Exercise in horses encompasses the physical activities that horses engage in, either through natural behaviors or structured training programs. These activities impact a horse's musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, influencing overall health and performance. Exercise can vary in intensity, duration, and frequency, and its effects are studied to understand conditioning, endurance, and recovery processes in equines. Research in this field often focuses on the physiological adaptations to different types of exercise, the prevention of exercise-related injuries, and the optimization of training regimens for various equestrian disciplines. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological, biomechanical, and health-related aspects of exercise in horses.
Zhang X, Liu Y, Ma W, Li L, Bai D, Dugarjaviin M.Mongolian horses are renowned for their remarkable endurance and ability to adapt to harsh environments. To delve deeper into the molecular mechanisms that underlie these traits, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic changes in Mongolian horses at three distinct time points: before, immediately after, and 24 h following a 20 km run. The transcriptomic analysis uncovered significant variations in gene expression patterns across these time points. Specifically, 291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when comparing pre-exercise to post-e...
Wonghanchao T, Sanigavatee K, Petchdee S, Chettaratanont K, Thongyen T, Wanichayanon B, Poochipakorn C, Chanda M.The physiological capabilities of horses begin to decline after they reach 15 years of age. However, some exceptionally talented horses can continue their sports careers beyond this age, raising concerns about their welfare. This study investigated animal welfare by observing resting heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics in geriatric horses participating in similar training or physical activities compared to younger adult horses over 30 min periods. Forty-six horses of varying ages and activity levels were divided into four groups, including horses under 15 years practising ...
Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H.Plasma amino acid (PAA) concentration in horses vary according to the exercise type. This study evaluated the changes in PAA levels and the associated metabolites, urea and ammonia, following short-duration, high-intensity cross-country exercise in eventing horses. Twenty eventing horses participated in 55 rides at 14 international competitions (2* to 4* levels) across five venues in Germany and Poland. Blood samples were collected at four timepoints: before exercise (TP0), at 10 min (TP1), and at 30 min (TP2) post-exercise, as well as in the morning on the day after the competition (TP3). A t...
Söderroos D, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Ragnarsson S, Gunnarsson V, Jansson A.Weight carrying capacity is an important trait in riding horses and it may be associated with conformation. This study examined the physiological response to a ridden incremental weight carrying test in 16 adult Icelandic horses used for tour riding. Horses carried 20% (BWR20%), 25% (BWR25%), 30% (BWR30%) and 35% (BWR35%) of their body weight (BW) in tölt (~ 5.7 m/seconds, 640 m/step), and associations with body measurements and back conformation (score) were examined. Horses were divided into two groups (narrow or broad back) and body measurements were collected. Plasma lactate was analy...
Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A.Subtle locomotor asymmetries are common in horses and may go unnoticed during routine pre-race clinical inspections, particularly when based solely on subjective evaluation. This study aimed to describe vertical head and pelvic movement asymmetries in racehorses that passed official pre-race inspections at a traditional racing event. Twenty-four horses were analysed using a markerless AI-based gait analysis system while trotting in-hand and during lungeing in both directions. Asymmetry parameters (HDmin, HDmax, PDmin, and PDmax) were extracted from video recordings, with values ≥0.5 consider...
Liedtke AM, Meijer H, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Rump I, Kirsch K.Eventing is an Olympic equestrian discipline comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, with the cross-country phase imposing the greatest physical demands on horses. This study presents a composite model to estimate energy expenditure during the cross-country phase, integrating physiological data (heart rate-derived VO2 and lactate-based anaerobic estimates) with external workload indicators (GPS-derived speed, elevation, and course complexity). Model development was based on 691 rides from 256 horses across 232 events at 2-star to 5-star competition levels. The analysis showed tha...
Herkenhoff ME.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecules that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs. They are essential in numerous biological processes like growth, metabolism, and muscle development. miRNA research has become crucial in livestock breeding, offering solutions for improving animal health and productivity. This review focuses on miRNAs' roles in equine performance, reproduction, and disease, highlighting key findings and future applications in these areas. It discusses the use of circulating miRNAs (ci-miRNA) as biomarkers for athletic performance, particularl...
