An energetic basis of equine performance.
Abstract: Although different physiological and behavioural attributes are needed for various types of equine competition, successful racing depends primarily on the animal's metabolic ability to convert chemical energy to mechanical energy--the function of muscle. Components of these energetic processes include the rate, efficiency and interaction of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in muscle and the supply and utilisation of fuel. In anaerobic work like racing, fatigue processes may be largely regarded as a function of an intramuscular fuel (phosphogen) depletion, despite the fact that substrates are supplied via the circulation. Physical work capacity in the horse depends then mainly on the rate of aerobic metabolism and the capacity of the anaerobic processes to supply energy for continued muscle contraction. Underlying these processes are physiological limitations of the cardiovascular system and the ultrastructure and biochemistry of muscle. A model is proposed whereby prediction of equine performance is based entirely on parameters of energy metabolism.
Publication Date: 1983-04-01 PubMed ID: 6873045DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01734.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on studying the basis of equine performance in competitive racing, attributing it to the horse’s metabolic ability to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, resulting in muscle function.
Understanding Horse Metabolism and Energy Conversion
The research identifies the components of these energetic processes as:
- The rate: This refers to how quickly the horse’s metabolic process can convert chemical energy to mechanical energy. The speed of this conversion directly correlates to the horse’s performance.
- Efficiency: This refers to how proficiently a horse’s body can perform the energy conversion process. A more efficient process would lead to better performance.
- The interaction of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in muscle: This involves how a horse’s body can balance between the reliant of oxygen (aerobic) and without oxygen (anaerobic) energy conversion within its muscles.
- Supply and utilization of fuel: This deals with how well the horse’s body can distribute and use the available fuel (energy sources such as nutrients from food) for metabolic processes.
Exploring Anaerobic Work and Fatigue
Research further dives into the concept of anaerobic work, such as racing, explaining that fatigue in these instances may primarily be due to phosphogen depletion, an essential energy source within the muscles, even though other substrates are supplied through the bloodstream.
Understanding Performance Constraints
Researchers identify significant limitations affecting equine performance as:
- The cardiovascular system capacity: The horse’s heart and blood vessels’ capacity play a crucial role in distributing oxygen and nutrients, significantly affecting performance.
- Ultrastructure and biochemistry of muscle: The structural and chemical makeup of the horse’s muscles can critically influence the efficiency and rate of energy conversion, thus determining performance.
Proposed Model of Performance Prediction
The abstract concluded with a proposition of a model that predicts equine performance based entirely on parameters of energy metabolism, encouraging further research in understanding these parameters better to optimize equine performance in competitions.
Cite This Article
APA
McMiken DF.
(1983).
An energetic basis of equine performance.
Equine Vet J, 15(2), 123-133.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01734.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Energy Metabolism
- Fatigue / veterinary
- Glycogen / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Models, Biological
- Muscle Contraction
- Muscles / metabolism
- Oxidative Phosphorylation
- Oxygen Consumption
- Phosphorylation
- Physical Exertion
- Running
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- van den Hoven R, Gür E, Schlamanig M, Hofer M, Onmaz AC, Steinborn R. Putative regulation mechanism for the MSTN gene by a CpG island generated by the SINE marker Ins227bp. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jun 23;11:138.
- Littlejohn A, Snow DH. Circulatory, respiratory and metabolic responses in Thoroughbred horses during the first 400 meters of exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1988;58(3):307-14.
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