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.
Body composition in young standardbreds in training: relationships to body condition score, physiological and locomotor variables during exercise. Body composition is an essential factor in athletic performance of human sprinters and long distance runners. However, in horses, many questions remain concerning relationships between body composition and performance in the different equine activities. Objective: To determine relationships between body composition, body score, physiological and locomotor variables in a population of young Standardbreds in training. Methods: Twenty-four 2-year-old Standardbreds were studied, body condition on a scale 0-5 and bodyweight recorded, and height at withers measured. Percentage of fat (%F), fat mass ...
Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage during submaximal exercise. Maximally exercising horses achieve mean pulmonary artery pressures (Ppa(mean)) that exceed the minimum threshold (75 mmHg) estimated for pulmonary capillary rupture and exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). EIPH is not expected to occur during moderate submaximal exercise (i.e. 40-60% VO2max) since Ppa(mean) remains well below this threshold. Objective: Prolonged submaximal exercise (trotting) would precipitate locomotory respiratory uncoupling and cause EIPH. This would be present as a result of the most negative intrapleural pressures (as estimated by the minimum oesophageal pressu...
The effect of physical exercise on the daily rhythm of platelet aggregation and body temperature in horses. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of physical activity on the daily rhythm of platelet aggregation and body temperature in horses. Blood samples from 12 Thoroughbred horses, six sedentary animals and six athletes (studied both before and after a period of inactivity) were collected at 4h intervals for 48h via an intravenous cannula inserted into the jugular vein. Body temperature was recorded every 4h for 48h with a rectal probe. Platelet aggregation was measured with an aggregometer. Collagen was used to test the aggregation of the plasma samples. Statistical analysis of...
[Influence of the riding discipline and riding intensity on the incidence of back pain in competitive horseback riders].
Sportverletzung Sportschaden : Organ der Gesellschaft fur Orthopadisch-Traumatologische Sportmedizin
The connection between morphologic changes of the spine and the intensity of training has been assessed for a number of sport activities. The influence of horseback riding on the spine has only rarely been evaluated. The aim of our study was to evaluate to what degree horseback riders suffer from back pain and whether there is an association between this parameter and the category i. e. the intensity of horseback riding. Furthermore we wanted to judge whether riding may have a positive effect on pre-existent back pain. Methods: 508 horseback riders (63.2 % females; 36.8 % males) competing in e... Clinical evaluation of a titanium, headless variable-pitched tapered cannulated compression screw for repair of frontal plane slab fractures of the third carpal bone in thoroughbred racehorses. To report clinical evaluation of third carpal bone (C3) frontal plane slab fracture repair with the Acutrak screw system. Methods: Prospective case series. Methods: Racing Thoroughbreds (n=17) with frontal C3 slab fractures. Methods: C3 slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses (1999-2004) were repaired by use of the Acutrak screw system. Data collected were (1) preoperative variables--gender, age at injury, limb involved, injury occurrence, fracture thickness, complexity, and displacement, race starts and earnings and (2) postoperative variables were: surgical complications, days to first sta...
How does exercise intensity and type affect equine distal tarsal subchondral bone thickness? Adaptation of osteochondral tissues is based on the strains experienced during exercise at each location within the joint. Different exercise intensities and types may induce particular site-specific strains, influencing osteochondral adaptation and potentially predisposing to injury. Our hypotheses were that patterns of equine distal tarsal subchondral bone (SCB) thickness relate to the type and intensity of exercise, and that high-intensity exercise leads to site-specific increases in thickness. SCB thickness was measured at defined dorsal and plantar locations on magnetic resonance images o...
Effect of exercise on serum concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in Thoroughbreds. To evaluate changes in serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentrations in response to exercise in horses. Methods: 15 horses in experiment 1 and 27 horses in experiment 2. Methods: In experiment 1, 15 Thoroughbreds free of orthopedic disease underwent a standardized exercise protocol. Running velocity and heart rate (HR) were recorded, and blood samples were collected immediately before (baseline) and 1, 5, and 24 hours after a single episode of exercise. In experiment 2, 27 horses underwent 9 stages of a training program in which each stage consisted of 4 to 8 consecutive dail...