Ellis KL, Giancola S.Rehabilitation for tendon/ligament injury requires a multimodal approach to reduce pain, restore range of motion, improve proprioception/neuromotor control, and improve strength/endurance. Multiple tools are available to accomplish these goals. The rehabilitation program must be tailored to the individual patient regardless of injury type in order to return the horse to full athletic activity and reduce the risk of reinjury.
Beaumont A, Emond AL, Pourcelot P, Fayaubot L, Ravary-Plumioen B, Dupays AG, Desquilbet L, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.To quantify changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the midmetacarpal superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in young Trotters during training. Unassigned: In this experimental study, 12 healthy 3-year-old French Trotters, assigned to either a soft-track or a hard-track group, were trained for 4 months (June through September of 2012 and 2013). Both groups followed the same exercise program of increasing intensity. Ultrasonographic examinations of both forelimb SDFTs of each horse were performed before the beginning of training (D0), after 2 months of training (M2), and after 4 months o...
Coelho C, Vintem C, Silva AS, Santos C, Santos AM, Leite A, Souza V, Siqueira R, Filho HCM, Simões J.The present work aimed to evaluate the influence of a training programme on energy expenditure (EE), cost of transport (COT, cardiac beats to move the body mass during exercise) and metabolic power (Pmet) in young Purebred Lusitano horses used in dressage. With this purpose, nine male horses, ~4 years old, were evaluated before (M1) and after 6 weeks (M2) of a training programme that included 40-80 min of preparatory dressage exercises, 6×/week, individually adjusted. In M1 and M2, the animals were examined in a dressage field test (DFT), when heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR), body...
Sales NAA, Carvalho JRG, Littiere TO, Costa GB, Silva ACY, Rodriguez IDM, Castro CM, Anjos LS, Ottati ACM, Alcaide JA, Ramos GV, Ferraudo AS....Whole-body vibration (WBV) has the potential to enhance post-exercise recovery in humans. Heart rate variability (HRV), a well-established biomarker of cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR), provides insight into autonomic reactivity during recovery from exercise. Objective: To investigate CAR in healthy horses during post-exercise recovery following an acute intensive exercise bout (AIEB) with WBV intervention. Methods: A single AIEB was prescribed at velocities corresponding to lactate threshold (VLT), and the eight horses performed on treadmill with 5 % slope, 2 min at 110 % VLT followed by 3 ...
Aragona F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Arfuso F, Arrigo F, Costa A, De Caro S, Cannuli A, Fazio F.The present study aimed to investigate the effect of time of day and physical exercise on some inflammatory biomarkers (white blood cell count-WBCs, leukocyte subpopulation CD4 + and CD8 + cells, total proteins, Interleukins IL-6, IL-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor TNFα) in trained saddle horses. Unassigned: Blood samples were collected from 10 horses before, immediately (following 5 min) and 1 h after the training session in the morning (am) and afternoon (pm). Unassigned: Statistical analysis showed increasing value of WBCs immediately and 1 h after exercise ( < 0.01: <â€...
Horan K, Pfau T.Racehorses and jockeys can incur injuries, not only during gallops, but also during routine trotting exercise to access gallop tracks or warm-up. Understanding how jockey position affects racehorse movement may influence safety, and this may vary across different surface conditions. This study used inertial sensing technology (XSens MTw sensors) and linear mixed models to quantify and determine the significance (p ≤ 0.05) of jockey riding position ('rising' versus 'two-point seat') and surface type (artificial, grass and tarmac) on: 1) time offsets between stance and flight phases; 2) ho...
de Fátima Coccia V, Rodacki ALF, Pavão SL.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting sensorimotor systems, potentially disturbing postural control and stability. Considering the treatment options for these children, hippotherapy (HPOT) is based on horse movements to provide sensory stimuli and motor challenges, potentially contributing to improvements in postural control. Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of a 30-min HPOT session on the center of pressure (CoP) displacement of children with ASD (ASDG) and children with typical development (TDG). Methods: 120 children (60 ASDG; 60 TD...
Li C, Li X, Liu K, Xu J, Yu J, Liu Z, Mach N, Ni W, Liu C, Zhou P, Wang L, Hu S.Gut microbes play a vital role in host physiology, but whether specific bacterial functions contribute to the exceptional athletic performance of racehorses needs to be better understood. Here, we identify an association of gut butyrate-producing bacteria with athletic performance in racehorses (Thoroughbred horse). Butyrate-producing bacteria and microbial butyrate synthesis genes were significantly enriched in the racehorse gut, and the GC-MS results confirmed this conclusion. Using a mouse model, we demonstrated that sodium butyrate is sufficient to increase treadmill run time performance. ...
