research in this area often focuses on aspects such as biomechanics, cardiovascular fitness, muscle physiology, and injury prevention. This topic includes a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological adaptations, training methodologies, and health management practices associated with maintaining and enhancing the performance of athletic horses.
Saddle pressure patterns of three different training saddles (normal tree, flexible tree, treeless) in Thoroughbred racehorses at trot and gallop. To a large extent the success of a racehorse depends on effective and health preserving training methods. An important issue is the prevention of back pain. The influence of different types of training saddles (normal tree: S(A), treeless: S(B), flexible tree: S(C)) on the saddle pressure patterns in racehorses have not previously been investigated. It is commonly assumed that S(A) limits the motion of the back especially in the lower thoracic region during gallop. Objective: S(A) produces higher pressures in the caudal part of the saddle at trot (rising trot), canter and gallop (both in a joc...
Biomechanical analysis of hoof landing and stride parameters in harness trotter horses running on different tracks of a sand beach (from wet to dry) and on an asphalt road. Sandy beaches are often considered good training surfaces for trotter horses. However, their biomechanical effects on locomotion are insufficiently documented. Events at hoof impact have mostly been studied under laboratory conditions with accelerometers, but there is lack of data (acceleration, force, movement) on events occurring under every day practical conditions in the field. Objective: To investigate hoof landing and stride parameters on different tracks (from wet to dry) of a sand beach and on an asphalt road. Methods: The right front hoof of 4 trotter horses was equipped with a triaxi...
Ground reaction force and kinematic analysis of limb loading on two different beach sand tracks in harness trotters. Although beach training is commonly used in horses, limb loading on beach sand has never been investigated. A dynamometric horseshoe (DHS) is well adapted for this purpose. Objective: To compare ground reaction force (GRF) and fetlock kinematics measured in harness trotters on 2 tracks of beach sand with different water content. Methods: Two linear sand tracks were compared: firm wet sand (FWS, 19% moisture) vs. deep wet sand (DWS, 13.5% moisture). Four French trotters (550 ± 22 kg) were used. Their right forelimb was equipped with a DHS and skin markers. Each track was tested 3 times at 7 m/...
Use of an implantable transducer to measure force in the superficial digital flexor tendon in horses at walk, trot and canter on a treadmill. Although the main cause of injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is assumed to be high intensity loading of the tendon, to date the forces exerted on the SDFT during cantering have never been measured. Objective: To measure the force exerted on the SDFT at walk, trot and canter on a treadmill. Methods: Arthroscopically implantable force probes (AIFP) were implanted in the SDFT of the left and right forelimbs of 8 Thoroughbred horses (480-565 kg). The output of the AIFP was calibrated using the SDFT force calculated by inverse dynamics and an in vitro model of the lower forelim...
Prevalence of gastric ulcer syndrome in high-level endurance horses. Equine gastric ulcers syndrome (EGUS) prevalence studies are rare in the endurance horse and none has been carried out to date in horses competing at high level. Objective: To determine the prevalence of EGUS in high-level endurance horses. Methods: Thirty endurance horses competing at high level were selected and submitted to 2 gastroscopic examinations. The first gastroscopy was performed during the interseason period, and the second during the competition season within 2-3 days following a ride of 90-160 km. Data related to housing, feeding, training system as well as age, breed and gender ...
The use of allied health therapies on competition horses in the North Island of New Zealand. To obtain data on the use of allied health therapy within competitive equestrian sport in the North Island of New Zealand. Methods: Data were collected during January 2010 by survey at show jumping and dressage championships in the North Island, and from racing yards in the Central Districts of New Zealand. The survey consisted of 30 open, closed and multiple-choice questions, and was conducted face-to-face, by the same interviewer. Information on the demographics of riders or trainers and horses in each discipline (show jumping, dressage, and Thoroughbred racing), the use of allied health the...
Nutritional, lifestyle, and weight control practices of professional jockeys. In this study, we describe diet and lifestyle practices of professional jockeys. Participants completed a 59-item nutrition, lifestyle, and health questionnaire (n = 21) and a 7-day estimated food diary (n = 18). Acute weight loss strategies included the use of saunas (86%), exercising to induce sweating (81%), and restricted energy intake (71%). Of the smokers (38%), 56% used smoking to control weight. Most (86%) jockeys reported attaining a 2-kg weight loss for racing (if required) 24-48 h before or on the designated race-day. Mean daily energy intake (1803 ± 564 kcal) was low and appeared ...
Effects of two training protocols on Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in horses. Studies in man have shown a correlation between Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) genetic polymorphisms, ACE activity in the blood and superior athletic performance in sports requiring endurance. It has been hypothesised that the same correlation occurs in horses. There is no information in the literature concerning the effects of training on ACE activity in equine plasma. Objective: Exercise training influences the activity of circulating ACE and the response observed is dependent on the exercise protocol. Methods: Thirteen horses of mixed breeds were randomly allocated 2 different traini...