Effects of intensity and duration of exercise on muscular responses to training of thoroughbred racehorses. This study examined the effects of the intensity and duration of exercise on the nature and magnitude of training adaptations in muscle of adolescent (2-3 yr old) racehorses. Six thoroughbreds that had been pretrained for 2 mo performed six consecutive conditioning programs of varying lactate-guided intensities [velocities eliciting blood lactate concentrations of 2.5 mmol/l (v2.5) and 4 mmol/l (v4), respectively] and durations (5, 15, 25 min). Pre- and posttraining gluteus muscle biopsies were analyzed for myosin heavy chain content, fiber-type composition, fiber size, capillarization, and fi...
The use of MP3 recorders to log data from equine hoof mounted accelerometers. MP3 recorders are readily available, small, lightweight and low cost, providing the potential for logging analogue hoof mounted accelerometer signals for the characterisation of equine locomotion. These, however, require testing in practice. Objective: To test whether 1) multiple MP3 recorders can maintain synchronisation, giving the ability to synchronise independent recorders for the logging of multiple limbs simultaneously; and 2) features of a foot mounted accelerometer signal attributable to foot-on and foot-off can be accurately identified from horse foot mounted accelerometers logged di...
Effect of standing tarsal angle on joint kinematics and kinetics. The tarsal joint is a frequent site of lameness, but little objective information is available regarding the effects of tarsal conformation on joint movements or forces. Objective: To compare tarsal kinematics and kinetics in horses with large, intermediate and small tarsal angles. Methods: Sagittal plane standing angle of the right tarsal joint was measured in 16 horses as they stood squarely with the hind hooves vertically beneath the hip joint. Tarsal angles were classified as small (< 155.5 degrees), intermediate (155.5-165.5 degrees) or large (> 165.5 degrees). Reflective markers, attache...
Time domain characteristics of hoof-ground interaction at the onset of stance phase. Little is known about the interaction of the hoof with the ground at the onset of stance phase although is it widely believed that high power collisions are involved in the aetiopathology of several conditions causing lameness. Objective: To answer 3 questions regarding the fundamental nature of hoof-ground collision: (1) is the collision process deterministic for ground surfaces that present a consistent mechanical interface (2) do collision forces act on the hoof in a small or large range of directions and (3) Is the hoof decelerated to near-zero velocity by the initial deceleration peak fol...
[Doping in sports]. Drugs used by athletes for the improvement of results are described and classified with respect to chemical structure and pharmacological action. The main groups of drugs treated as doping are considered and the WADA requirements to prohibited preparations are formulated. The main effects produced by drugs on the athletes and animals (race horses, fight dogs, etc ) are described and the measures of therapy against side effects are outlined.
Injuries in the event horse: training versus competition. Two related studies on injuries sustained by event horses during competition and during training are reported. During the cross-country phase of competition, the most common injuries were lacerations and abrasions to the carpus and stifle. Superficial digital flexor tendonitis and exertional rhabdomyolysis were significantly more common during Cours Complete Internationale (CCI) competitions compared to one-day event (ODE) competitions. The difference in injury types at ODEs and CCI competitions probably relates to the increased athletic demands of the CCI and the closer veterinary observation...
Influence of exercise on thermographically determined surface temperatures of thoracic and pelvic limbs in horses. To determine the amount of time required for surface temperatures of thoracic and pelvic limbs in horses to return to pre-exercise temperatures after high-speed treadmill exercise, as detected via infrared thermographic imaging. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 6 Thoroughbreds. Methods: All horses had been trained on and conditioned to use of a high-speed treadmill. Baseline thermographic images were obtained 3 days prior to exercise (baseline). Horses were exercised on a treadmill at a walk for 5 minutes, a slow trot (3 m/s) for 5 minutes, a trot (5 to 6 m/s) for 5 minutes, and a slow gal...
