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Journal of animal science2020; 98(8); skaa239; doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa239

Effects of aquatic conditioning on cartilage and bone metabolism in young horses.

Abstract: While beneficial in rehabilitation, aquatic exercise effects on cartilage and bone metabolism in young, healthy horses has not been well described. Therefore, 30 Quarter Horse yearlings (343 ± 28 kg; 496 ± 12 d of age) were stratified by age, body weight (BW), and sex and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments for 140-d to evaluate effects of aquatic, dry, or no exercise on bone and cartilage metabolism in young horses transitioning to an advanced workload. Treatments included nonexercise control (CON; n = 10), dry treadmill (DRY; n = 10), or aquatic treadmill exercise (H2O; n = 10; water: 60% wither height, WH). Horses were housed individually (3.6 × 3.6 m) from 0600 to 1800 hours, allowed turnout (74 × 70 m) from 1800 to 0600 hours, and fed to meet or exceed requirements. During phase I (days 0 to 112), DRY and H2O walked on treadmills 30 min/d, 5 d/wk. Phase II (days 113 to 140) transitioned to an advanced workload 5 d/wk. Every 14-d, WH, hip height (HH), and BW were recorded. Left third metacarpal radiographs on days 0, 112, and 140 were analyzed for radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). Every 28-d, serum samples were analyzed for osteocalcin and C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen (CTX-1), and synovial fluid samples were analyzed for prostaglandin E2, collagenase cleavage neopeptide (C2C), collagenase of type I and type II collagen, and carboxypeptide of type II collagen using ELISAs. All data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS, including random effect of horse within treatment, and repeated effect of day. Baseline treatment differences were accounted for using a covariate. There were treatment × day interactions (P < 0.01) where OC and CTX-1 remained consistent in both exercise groups while inconsistently increasing in CON. There were no treatment differences (P > 0.30) in RBAE, BW, or HH, but all increased over time (P < 0.01). There were no treatment × day interactions of synovial inflammation or markers of cartilage metabolism; however, there was an effect of day for each marker (P<0.03). Changes in biomarkers of cartilage turnover in horses exercised at the walk, whether dry or aquatic, could not be distinguished from horses with access to turnout alone. This study indicates that early forced exercise supports consistent bone metabolism necessary for uniform growth and bone development, and that there are no negative effects of buoyancy on cartilage metabolism in yearlings transitioned from aquatic exercise to a 28-d advanced workload.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-28 PubMed ID: 32717078PubMed Central: PMC7431214DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa239Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research looks at the effects of aquatic exercise on the bone and cartilage metabolism of young, healthy horses. It concludes that early forced exercise in water can promote consistent metabolism beneficial for growth and bone development, without any adverse effects on the cartilage during their transition to advanced work routines.

Study Design and Methodology

  • This study comprised 30 young Quarter Horse yearlings that were randomly segmented into three treatment groups, observing the impacts of aquatic, dry, and no exercise on bone and cartilage metabolism, especially as the horses transitioned into advanced workload schedules.
  • The study took place over 140 days, with daily individual housing and feeding as per their diet requirements. It comprised two phases – initial walking treadmill exercises five days per week (days 0-112), followed by a transition to an advanced workload (days 113-140).
  • Hip height (HH), body weight (BW), and wither height (WH) were recorded every 14 days. Additionally, radiographs of the left third metacarpal on days 0, 112, and 140 were scrutinized for radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE).

Observations and Results

  • Every 28 days, sample analysis of osteocalcin, C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen (CTX-1), and other serum and synovial fluid components were conducted.
  • Data analysis revealed changes in the biomarkers of cartilage turnover. However, these were not distinct among horses exercised at the walk, whether dry or aquatic, compared to the control group (no exercise).
  • On comparing treatment groups, no significant change in RBAE, BW or HH was noticed, but all showed an increase over time.
  • A noteworthy pattern was observed; osteocalcin and CTX-1 levels remained consistent in both exercise groups while showing inconsistent increase in the control group.
  • No significant interaction of synovial inflammation or markers of cartilage metabolism and treatment was observed. However, a pattern relating to each marker and time (day of treatment) was noted.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that early forced exercise, even involving aquatic conditions, supported the steady bone metabolism necessary for regular growth and bone advancement. The report also confirmed no significant adverse effects of buoyancy on cartilage metabolism as the young horses transitioned from aquatic exercise to an advanced workload pattern over 28 days.

Cite This Article

APA
Silvers BL, Leatherwood JL, Arnold CE, Nielsen BD, Huseman CJ, Dominguez BJ, Glass KG, Martinez RE, Much ML, Bradbery AN. (2020). Effects of aquatic conditioning on cartilage and bone metabolism in young horses. J Anim Sci, 98(8), skaa239. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa239

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 98
Issue: 8
PII: skaa239

Researcher Affiliations

Silvers, Brittany L
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Leatherwood, Jessica L
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Arnold, Carolyn E
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Nielsen, Brian D
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Huseman, Chelsie J
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Dominguez, Brandon J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Glass, Kati G
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Martinez, Rafael E
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Much, Mattea L
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Bradbery, Amanda N
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Body Weight
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cartilage / metabolism
  • Collagen Type I / analysis
  • Collagen Type I / blood
  • Eating
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / veterinary
  • Male
  • Osteocalcin / blood
  • Peptides / blood
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Random Allocation
  • Synovial Fluid / metabolism

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Nielsen BD. A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger: Implications for Horses and Humans. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 22;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13050789pubmed: 36899647google scholar: lookup
  2. Nankervis K, Tranquille C, McCrae P, York J, Lashley M, Baumann M, King M, Sykes E, Lambourn J, Miskimmin KA, Allen D, van Mol E, Brooks S, Willingham T, Lacey S, Hardy V, Ellis J, Murray R. Consensus for the General Use of Equine Water Treadmills for Healthy Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 26;11(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11020305pubmed: 33530300google scholar: lookup
  3. . Aquatic exercise and equine joint and bone metabolism. J Anim Sci 2020 Sep 1;98(9).
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa281pubmed: 32918828google scholar: lookup
  4. Sikorska U, Maśko M, Rey B, Domino M. Utility of Infrared Thermography for Monitoring of Surface Temperature Changes During Horses' Work on Water Treadmill with an Artificial River System. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 1;15(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15152266pubmed: 40805054google scholar: lookup
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