Equine Exercise Physiology - understanding basic terminology and concepts
Anaerobic work is performed at heart rates above 150 BPM and involves explosive power such as short sprints, acceleration, and fast galloping. A Quarter Horse running 2 furlongs would be deriving energy 60% anaerobically and 40% aerobically.
Robert Keck (European Trainer - issue 18 - Winter 2007)
California Horse Racing Board explain their drug testing procedures
The rules of racing are intended to maintain a level playing field; any
drug testing program is meant to monitor compliance to those rules. In
reality, drug testing is a deterrent. For truly illicit activity where
the intent is to take an unfair advantage (cheat), the current program
in California is working well. But we know it isn't perfect. We are
always looking for holes in the system and ways to improve the program.
Rick M. Arthur, DVM, - (01 July 2007 - Issue Number: 4)
Is no matter more pressing than international rules on medication?
There is a need for several changes and improvements in international racing. None can be more pressing that the issue on international regulations on the use of medication. Both on and off the tracks.
Geir Stabell (19 May 2007 - Issue Number: 3)
The importance of worming - keeping parasites under control
The use of homespun and herbal remedies may have been superseded by
wormers formulated after lengthy research programmes, but the control of
worms in the horse remains as important for horsemen today as it was
when the significance of these unwanted passengers was first understood.
Dr Philip K Dyson BVMS Cert. EM and Barry Sangster BVMS MRCVS (19 May 2007)
Shockwave Therapy - uncovering new treatments
Equine researchers are still uncovering everything shockwave therapy can do for horses after it was initially and successfully used in Germany in 1996 to treat lameness.
Bill Heller (European Trainer - issue 17 - Spring 2007)
Nutritional Support for bone - maintaining a strong skeleton
The expression ‘no foot no horse’ should perhaps be extended to cover all the bones of the skeleton, for as far as racehorses are concerned, without strength and durability in this area a trainer’s job is fraught with difficulties.
Dr Catherine Dunnett (European Trainer - issue 16 - Winter 2006)
Bones of contention - how to maintain a strong skeleton
The expression no foot no horse’ should perhaps be extended to cover all the bones of the skeleton, for as far as racehorses are concerned, without strength and durability in this area a trainer’s job is fraught with difficulties. The number of training days lost to lameness in a season is testament to this. A racehorse diet should help to maintain the skeletal system during rigorous training. This task is no doubt easier when the skeletal foundations have been firmly laid in utero and during the rapid growing phase.
Dr Catherine Dunnet (19 October 2006 - Issue Number: 2)
Dermatologic conditions that affect thoroughbred racehorses
Horses are similar to many other species with the skin being the largest
organ in the body. This is based on overall organ size; just think
about the total surface area of a 600 kg horse!; The good news is that
it can be easily evaluated by visual inspection and palpation. Specific
tasks for equine skin include protection from trauma, thermoregulation
(temperature control; sweating and heat conservation), sensory
perception, secretory function and pigmentation. In addition, it is
important to recognize that skin is an important indicator of systemic
health since disorders of the skin may actually indicate systemic ill
health.
Elizabeth G. Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Kansas State University (16 October 2006)
Immunostimulants and their role as an alternative to vaccines
What is immunomodulation? By definition this simply means that we modify the natural immune response. This can occur in one of two ways, either by boosting the response with immunostimulants or suppressing the response with medications like corticosteroids. Currently immunostimulation has become a more widely discussed method of managing horses suffering from infectious disease.
Elizabeth Davis, DVM, PhD, Dip. ACVIM (19 September 2006)
Osteochondritis dissecans - the development, causes and treatments of OCD
One of the most common orthopedic problems encountered in young horses is osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This is of particular concern in the Thoroughbred industry, where horses are often bought and sold before maturation is complete and are expected to perform starting at a relatively young age. There are many common sources of confusion surrounding this disease. Deborah Spike-Pierce, DVM discusses research into the development, causes and treatment of OCD.
Deborah Spike-Pierce, DVM (13 October 2006 - Issue Number: 1)
Reiki - Paul Peacock discovers the ancient Japanese healing method.
A fast growing treatment for racehorses is Reiki, an ancient Japanese healing methodology which is said to date back over 2000 years, but was actually ‘discovered’ by a monk in Victorian times.
Paul Peacock (European Trainer - issue 15 - Winter 2006)
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome
Vets and other professionals recognise that gastrointestinal function and health in horses exists in a finely balanced state. Most conditions relating to the intestinal tract, for example colic and diarrhoea are well understood and are most commonly treated either medically or surgically.
Dr Mark Dunnett & Dr Catherine Dunnett (European Trainer - issue 15 - Autumn 2006)
Electrolyte Balance – vital to the proper functioning of a racehorse's system
Electrolytes are essential components of the racehorse’s diet as they are vital to the proper functioning of the body’s basic physiological processes, such as nerve conduction, muscle contraction, fluid balance and skeletal integrity.
Catherine Dunnett (European Trainer - issue 14 - Summer 2006)
Inhalation therapy - treating airway problems in the racehorse
Physiologically speaking, one of the major limiting factors to racehorse performance is how efficiently the lungs can exchange gasses. Clearly any threat to the efficiency of the lungs will result in poor performance.
Paul Peacock (European Trainer - issue 14 - Summer 2006)
Back problems - how they can affect performance, and how to treat them
It is well documented that horses can suffer with back problems and they tell us by their actions. Sometimes the signs are blatant – for instance the horse stops jumping, or displays an obvious aversion to being saddled. Most of the time the signs are much more subtle.
Jo Sutton-Walker (European Trainer - issue 14 - Summer 2006)
Hoof Cracks - a very common problem in racehorses
A keen-eyed racegoer spotted a horse running in the USA last summer with six quarter cracks spread between three of its feet. While this number would be highly unusual in the UK, the problem of the hoof crack is not, and is one, which plagues the trainer, vet and farrier. For the trainer, the words “The apple of your eye has popped a quarter crack, guv’nor,” are not welcome. Some great names have won Group One and other big races carrying hoof cracks, but the onset of a crack will result at minimum in serious problems in the horse’s preparation. Nevertheless, it is quite common for several horses to have cracks of one kind or another in a larger yard at the height of summer.
Tony Lindsell (European Trainer - issue 7 - Spring 2004)
Do horses suffer from jet-lag?
The consequences of jet lag for the equine athlete have become more relevant in recent times due to increased travel of performance horses across multiple time zones for international competition.
Barbara Murphy (European Trainer - issue 7 - Spring 2004)