Regenerative medicine for the treatment of musculoskeletal overuse injuries in competition horses. Tissue repair in musculoskeletal injuries is often a slow and sometimes incomplete process. Regenerative medicine based on the use of growth factors (GFs) and cell therapy is aimed at improving the quality and speed of tendon and ligament healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for the administration of a combination of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and freshly isolated bone marrow mononucleated cells (BMMNCs) in 13 competition horses affected by overuse musculoskeletal injuries (suspensory ligament desmopathy and superficial flexor tendinopathy) and refractory to ...
The difference in kinematics of horses walking, trotting and cantering on a flat and banked 10 m circle. Locomotion adaptation mechanisms have been observed in horses, but little information is available in relation to banked and nonbanked curve locomotion, which might be important to optimise training environments. Objective: To determine if adaptation mechanisms in horses existed when moving on a banked compared to a flat curve and whether adaptation was similar in different gaits. Methods: Eight infrared cameras were positioned on the outside of a 10 m lungeing circle and calibrated. Retroreflective markers were used to define left and right metacarpus (McIII) and proximal phalanges (P1), meta...
Determination of angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity in equine blood: lack of agreement between methods of analysis. Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is a key regulator of blood pressure, electrolytes and fluid homeostasis through conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Recently, a genetic polymorphism of the ACE gene, which accounts for 47% of the variation of ACE activity in blood, has been advocated as a biomarker of athletic aptitude. Different methods of analysis and determination of ACE activity in plasma have been used in human and equine research without a consensus of a "gold standard" method. Different methods have often been used interchangeably or cited as being comparable in the ex...
The effect of age on thoroughbred racing performance. Using a dataset of 274 male Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States, we study the effect of age on racing performance. Beyer speed figures, which are uniform measures of racing performance across distance and racing surface, are utilized in this study. A system of equations is estimated to determine quadratic improvement and decline in racing performance. We find that a typical horse's peak racing age is 4.45 years. The rate of improvement from age 2 to 4 1/2 is greater than the rate of decline after age 4 1/2. A typical horse will improve by 10 (horse) lengths in sprints (less than 1 mil...
Differences in Muscle Fiber Recruitment Patterns between Continuous and Interval Exercises. We evaluated differences in muscle fiber recruitment patterns between continuous and interval training to develop an optimal training program for Thoroughbred horses. Five well trained female thoroughbred horses (3-4 years old) were used. The horses performed two different exercises on a 10% inclined treadmill: 90%VO2 max for 4 min (continuous) and 90% VO2 max for 2 min × 2 times with 10-min interval (interval). Muscle samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle before and immediately after the exercises. Four muscle fiber types (type I, IIA, IIA/X, and IIX) were immunohistochemicall...
The effect of age on thoroughbred racing performance. Using a dataset of 274 male Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States, we study the effect of age on racing performance. Beyer speed figures, which are uniform measures of racing performance across distance and racing surface, are utilized in this study. A system of equations is estimated to determine quadratic improvement and decline in racing performance. We find that a typical horse's peak racing age is 4.45 years. The rate of improvement from age 2 to 4 1/2 is greater than the rate of decline after age 4 1/2. A typical horse will improve by 10 (horse) lengths in sprints (less than 1 mil...
Athletic humans and horses: comparative analysis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in trained and untrained subjects at rest. Horses and humans share a natural proclivity for athletic performance. In this respect, horses can be considered a reference species in studies designed to optimize physical training and disease prevention. In both species, interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a major role in regulating the inflammatory process induced during exercise as part of an integrated metabolic regulatory network. The aim of this study was to compare IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in trained and untrained humans and horses. Results: Nine highly trained male swimmers (...
Highly athletic terrestrial mammals: horses and dogs. Evolutionary forces drive beneficial adaptations in response to a complex array of environmental conditions. In contrast, over several millennia, humans have been so enamored by the running/athletic prowess of horses and dogs that they have sculpted their anatomy and physiology based solely upon running speed. Thus, through hundreds of generations, those structural and functional traits crucial for running fast have been optimized. Central among these traits is the capacity to uptake, transport and utilize oxygen at spectacular rates. Moreover, the coupling of the key systems--pulmonary-cardio...
Lower serum IgA levels in horses kept under intensive sanitary management and physical training. Quantity and variety of environmental antigens, age, diet, vaccine protocols, exercising practice and mucosal cytokine microenvironment are factors that influence serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. IgA, IgG, IgG(T) and IgM were quantified in 60 horses, which were classified into two groups, 'intensive' or 'relaxed', according to sanitary standards of the facilities and physical exercise to which animals were subjected to. The 'intensive' group presented lower means for all isotypes, but only IgA presented a significant (P < 0.0064) difference when compared to the 'relaxed' group. T...
