Topic:Performance Horses
Performance horses are equines specifically trained and conditioned for activities that require a high level of athleticism, such as racing, dressage, show jumping, and eventing. These horses undergo specialized training regimens to enhance their physical capabilities, including speed, endurance, agility, and strength. The management of performance horses often involves tailored nutrition plans, regular veterinary care, and specific conditioning programs to optimize their performance and minimize the risk of injury. This topic covers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiology, training methodologies, health management, and performance outcomes of these horses in various competitive disciplines.
Temporal changes in the trot between the first and third horse inspections at a CCI*** 3-day event. Kinematic parameters were measured from horses competing in a CCI*** 3-day event. The horses were filmed during the first and third horse inspection. This provided a repeat sample on 16 horses. The horses were filmed using a panning lateral S-VHS video camera (50 Hz). Spatial measurements were taken for mean +/- s.d. 5.66 +/- 0.92 strides for the first inspection and 5.05 +/- 1.27 for the third inspection. Within the calibration zone, data of the horses accelerating and obtaining a constant velocity were collected. The horses trotted with a higher mean velocity during the third inspection (0.2...
Dietary protein influences acid-base responses to repeated sprints. Dietary protein during conditioning and exercise must support additional needs while avoiding adverse metabolic effects. Ten Arabian horses were assigned randomly to 2 diets formulated to contain 7.5 or 14.5% crude protein and 12% fat. The low-protein diet (LP) was supplemented with lysine and threonine to match the levels of these amino acids in the high-protein diet (HP). Feed intake averaged 8.1 kg/day. Dietary cation-anion difference was 181.6 and 260.4 mmol/kg for high and low protein, respectively. Following 9 weeks conditioning, horses performed a repeated sprint test: 3 min walk at 1.5...
Comparison of exercise tests in French trotters under training track, racetrack and treadmill conditions. Standardised exercise tests were performed at 2 different tracks and on an uninclined treadmill during the same week to determine the influence of exercise surface on different measured variables such as heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration, packed cell volume, stride frequency, stride length, gait symmetry and regularity and on different derived physiological variables such as the speed at a HR of 200 beats/min (V200), the speed at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l (V4), the speed at a maximal HR (VHRmax). Five French Trotters, age 3 years, in training for 3 months prior to th...
Racing performance in red blood cell hypervolaemic standardbred trotters. The association between red blood cell hypervolaemia (RCHV) and racing performance was examined in 116 Standardbred trotters referred to the clinic during a 5 year period with histories of impaired racing performance. Red cell hypervolaemia was the only significant abnormality detected in a thorough clinical examination, cell volumes ranging 116-178% of the predicted normal values. They were also compared with the performance traits of the contemporary Swedish Standardbred trotter population (n = 58,058). The performance traits were based on earnings per year and start, best annual racing time...
Effect of exercise on concentrations of immunoreactive endothelin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of normal horses and horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major cause of loss of performance in the horse. The role of endothelin (ET), a potent bronchoconstrictive and vasoactive peptide, is currently being investigated in asthma and other obstructive respiratory diseases in man. We have previously found elevated systemic and pulmonary endothelin levels in horses during exacerbation of COPD. In the present study, our aim was to examine possible variations in ET concentrations occurring during exercise in COPD horses. We compared the effects of intense treadmill exercise on the recovery of end...
Partition of plasma hydrogen ion concentration changes during repeated sprints. Increases in blood [H+] and lactic acid [La-] attend fatigue. We applied Stewart's physiological model of acid-base status and simple regressions to assess the importance of independent variables and [La-] on [H+] during repeated sprints. Eight well-conditioned Arabians performed 9 sprints. Plasma from jugular vein samples was analysed for pH, PCO2, Na+, K+ and Cl-. Plasma [La-] was calculated from blood [La-], plasma [H+] from pH, SID from Na+, K+, Cl- and La-, Atot from pH, PCO2 and SID. Peaks for SID, PCO2 and [H+] were reached at sprint 1, -2 and -3, respectively. At sprint 3, the 5.7 nmol...
Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol and catecholamines response to various exercises. The responses of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, noradrenaline and adrenaline in 5 Thoroughbred horses to an incremental exercise and 2 relative workload exercises, at 105 and 80% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), on a treadmill were examined. These hormone concentrations increased (P < 0.05) with each exercise and the maximal plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol were observed between 5 and 30 min after the end of the exercise, while maximal catecholamine concentrations occurred just at exhaustion time. The plasma ACTH, noradrenaline and adrenaline responses during exerci...
Comparison of some responses to exercise on the track and the treadmill in French trotters: determination of the optimal treadmill incline. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal treadmill slope for trotters to produce the same heart rate and blood lactate responses as on the track during a standardized exercise test. Nine 2-year-old French trotters performed exercise tests on a training track and on a treadmill set at an incline of 0, 2 or 4%. For all horses, track testing was performed on day 1 and then on the treadmill according to a Latin-square design. The track test utilized three steps each of 3 min at speeds of 470, 530, 590 m/min and the same speeds were used on the treadmill. Derived physiological variabl...