Takahashi K, Shirai T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Sugiyama F, Yoshida T, Kitaoka Y.While exercise performance deteriorates in hot environments, heat stress may contribute to exercise-induced adaptations in skeletal muscle. In this study, we assessed transcriptional profiles of equine skeletal muscle following 3 min of high-intensity exercise (at the speed eliciting their maximal oxygen uptake) in cool [wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) 15°C] or hot (WBGT 30°C) conditions. Differential gene expression was identified using DESeq2 (false discovery rate cutoff: 0.05, minimal fold change: 1.5). At 4 h after exercise, RNA-seq identified 176 and 156 genes that were differentially...
Liu J, Baumwart R, Kwon S.Ventriculophasic response (VR) in atrioventricular nodal (AVN) block is characterized by a shortening of the sinoatrial cycle length when a QRS complex is interposed between two P waves. This has been well documented in humans and dogs with AVN blocks but not in horses. Herein, we describe a horse with second-degree AVN blocks and constant PR intervals that exhibited 5:3 conduction and suspected VR at rest but less consistently after submaximal exercise. Proposed VR mechanisms include (1) inhibition of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex from reduced end-systolic volume during ventricular contraction; (...
In the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses of 12 Standardbred horses were investigated before and after exercise during late spring and summer. The environmental temperature, relative humidity, and temperature-humidity index (THI) were assessed during this study. From horses, blood sampling, measurement of heart and respiratory rate (HR and RR), and measurement of rectal temperature (RT) were performed before exercise (Pre) and within 5 min following the end of the exercise (Post). THI values showed mild stress in June and high stress in July. Direct ...
Avison A, Physick-Sheard PW, Pyle WG.This paper reviews the myocardial substrate of horses relative to that of humans and discusses the utility of performance horses as a model of exercise-associated cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in athletes. The coronary circulation is similar between the species while coronary artery anomalies and myocardial bridging appear to only be associated with athletic mortality in human athletes and not in performance horses. There are subtle differences in the histology of the sinus and atrioventricular nodes, of unknown clinical significance, while the His bundle is more highly innervat...
Zhang X, Liu Y, Li L, Ma W, Bai D, Dugarjaviin M.The traditional horse industry has undergone a remarkable evolution, with horse racing emerging as a prominent and pivotal economic driver within the sector. Among the various breeds, Mongolian horses, renowned for their exceptional endurance and speed, occupy a significant position in the horse industry. To investigate their homeostasis mechanisms during and after a 20 km endurance exercise and identify novel oxidative-imbalance markers, we selected 12 two-year-old horses and collected blood samples at various time points before, during (at 5, 10, 15, and 20 km), and after the exercise (at 1,...
Connysson M, Jansson A.It is generally accepted that plasma muscle enzyme activity of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) may increase in racehorses after exercise and racing, indicating muscle fibre damage and/or increased leakage from muscle fibres. However, other studies suggest that starch intake might influence plasma muscle enzyme activity reported postexercise. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different starch allowances on plasma muscle enzyme activity in Standardbred trotters in professional training. Seventy-six horses from five professional trainers were sampled pre- and po...
Ciamillo SA, Bills KW, Gassert TM, Richardson DW, Brown KA, Stefanovski D, Ortved KF.Stress-induced bone injury can lead to catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Accumulation of high-speed exercise can increase the risk of subchondral bone injury. Objective: To investigate the effect of high-speed exercise on the subchondral bone of the metacarpo-metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joints using standing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in young racing Thoroughbreds. Methods: Observational cohort study. Methods: Forty-one 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses during their first year of training were evaluated at 0, 6 and 12 months. Horses were evaluated for lameness an...
Milczek-Haduch D, Żmigrodzka M, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O.Significant systemic metabolic benefits result from even a single exercise session by activating multiple metabolic and signaling pathways within the organism. Among these mechanisms, extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a critical role by delivering their molecular cargo to neighboring or distant cells, thereby influencing cellular metabolism and function. As research progresses, EVs represent an exciting frontier in exercise science and fitness adaptation processes. There is increasing interest in understanding the physiology of EVs as signaling particles and their use as minimally invasive dia...
