Equine Exercise and Physiology

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Equine Exercise and Physiology

• Dr. Jeff S. Pendergraft

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Structural Consideration

• Structural Consideration
• A. Overview B. Bioenergetics and
  Performance C. Exercise and Biochemistry D.
  Introduction to Biomechanics Material for Exam I

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Early investigations into exercise were
  stimulated by the horses role in agriculture.
• Today the horse is largely used for recreation.
• The range of activities has become increasingly
  diversified.

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Why train?
• Whatever breed or type of horse, they are blessed
  w/ the same basic structure and physiological
  mechanisms.
• All have the potential to respond favorable to
  training.
• Performance is largely determined by
• Natural ability (genetics)
• Level of training (fit vs unfit)

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Training is an ART.
• Understanding of the physiology of the horse can
  help anyone perfect their own ART.
• Sports Medicine (equine exercise phys.)
• Has been established in the last 20-30 yrs.
• Largely as the results of
• Increase in scientific and vet interest
• Improvements in technology
• Availability of equipment (treadmills)

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Equine Exercise Physiology
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Equine Exercise Physiology

• What are the aims of a training program?
• Increase the horses exercise capacity
• Increase the time to the onset of fatigue
• Improve overall performance, by increasing
• Skill
• Strength
• Speed
• Endurance
• Decrease the risk of injury

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• How to speak the lingo.
• Physiology the study of the function of cells,
  tissues, organs, and whole systems.
• Exercise Physiology the study of all the systems
  involved in exercise.

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Work the product of an applied force exerted
  over a known distance against gravity.
• Is described in terms of energy used
• Measured in joule (J), or kilojouls (kJ), or
  calories (cal), or kilocalories (Kcal).
• A force has to be applied in order to perform
  work and it requires energy to be expended.

A
B
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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Power the application of force relative to
  time.
• Also referred to as the rate of energy used per
  unit of time.
• Example cal / second
• In galloping from A to B, the horse must generate
  more power than if he walks from A to B.

A
B
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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Exercise activity that is performed for the
  purpose of improving, maintaining, or expressing
  a particular type(s) of physical fitness.
• Therefore, as soon as the horse moves off from
  the standstill it is performing exercise.
• Using our new lingo.
• If the horse is exercising, work is being done.

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Training may have many interpretations.
• An organized program of exercise designed to
  stimulated chronic adaptations.
• Or
• Long-term process of repeated bouts of exercise,
  which results in an improvement in fitness.
• The horses body should make certain
  physiological adjustments, adaptations, or
  responses.
• Learning vs Conditioning

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• Exercise response any short-term physiological
  adaptation that is made as a result of an
  increase in the level of muscular activity.
• Tends to return to baseline levels after the work
  is done. (example heart rate)
• Training response is a long-term physiological
  adaptation to repeated bouts of increased
  muscular activity.
• Are more long lasting and are maintained as long
  as the horse continues to regularly undertake a
  certain volume of work.
• Increase in heart mass
• Increase in capillaries

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Equine Exercise Physiology

• The type of work undertaken is important in
  determining whether or not a training response is
  induced.
• Example walking a horse 10 miles a day for 3
  days a week for a month.
• May produce noticeable loss of body mass
• But may do little to improve fitness
• When we think about training to induce the
  appropriate responses
• Need to consider
• The volume of work (how much energy used)
• The quality of work (way in which work is done)