Peripheral serotoninergic response to physical exercise in athletic horses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of exercise on plasma tryptophan (TRP) and free serotonin (f5-HT), whole blood-5-HT (WB-5-HT) and f5-HT/WB-5-HT ratio in Italian Saddle horses. Six clinically healthy Italian Saddle horses were subjected to a 450 meters obstacles course. Blood samples were collected from each horse by jugular venipuncture using vacutainer tubes with K(3)-EDTA at rest, immediately after exercise, and after 30 min. TRP, f5-HT and WB-5-HT were analyzed by HPLC. Immediately after exercise, statistically significant increases of f5-HT (p <0.001) and WB-5-HT (p...
Microarray analysis after strenuous exercise in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of endurance horses. It is known that moderate physical activity may have beneficial effects on health, whereas strenuous effort induces a state resembling inflammation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular response to exercise remain unclear, although it is clear that the immune system plays a key role. It has been hypothesized that the physio-pathological condition that develops in athletes subjected to heavy training is caused by derangement of cellular immune regulation. The purpose of the present study was to obtain information on endurance horse gene transcription under strenuous conditions and t...
Quantifying show jumping horse rider expertise using IMUs. Horse rider ability has long been measured using horse performance, competition results and visual observation. Scientific methods of measuring rider ability on the flat are emerging such as measuring position angles and harmony of the horse-rider system. To date no research has quantified rider ability in show jumping. Kinematic analysis and motion sensors have been used in sports other than show jumping to measure the quality of motor control patterns in humans. The aim of this study was to quantify rider ability in show jumping using body-mounted IMUs. Preliminary results indicate that ther...
Metabolism of anabolic steroids and their relevance to drug detection in horseracing. The fight against doping in sport using analytical chemistry is a mature area with a history of approximately 100 years in horseracing. In common with human sport, anabolic/androgenic steroids (AASs) are an important group of potential doping agents. Particular issues with their detection are extensive metabolism including both phase I and phase II. A number of the common AASs are also endogenous to the equine. A further issue is the large number of synthetic steroids produced as pharmaceutical products or as 'designer' drugs intended to avoid detection or for the human supplement market. An u...
Relationship between muscle forces, joint loading and utilization of elastic strain energy in equine locomotion. Storage and utilization of strain energy in the elastic tissues of the distal forelimb of the horse is thought to contribute to the excellent locomotory efficiency of the animal. However, the structures that facilitate elastic energy storage may also be exposed to dangerously high forces, especially at the fastest galloping speeds. In the present study, experimental gait data were combined with a musculoskeletal model of the distal forelimb of the horse to determine muscle and joint contact loading and muscle-tendon work during the stance phase of walking, trotting and galloping. The flexor te...
Factors that prevent roughstock rodeo athletes from wearing protective equipment. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study sought to determine usage rates and barriers to the use of protective equipment in roughstock athletes. Between 2004 and 2006, amateur, collegiate, and professional roughstock athletes were surveyed using national organizational mailing lists. Findings revealed that during competition, 69% never wore a helmet. Barriers were a negative effect on performance and sport persona. Conversely, 88% always wore a vest. The perception that vest usage was required encouraged roughstock athletes to wear them. Mouthpiece use results were mixed; 58% always u...
Candidate genes for physical performance in the horse. Intense selection for speed, endurance or pulling power in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) has resulted in a number of adaptive changes in the phenotype required for elite athletic performance. To date, studies in humans have revealed a large number of genes involved in elite athletic performance, but studies in horses are rare. The horse genome assembly and bioinformation tools for genome analyses have been used to compare human performance genes with their equine orthologues, both to retrieve pathways for these genes and to investigate their chromosomal distribution. In this review, 28 c...
Effect of different workload and hydrocortisone in vitro on platelet aggregation in athletic horse. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the platelet response to different workload in athletic horse and the influence of hydrocortisone on this response. For this purpose, six Sella Italiana gelding athletic horses, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years and clinically healthy, were subjected to four different exercises: horse-walker, treadmill, obstacle course of 1.00 m and obstacle course of 1.25 m. From all the horses, citrated plasma samples were collected at rest, immediately after exercise and 30 min after the end of the exercise to assess the maximum degree of platelet aggregati...
Modulation of circulating purines and pyrimidines by physical exercise in the horse. This study was designed to examine the influence of sub-maximal exercise on purine and pyrimidine catabolism in horses. Ten horses were initially trained for 12 weeks at the end of which they underwent a standardized exercise test (SET); venous blood samples were taken at rest, 5 and 30 min after the SET. Six untrained healthy horses, from which a blood withdrawal was taken at rest, were used as the control group. Samples were analyzed by HPLC for the simultaneous determination of uric acid, uridine, β-pseudouridine and creatinine in plasma. Glucose and lactate were measured in blood. Trained...