Moore GE, Leatherwood JL, Glass KG, Arnold CE, Paris BL, Carter MM, George JM, Fontenot AB, Martinez RE, Franklin MA, Norton SA, Bradbery AN....The objective was to evaluate dietary fermentation product (SCFP) on joint inflammation and cartilage metabolism in exercising yearlings challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hypothesizing dietary SCFP (TruEquineC, Diamond V Mills, Inc.) would ameliorate joint inflammation and increase cartilage metabolism. Thirty Quarter Horse yearlings were stratified by bodyweight (BW), age, sex, and randomly assigned to dietary treatments (n = 10/treatment): control (0), 46, or 92 mg/kg BW/d SCFP. Treatments were top-dressed to 1% BW/d concentrate void of added microbials. Horses ...
Sun YF, Han ZX, Yao XK, Meng J, Ren WL, Wang CK, Yuan XX, Zeng YQ, Wang YF, Sun ZW, Wang JW.: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different stages of training on the intestinal microbial abundance of Yili horses. : Ten Yili horses, all aged 2 years old and weighing 305 ± 20 kg, were selected and divided into a training group and an untrained group. The training group performed riding training 6 days a week, and the untrained group moved freely in the activity circle every day. Fecal samples were collected on days 30 and 60, and the intestinal microorganisms were detected and analyzed using metagenomics. : Compared with the 30-day untrained group, the relative abu...
Kawaida MY, Kwon OS, Ahn A, Reiter AS, Tillquist NM, Noh SG, Lee JW, Moore TE, Reed SA.This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin (ASTX) supplementation on oxidative status during a deconditioning-reconditioning cycle. Twelve polo ponies were assigned to no supplementation (CON) or an ASTX supplemented group, which received oral administration of a supplement containing 75 mg ASTX daily for 32 weeks. Polo ponies underwent a 16-week deconditioning period (DECON) followed by a 16-week reconditioning program (RECON). Submaximal exercise tests (SETs) were performed at the beginning of the study (Baseline), after DECON, and after RECON. Blood samples were collected at -30...
Conrad MB, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, George JM, Martinez RE, Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Colbath AC, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Welsh TH, Bradbery AN.Extra-label bisphosphonate (BP) use in juvenile horses is anecdotally reported, primarily for analgesic effects, despite the limited scientific understanding of biologic impacts on skeletally immature horses undergoing exercise. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of clodronate disodium (CD), a form of BP, on endocrine regulators of calcium. Thus, 32 yearling Quarter Horses were stratified by age (500 ± 13 d), body weight (BW; 336 ± 26 kg), sex (n = 16 geldings, n = 16 fillies), and initial bone optical density into 1 of 4 treatment groups for a 168-d tr...
Chang X, Zhang Z, Yao X, Meng J, Ren W, Zeng Y.The equine lipid metabolism is activated during and after endurance exercise to provide energy in response to the metabolic and physiological changes in the body caused by prolonged exercise; however, the specific regulatory mechanisms remain controversial and identifying differential lipid metabolites associated with equine endurance is essential to elucidate these regulatory mechanisms. In this study, blood samples for lipid metabolomic analysis and biochemical indices were collected before and after a 26 km race from 12 Yili horses with different endurance performance. The biochemical res...
Serrano AL, Quiroz-Rothe E, Rivero JL.Twenty-four 4-year-old Andalusian (Spanish breed) stallions were used to examine the plasticity of myosin heavy chain (MHC) phenotype and the metabolic profile in horse skeletal muscle with long-term endurance-exercise training and detraining. Sixteen horses underwent a training programme based on aerobic exercises for 8 months. Afterwards, they were kept in paddocks for 3 months. The remaining eight horses were used as controls. Three gluteus medius muscle biopsy samples were removed at depths of 20, 40 and 60 mm from each horse before (month 0), during (month 3) and after (month 8) training,...
Finno CJ, Valberg SJ.Vitamin E is a primary chain-breaking antioxidant that prevents cyclic propagation of lipid peroxidation. Across species, vitamin E is essential for normal neuromuscular function by acting as a potent antioxidant, as well as by modulating the expression of certain genes, inhibiting platelet aggregation and stabilizing plasma membranes. This review focuses on vitamin E structure, absorption, metabolism, current equine dietary recommendations, the interplay between antioxidants and exercise, a discussion of the necessity of vitamin E supplementation in the horse above the Nutritional Research Co...