Clinical pharmacology of nervous system diseases. The well-developed defense barriers of the CNS and the expense of drug therapy limit the pharmacologic options for the treatment of neurologic diseases in horses. New approaches to controlling inflammation in the CNS are improving the outcomes of bacterial meningitis. The appropriate treatment of EPM remains controversial. More research is needed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs in the CNS of the horse. Behavioral pharmacology has become fashionable in human and small animal medicine, but it needs to be evaluated for the potential of unethical use in performance h...
Effects of prior exercise on muscle metabolism during sprint exercise in horses. The effect of warm-up exercise on energy metabolism and muscle glycogenolysis during sprint exercise (Spr) was examined in six fit Standardbred horses exercised at 115% of maximal O(2) consumption (VO(2 max)) until fatigued, 5 min after each of three protocols: 1) no warm-up (NWU); 2) 10 min at 50% of VO(2 max) [low-intensity warm-up (LWU)]; and 3) 7 min at 50% VO(2 max) followed by 45-s intervals at 80, 90, and 100% VO(2 max) [high-intensity warm-up (HWU)]. Warm-up increased (P < 0.0001) muscle temperature (T(m)) at the onset of Spr in LWU (38.3 +/- 0.2 degrees C) and HWU (40.0 +/- 0. 3 de...
Effect of intravenous administration of furosemide on mass-specific maximal oxygen consumption and breathing mechanics in exercising horses. To determine whether i.v. administration of furosemide (250 mg) to horses before maximal exercise affected maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), breathing mechanics, or gas exchange during exercise. Methods: 7 healthy, well-conditioned Thoroughbred horses. Methods: 5 horses initially performed an incremental treadmill exercise test to determine VO2max 4 hours after i.v. administration of furosemide (250 mg i.v.) or placebo (saline [0.9% NaCl] solution). Time to fatigue and distance run were recorded. All 7 horses were then used to determine the effects of furosemide on gas exchange and breathin...
Metabolic functions of L-carnitine and its effects as feed additive in horses. A review. L-carnitine, a betaine derivative of beta-hydroxybutyrate, is found in virtually all cells of higher animals and also in some microorganisms and plants. In animals it is synthesized almost exclusively in the liver. Two essential amino acids, i.e., lysine and methionine serve as primary substrates for its biosynthesis. Also required for its synthesis are sufficient amounts of vitamin B6, nicotinic acids, vitamin C and folate. The first discovered ergogenic function of L-carnitine is the transfer of activated long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane into the mitochondrial m...
Cardiovascular demands of competition on low-goal (non-elite) polo ponies. Knowledge of the competitive demands of different sports or activities is important for designing appropriate training programmes to ensure that animals reach a sufficient level of fitness to reduce the risk of overexertion and injury or illness and to achieve the best possible performance in relation to an individual's genetic potential. Whilst the physiological demands of many equestrian sports have been described, to the best of our knowledge the cardiovascular demands of polo have not. The aims of the present study were therefore to record heart rate during and after competitive polo games...
Effect of furosemide on performance of Thoroughbreds racing in the United States and Canada. To determine the effect of furosemide on performance of Thoroughbreds racing on dirt surfaces at tracks in the United States and Canada. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: All Thoroughbreds (n = 22,589) that finished a race on dirt surfaces at tracks in the United States and Canada between June 28 and July 13, 1997 in jurisdictions that allowed the use of furosemide. Methods: Race records were analyzed by use of multivariable ANOVA procedures and logistic regression analyses to determine the effect of furosemide on estimated 6-furlong race time, estimated racing speed, race earnings, and...
Testing for therapeutic medications: analytical/pharmacological relationships and limitations’ on the sensitivity of testing for certain agents. Proper veterinary care of horses requires that horses in training have access to modern therapeutic medication. However, the sensitivity of equine drug testing now allows for detection of pharmacologically insignificant concentrations of many therapeutic medications. In 1995, the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) resolved that members 'address trace level detection so as not to lead to disciplinary action based on pharmacologically insignificant traces of these substances'. The rationale behind this approach is to prevent overly-sensitive testing from inhibiting the prop...
Results of screw fixation combined with cortical drilling for treatment of dorsal cortical stress fractures of the third metacarpal bone in 56 Thoroughbred racehorses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate screw fixation with cortical drilling as a surgical treatment for dorsal cortical stress fractures of MCIII in the Thoroughbred racehorse. Details of age, sex, limb affected, fracture assessment, and post operative recommendations were obtained from medical records and radiographs. Fracture healing was assessed radiographically at the time of screw removal. Performance evaluation was determined from race records obtained from The Jockey Club Information System, Lexington, Kentucky. Fifty-six Thoroughbred racehorses were treated surgically for stress fr...
A comparison of the ultrastructure and metabolic response of the skeletal muscle of horses performing intense treadmill exercise at 20 and 35 degrees C. The aim of this study was to determine whether the metabolic response and ultrastructure of muscle differed when horses performed intense exercise at different ambient temperatures. Four Standardbred geldings performed treadmill exercise, including an intensive trot of 2600 m on two different occasions, either at a high ambient temperature of 35 degrees C or at a temperature of 20 degrees C. The horses had a warm-up period of 23.5 min of submaximal exercise, followed by 2 h of box rest before the intensive exercise. Muscle biopsy data of adenine nucleotides, creatine phosphate, lactate and gly...