Injuries in amateur horse racing (point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006. To provide a breakdown of injury incidence from amateur jump racing (also known as point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006 and to compare the injury epidemiology with professional horse racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France. Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Great Britain and Ireland. Methods: Amateur jockeys. Methods: Injury rates. Results: Injury data suggest that point to point racing is more dangerous from an injury point of view than professional jump racing, which has previously been shown to be more dangerous than flat racing. Amateur jockeys hav...
Proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis using a combination plate-screw technique in 53 horses (1994-2003). A method for proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) arthrodesis that provides a stable fixation and minimal duration of cast support is evaluated retrospectively. Objective: Evaluate the clinical use of a combined plate-screw method for PIP joint arthrodesis in a large number of horses. Methods: The records of 53 horses undergoing PIP joint arthrodesis were reviewed. Arthrodesis was performed with a dorsally placed 3-, 4- or 5-hole narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP) with 2 transarticular cortex screws placed in lag fashion either side of the plate. Subject details, clinical presentatio...
Determination of the anaerobic threshold and maximal lactate steady state speed in equines using the lactate minimum speed protocol. Maximal blood lactate steady state concentration (MLSS) and anaerobic threshold (AT) have been shown to accurately predict long distance events performance and training loads, as well, in human athletes. Horse endurance races can take up to 160 km and, in practice, coaches use the 4 mM blood lactate concentration, a human based fixed concentration to establish AT, to predict training loads to horse athletes, what can lead to misleading training loads. The lactate minimum speed (LMS) protocol that consists in an initial elevation in blood lactate level by a high intensity bout of exercise and t...
Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells gene expression in endurance horses by cDNA-AFLP technique. The knowledge of molecular mechanisms of stress response in athlete horses can allow us to plan an appropriate and high-grade training to obtain better performance and to preserve horse welfare. It is well known that excessive muscular exercise can lead to a number of responses which may be associated with modification of the mRNA levels for a number of metabolic genes such as those involved in the immune response. In the present study cDNA-AFLP technique was applied to Arab endurance horses under stressing conditions to visualise variations of transcriptional profiles; 49 transcript derived f...
The influence of exercise on the daily rhythm of serum homocysteine in horses. The aim of this study was to determine the daily rhythms in the blood serum of homocysteine in horses. Ten thoroughbred horses, five athletic (trained for 1 h, 6 days a week) and five sedentary, were used. Blood samples were collected on each subject every 4 h for two days by means of the jugular vein. On each individual sample, the serum concentration of homocysteine was assessed. The results obtained during the experimental period indicated the existence of a daily rhythm of serum homocysteine in sedentary and athletic horses. They also demonstrated that in horses, physical exercise influenc...
Effect of speed on stride parameters in racehorses at gallop in field conditions. Stride duration, stance duration and protraction duration are key variables when describing the gaits of terrestrial animals. Together, they determine the duty factor (the fraction of the stride for which the limb maintains contact with the ground surface), from which the peak vertical force can be estimated. When an animal changes speed, these variables change at different proportions. Limited measurements of these variables and predictions of peak limb force have been undertaken for large mammals performing high-speed over-ground exercise. This study set out to make such measurements, employ...
Standing surgical removal of inspissated guttural pouch exudate (chondroids) in ten horses. To report use of a modified Whitehouse approach in standing horses for management of inspissated guttural pouch empyema. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Adult horses (n=10) with guttural pouch empyema. Methods: Inspissated exudate in 1 or both guttural pouches was removed surgically through a modified Whitehouse approach, with the horses standing and sedated. Medical records of affected horses were reviewed to determine history; physical, endoscopic, and radiological examination findings; surgical technique; complications, and outcome. Results: All horses had purulent nasal discharge; 3...
Joint work and power for both the forelimb and hindlimb during trotting in the horse. The net work of the limbs during constant speed over level ground should be zero. However, the partitioning of negative and positive work between the fore- and hindlimbs of a quadruped is not likely to be equal because the forelimb produces a net braking force while the hindlimb produces a net propulsive force. It was hypothesized that the forelimb would do net negative work while the hindlimb did net positive work during trotting in the horse. Because vertical and horizontal impulses remain unchanged across speeds it was hypothesized that net work of both limbs would be independent of speed. ...