Kawai M, Minami Y, Sayama Y, Kuwano A, Hiraga A, Miyata H.We examine the muscle fiber population and metabolic properties of skeletal muscles from the whole body in Thoroughbred horses. Postmortem samples were taken from 46 sites in six Thoroughbred horses aged between 3 and 6 years. Fiber type population was determined on muscle fibers stained with monoclonal antibody to each myosin heavy chain isoform and metabolic enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Histochemical analysis demonstrated that most of the muscles had a high percentage of Type IIa fibers. In terms of the muscle characteristic in several parts of the horse body, th...
Butler PJ, Woakes AJ, Smale K, Roberts CA, Hillidge CJ, Snow DH, Marlin DJ.A new design of flowmeter is described and used in a comprehensive study of the respiratory and cardiovascular adjustments that occur during a standardised exercise test in Thoroughbred horses. The flowmeter system and associated lightweight, fibreglass mask (total mass, 0.7 kg) have a maximum dead space of 500 ml and negligible resistance to airflow. They have no systematic effect on blood gases and, together with a rapidly responding mass spectrometer, enable an accurate computation of gas exchange to be performed together with breath-by-breath determination of other respiratory variables. A...
Cywińska A, Szarska E, Górecka R, Witkowski L, Hecold M, Bereznowski A, Schollenberger A, Winnicka A.Acute phase proteins (APP) have been described as useful for assessing health in human and animal patients, as they closely reflect the acute phase reaction (APR). In humans and dogs a reaction analogous to APR has also been described after prolonged or strenuous exercise. The aim of this study was to determine, if similar reactions occur in endurance horses after limited and long distance rides. Seventeen horses that successfully completed various distance competitions were tested. Routine haematological and biochemical tests were performed and the concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), C-r...
Verheyen KL, Wood JL.Musculoskeletal injury is the major cause of days lost from training and wastage in Thoroughbred racehorses. Little scientific information is available on the majority of injuries occurring in training. Objective: To estimate the incidence of fractures in British racehorses in training and describe the occurrence of different fracture types and bones involved. Methods: Thirteen UK racehorse trainers participated in a prospective study, providing data on horses in their care for 2 years. Details on horses, their daily exercise and fracture occurrence were recorded. Results: A total of 1178 hors...
Clayton HM.Highly-trained dressage horses were studied to test the hypothesis that stride length is altered independently of stride duration in the transitions between the collected, working, medium and extended trot. Six well-trained dressage horses were filmed at a frame rate of 150 frames/s performing the collected, working, medium and extended trots in a sand arena. Temporal, linear and angular data were extracted from the films, with 4 strides being analysed for each horse and gait type. There were no significant asymmetries between the left and rights limbs or diagonals when data from the whole gro...
McMahon TA.The running gaits used by both bipedal and quadrupedal animals are reviewed and contrasted. At high speeds, bipeds use both ordinary running, in which the legs move opposite one another, and hopping. Quadrupeds generally use the trot or its variations at moderate speeds, and first the canter and then the gallop as speed increases. Running in both bipeds and quadrupeds generally involves at least one aerial phase per stride cycle, but certain perturbations to running including running in circles, running under enhanced gravity, running on compliant surfaces and running with increased knee flexi...
Dowling BA, Dart AJ.The in vitro and in vivo mechanical properties of the superficial digital flexor tendon have been described. To date the focus has been on single load to failure testing, however refined in vivo methods may prove useful to evaluate the effects of treatment and exercise on tendons. During maximal exercise, the adult superficial digital flexor tendon operates close to its functional limits with a narrow biomechanical safety margin. This combined with exercise and age associated microdamage, and a limited adaptive ability may increase the risk of fatigue failure. Studies evaluating treatment regi...
Pfau T, Jennings C, Mitchell H, Olsen E, Walker A, Egenvall A, Tröster S, Weller R, Rhodin M.Lungeing is often part of the clinical lameness examination. The difference in movement symmetry, which is a commonly employed lameness measure, has not been quantified between surfaces. Objective: To compare head and pelvic movement symmetry between surfaces and reins during lungeing. Methods: Quantitative gait analysis in 23 horses considered sound by their owners. Methods: Twenty-three horses were assessed in-hand and on the lunge on both reins on hard and soft surfaces with inertial sensors. Seven movement symmetry parameters were quantified and used to establish 2 groups, namely symmetric...
