Muscle characteristics in young Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters and associations with breeding index, body size and early training.

The research analyzed the relationships between the muscle characteristics of young Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters (NSCTs), breeding index, body size, and early training, finding that muscle characteristics significantly differ among these horses and that early training may influence these parameters.

Study Purpose and Overview

• The study aimed to investigate the muscle features of NSCT horses and understand the natural variability in these features among young horses. Further, it sought to evaluate if there’s any association between these muscle characteristics and body size, individual breeding index, and early training.
• The importance of this research arises from the increasing trotting speed of NSCT horses, which is largely ascribed to breeding advancements. Despite this, their speed still pales compared to Standardbreds, a breed of horse specifically designed for speed trotting. Knowing more about the muscle particulars of NSCT horses closes the information gap in this area.

Methods Used

• The study was conducted using biopsies of the middle gluteal muscle from 144 NSCT horses born in 2005 and were collected when the horses were 17-24 months old. These horses were randomly chosen guided by factors of gender and paternal progeny.
• The muscle samples were then analyzed for fiber type composition, fiber type areas, capillary supply, and the activity of key metabolic enzymes. After this, a correlation analysis was performed, including muscle parameters and factors such as body size, individual breeding index, and early training.

Research Findings

• The study found a significant individual variation in muscle characteristics among the horses. Male horses displayed higher percentages of type IIA fibres and lower percentages of type IIX fibres than age-matched females.
• No significant differences were found in fiber type areas or capillary supply between genders.
• The study also discovered a correlation between height and the relative area of type I fibres. Furthermore, early training was found to be associated with increased oxidative capacity and an increased percentage of type IIA fibres.
• Interestingly, the research revealed that the lowest breeding index was found in untrained horses, suggesting a link between training and breeding success.

Conclusions & Implications

• Overall, the muscle characteristics of NSCT horses vary significantly, and these differences may be related to factors such as body size, breeding index, and early training.
• While the innate oxidative capacity in NSCT horses seems to be lower than in Standardbreds of comparable age, early training appears to have a positive effect on these parameters.
• This research opens up potential ways of enhancing the athletic performance of NSCT horses and underscores the importance of early training in their development and performance.