[Day-to day variability of cardiac pressure values in horses measured with right heart catheterization on 3 consecutive days]. In the present study, a right heart catheterisation was carried out on three consecutive days in 17 healthy horses to evaluate the day-to-day variability of cardiac pressure values. Cardiac pressure values were measured in the right atrium, the right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, and the pulmonary capillaries (pulmonary artery wedge pressure). Additionally it was examined wether the cardiac pressure variability was influenced by the heart rate and if there are differences between trained and untrained horses. Beside the coefficient of variances, statistical analysis with assessment of varia...
Centre of mass movement and mechanical energy fluctuation during gallop locomotion in the Thoroughbred racehorse. During locomotion cyclical interchange between different forms of mechanical energy enhances economy; however, 100% efficiency cannot be achieved and ultimately some mechanical work must be performed de novo. There is a metabolic cost associated with fluctuations in mechanical energy, even in the most efficient animals. In this study we investigate the exchanges between different forms of mechanical energy involved in high-speed gallop locomotion in Thoroughbred race horses during over-ground locomotion using innovative, mobile data collection techniques. We use hoof-mounted accelerometers to ...
Locomotor mechanics of the tölt in Icelandic horses. To evaluate the locomotor mechanics of the tölt in Icelandic horses. Methods: 10 adult Icelandic horses with no history of lameness. Methods: Force platform data were captured for 27 trials for horses ridden at a tölt in a lateral sequence single-foot gait at a steady speed from 0.89 to 5.98 m/s. Simultaneous kinematic data were obtained by tracking retroflective markers overlying the right fore- and hind limbs. These kinetic and kinematic data were combined to evaluate 3 mechanical approaches, duty factor, Froude number, and center of mass (COM) mechanics, and to evaluate the capacity to re...
Exercise distance and speed affect the risk of fracture in racehorses. In order to gain insight into those training regimens that can minimise the risk of fracture in athletic populations, we conducted a large epidemiological study in racehorses. Thoroughbred racehorses provide a suitable model for studying fracture development and exercise-related risk factors in physically active populations. They represent a homogeneous population, undertaking intensive exercise programmes that are sufficiently heterogeneous to determine those factors that influence injury risk. Daily exercise information was recorded for a cohort of 1178 thoroughbreds that were monitored for ...
Placement of a long term tracheal cannula in a Thoroughbred racehorse with bilateral laryngeal dysfunction. A Thoroughbred horse with bilateral laryngeal dysfunction was treated by placement of a long term tracheal cannula in order to restore full athletic function. The horse initially presented with right-sided arytenoid dysfunction that was considered to be due to a congenital malformation of the laryngeal cartilage. This was corrected by a right-sided laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy. The horse re-presented 1 year later with idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia. The decision was made to place a long-term tracheal cannula due to the low success rate and high complication rate associated with othe...
What is the likelihood that a horse treated for septic digital tenosynovitis will return to its previous level of athletic function? Septic digital tenosynovitis is a serious problem in the horse, with a poor prognosis being reported for recovery. Objective: The occurrence of septic digital tenosynovitis would significantly reduce the likelihood of a horse returning to its previous level of athletic function. Methods: Medical records of 90 horses treated for septic digital tenosynovitis were reviewed. Data retrieved included age, sex, location of inciting cause of sepsis, time from onset of clinical signs to presentation for treatment, and whether the horse survived to be discharged. Long-term outcome was determined through...
Compensation for changes in hoof conformation between shoeing sessions through the adaptation of angular kinematics of the distal segments of the limbs of horses. To determine the mechanism that enables horses to partially counteract the shift of the center of pressure under the hoof induced by changes in hoof morphology attributable to growth and wear during a shoeing interval. Methods: 18 clinically sound Warmblood horses. Methods: Horses were evaluated 2 days and 8 weeks after shoeing during trotting on a track containing pressure-force measuring plates and by use of a synchronous infrared gait analysis system set at a frequency of 240 Hz. All feet were trimmed toward straight alignment of the proximal, middle, and distal phalanges and shod with stan...