Williams CA.Oxidative stress is an imbalance of the oxidant-to-antioxidant ratio in the body. Increases in oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant status have been shown during endurance and intense exercise and eventing competition in horses. Antioxidants include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins that must be synthesized in the body or obtained from the diet. Therefore, exercise level and diet are both factors that play a role in influencing the oxidative stress and antioxidant status of the equine athlete. Along with exercise intensity and duration, diet, age, and training program can also a...
Faber M, Schamhardt H, van Weeren R, Johnston C, Roepstorff L, Barneveld A.To determine kinematic movements of the vertebral column of horses during normal locomotion. Methods: 5 Dutch Warmblood horses without apparent lameness or problems associated with the vertebral column. Methods: Kinematics of 8 vertebrae (T6, T10, T13, T17, L1, L3, L5, and S3) and both tuber coxae were determined, using bone-fixated markers. Horses were recorded while walking on a treadmill at a constant speed of 1.6 m/s. Results: Flexion-extension was characterized by 2 periods of extension and flexion during 1 stride cycle, whereas lateral bending and axial rotation were characterized by 1 p...
Archer DC, Proudman CJ.Colic remains a significant problem in the horse in terms of welfare and economics; in some equine populations it is the single most common cause of death. Many causes of colic are cited in the equestrian and veterinary literature but little scientific evidence exists to substantiate these theories. Recent epidemiological investigations have confirmed that colic is complex and multi-factorial in nature. Studies have identified a number of factors that are associated with increased risk of colic including parasite burden, certain feed types, recent change in feeding practices, stabling, lack of...
Birch HL, McLaughlin L, Smith RK, Goodship AE.The equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) functions as an energy store during high-speed gaits reducing the energetic cost of locomotion. To enable the SDFT to function effectively, the appropriate mechanical properties are essential. We tested the hypothesis that the SDFT does not undergo gross hypertrophy in response to high-intensity exercise whereas tendons not involved in energy storage undergo adaptive hypertrophy. Two groups (n = 6) of Thoroughbred fillies were trained at high-intensity on a high-speed equine treadmill for 5 months (short-term study) or 18 months (long-term st...
Kuwahara M, Hiraga A, Kai M, Tsubone H, Sugano S.We studied the influence of training on autonomic nervous function in the horse. For this purpose, Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded before and after training from 24 Thoroughbred horses (2-year-olds) and autonomic nervous function was evaluated by the power spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability. We obtained HR, low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power, and LF/HF ratio from recording. We set LF at 0.01-0.07 Hz and HF at 0.07-0.6 Hz. The HF power is thought to reflect primarily parasympathetic nervous function. Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous sys...
Pfau T, Witte TH, Wilson AM.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 ...
Dolan E, O'Connor H, McGoldrick A, O'Loughlin G, Lyons D, Warrington G.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 ...
Carter RA, McCutcheon LJ, Valle E, Meilahn EN, Geor RJ.To determine effects of exercise training without dietary restriction on adiposity, basal hormone and lipid concentrations and glucose and insulin dynamics in overweight or obese, insulin-resistant horses. Methods: 12 overweight or obese (body condition score > or = 7), insulin-resistant (insulin sensitivity < or = 1.2 x 10(-4) L/min/mU) geldings. Methods: 4 horses remained sedentary, and 8 horses were exercised for 4 weeks at low intensity and 4 weeks at higher intensity, followed by 2 weeks of detraining. Prior to and after each training period, frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance ...
Firth EC, Rogers CW, Doube M, Jopson NB.To determine the effect of a known training regimen on the size and mineral content of the third metacarpal (Mc3) and third metatarsal (Mt3) bones of 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses trained on racetracks. Methods: Mc3 and Mt3 of seven horses trained on grass and sand tracks were scanned at several sites using conventional quantitative and peripheral computed tomography (CT). Bone dimensions and density in the diaphysis and epiphysis were compared with those from seven untrained horses. Calcein label was injected in two clusters, during Weeks 9 and 12. The extent and rate of diaphyseal modelling...