Apical fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone in standardbred horses: 43 cases (1990-1996). To determine whether fracture fragment dimensions, suspensory ligament damage, and racing status at the time of injury were associated with outcome in Standardbred horses with apical fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 43 Standardbred racehorses. Methods: Medical records, racing records, and radiographs were reviewed, and ultrasonographic findings were scored. Measurements of the fractured portion of the proximal sesamoid bone were made. Results: Seventy-four percent (32/43) of horses were pacers, and 26% (11/43) were trotters. Statistical differences...
Systemic dexamethasone concentration in horses after continued topical treatment with an ophthalmic preparation of dexamethasone. To determine concentrations of dexamethasone in serum and urine of horses treated repeatedly with a topically administered ophthalmic dexamethasone preparation. Methods: 4 clinically normal horses (2 mares, 2 geldings). Methods: 0.1% dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment was administered to the left eye of each horse every 5 to 9 hours for 8 consecutive days, yielding an estimated cumulative dexamethasone dose of 6.4 microg/kg of body weight. Serum and urine samples were obtained before the first dexamethasone treatment, on days 4 and 8 of treatment, and 24, 48, and 96 hours after cessation of tre...
The influence of betaine on untrained and trained horses exercising to fatigue. Because exercise fatigue has been associated with the accumulation of lactic acid, factors that influence lactate metabolism during exercise can potentially enhance performance. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental betaine on eight mature Thoroughbred horses before and after 8 wk of conditioning. The effects of betaine were tested in two cross-over design experiments, allowing each horse to receive both the control and betaine treatments at each fitness level. Ingestion of 80 mg of betaine/kg of BW for 14 d before exercise testing did not alter plasma lactate,...
Physical examination of horses with back pain. The diagnosis of back pain is often a diagnosis of exclusion of other problems in the face of poor performance. It requires careful observation, thought, an open mind, and experience. The signs of back pain can be extremely variable and range from subtle to obvious. Obvious forelimb or hind limb lameness is not usually a sign of back pain. The most common differential diagnosis may be back pain secondary to degenerative joint disease of the hocks, fetlocks, or stifle. These diseases can mimic signs of back pain including lack of impulsion, shortening of the stride length, and change in the str...
Muscle characteristics and plasma lactate and ammonia response after racing in Standardbred trotters: relation to performance. Blood samples from the jugular vein and muscle biopsies (gluteus medius) in 25 Standardbred trotters were obtained 5-10 min after racing. The biopsies were analysed for fibre type composition and enzymatic profile and blood samples for plasma lactate and ammonia concentrations. Muscle characteristics, plasma lactate and ammonia concentrations after racing were compared with each horse's individual performance index (IPI). The IPI is calculated annually from the individual horse's racing performance (% placing 1, 2 or 3, total annual earnings, average earning per start, and best racing record),...
Field exercise testing for assessing fitness in French standardbred trotters. This review considers standardized exercise testing which is, routinely used for French Trotters in the field. Track testing provides a more limited range of measurements than treadmill testing, but has the advantage of being performed in the horse's natural environment. Various measurements such as heart rate during exercise and blood lactate concentration after exercise may be measured on the track and lead to the calculation of physiological variables such as V200 (velocity corresponding to a 200 bpm heart rate) and V4 (velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol/L blood lactate concentration). V4 i...
Exercise in the heat: thermoregulatory limitations to performance in humans and horses. This paper reviews the limits to exercise imposed by increases in ambient, hypothalamic, and contracting skeletal muscle temperature in humans and horses. Like humans, horses frequently compete in hot environments, yet their high mass-specific rate of heat production and low mass-specific surface area for heat dissipation places them at a great disadvantage compared to humans. Exercise in hot conditions increases the rate of body heat storage and reduces the time required to reach a critical hypothalamic temperature that results in voluntary fatigue. This critical temperature appears to be ass...
Locomotor, cardiocirculatory and metabolic adaptations to training in Andalusian and Anglo-Arabian horses. The effects of two training programmes in 20 Andalusian and 12 Anglo-Arabian horses were evaluated by an increasing intensity work test at velocities of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 m sec(-1). Heart rate was monitored and blood samples were drawn at rest and after each velocity to analyse packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, plasma lactate and potassium levels. Furthermore, the programmes were video-taped and stride length, duration and frequency, stance (restraint and propulsion), swing phase durations and stride vertical component were measured. The training protocol of the Andalusian horses p...
A longitudinal study of racing thoroughbreds: performance during the first years of racing. To develop a profile of the racing careers of Thoroughbred horses in south-eastern Queensland, and to examine factors that affect racing during the first years of racing. Methods: A longitudinal study using the racing records of a defined cohort of Thoroughbred horses that were born on or within 12 months following 1 August 1991. Data collection commenced in 1996 and will continue until all horses cease racing. In this paper two measures of performance were examined: race earnings during the first year of racing and cumulative proportion of horses still racing up to 2 years after their first s...