Ryan D, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Puschner B, Knych HK.The increasing availability of cannabidiol (CBD) and anecdotal reports of its anti-inflammatory effects has garnered it much interest in the equine industry. The objectives of the current study were to (1) describe the pharmacokinetics of oral CBD in exercising thoroughbreds, (2) characterize select behavioral and physiologic effects, and (3) evaluate effects on biomarkers of inflammation using an ex vivo model. This study was conducted in a randomized balanced 3-way crossover design with a two-week washout period between doses. Horses received a single oral dose (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) of CBD...
van Loon G.Arrhythmias are common in horses. Sinus arrhythmia and first- and second-degree atrioventricular block are frequently found physiologic arrhythmias, but should immediately disappear after stress or exercise. Atrial premature depolarizations are usually not associated with poor performance, but are a potential trigger for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation results in an abnormal ventricular response during exercise and poses a risk for collapse in some horses. This arrhythmia can usually be treated by quinidine sulfate or transvenous electrical cardioversion. Ventricular premature depolar...
Buhl R, Ersbøll AK, Eriksen L, Koch J.To evaluate changes over time in echocardiographic measurements in young Standardbred racehorses undergoing training and racing and determine whether there was any relationship between cardiac dimensions and racing performance. Methods: Longitudinal observational study. Methods: 103 horses. Methods: 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography was performed 4 times at 6-month intervals. Results: Significant cardiac enlargement took place during the study period as indicated by increases in left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd), estimated left ventricular muscle mass (LV mass), an...
Pedersen SK, Cribb AE, Windeyer MC, Read EK, French D, Banse HE.Prevalence of, and risk factors for, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) are well established. Limited data exists on risk factors for equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). Objective: To identify management factors associated with EGGD in show jumping Warmbloods in training. A secondary objective was to identify management factors associated with ESGD. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Gastroscopies were performed in horses following a 12-16 h fast. Management questionnaires were collected for each horse. Risk factors were determined using multivariable logistic regression modelling. Re...
Haussler KK, Erb HN.An objective measure of neck, back and croup pain is needed in horses with musculoskeletal injuries, vague upper limb lameness or poor performance. Objective: To establish mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) within the axial skeleton and evaluate the effects of subject status and ridden exercise. Methods: Thirty-six mature horses (10 nonridden; 26 actively ridden) were used to assess MNTs evoked by a pressure algometer (PA) with a 1 cm2 rubber plunger tip at 62 midline and bilaterally symmetrical anatomical landmarks along the axial skeleton. Pressure was applied at a uniform rate of appl...
Stubbs NC, Kaiser LJ, Hauptman J, Clayton HM.In human subjects with back pain, the deep spinal stabiliser m. multifidus is inhibited ipsilaterally leading to atrophy, asymmetry and intervertebral instability. Specific physiotherapeutic exercises are required to reactivate m. multifidus. This study assesses the effect of dynamic mobilisation exercises on size and symmetry of m. multifidus in the equine caudal thoracic and lumbar spine. Objective: Regular performance of dynamic mobilisation exercises over a period of 3 months increases cross sectional area (CSA) and left-right symmetry of m. multifidus muscles in the caudal thoracic and lu...
Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Z Ukowski K, Piórkowska K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.It has been found that Arabian and Thoroughbred horses differ in muscle fiber structure and thus in physiological changes occurring in muscles during exercise. The aim of the present study was to identify the global gene expression modifications that occur in skeletal muscle following a training regime to prepare for flat racing. Whole transcriptomes of muscle (gluteus medius) were compared between three time points of tissue collection: T (untrained horses), T (horses after intense gallop phase), and T (horses at the end of racing season), 23 samples in total. The numerous groups of exercise-...
Starke SD, Raistrick KJ, May SA, Pfau T.Equine lameness is a significant and challenging part of a veterinarian's workload, with subtle lameness inherently difficult to assess. This study investigated the influence of trotting speed on perceived and measured changes in movement asymmetry. Ten sound to mildly lame horses were trotted at a 'slow', 'preferred' and 'fast' speed on a hard surface, both on a straight line and in a circle on left and right reins. Video recordings of the horses were visually assessed by six experienced equine clinicians. Vertical movement of head, withers and pelvis was derived from inertial sensor data and...
Chateau H, Holden L, Robin D, Falala S, Pourcelot P, Estoup P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.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...
