conditioning the driving horse
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Conditioning the Driving Horse
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Ri
Richard J. Forfa, DVM, DipABVP
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Monitoring Heart and Respiratory
Rates
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Respiration/Heart Rate
Stethoscope
Heart Rate Monitor -- $$
(Polar Company)
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Objective: Long slow distance
60 minutes of work at average speed of 8kph
Aerobic endurance = exercise for a prolonged period at low to moderate intensity.
Resting HR = 28-40 bpm
Measure a distance 1-3 kilometers then calculate average speed with a Stopwatch.
Measure pulse or heart rate, 100-160 bpm
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Start your distance component first
For example: Start long slow distances three times per week at a walk and trot.
As the work gets easier for the horse do one long work at the full distance
Then 2-6 shorter conditioning drives at faster speed.
HR may rise to 70-180 bpm.
This work should be accomplished over a minimum of a two week period.
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Conditioning
Cardiovascular: The objective is to raise the aerobic capability while still maintaining sufficient anaerobic power and muscle strength for bursts of high intensity activity. (e.g., pulling a big hill or driving through a hazard)
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Anaerobic conditioning
Later stage of conditioning
Heart rates 170 – 200 bpm
Working horse at fast speeds, on a steep hill, through a hazard or on sandy ground.
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Questions?
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Duration of High Speed or Intense Work
Controlled to Minimize Risk or Injury
Due to Fatigue or Overloading
Uphill gradients are best at the trot
Load cardiovascular and respiratory systems without high stress to bones and joints
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Respiratory Conditioning
Rate and depth of breathing controlled in part by chemoreceptors which respond to levels of blood O2, CO2, and arterial pH.
Increased respiratory rate-
decreased O2, increased CO2, decreased pH
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Normal Breaths per minute 12-20
Can go as high as 180 bpm
When exercise stops, horse’s respiration rate will settle to 60-100 bpm
And breaths will be deep until O2 debt is repaired/replaced.
One factor in determining the speed of recovery is the ambient temperature.
Respiratory Conditioning
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Respiratory Conditioning
If overheating is a problem, the horse will pant.
Panting = Fast and Shallow Breaths
Panting is a heat exchange mechanism.
Panting does NOT provide adequate O2 to lung tissue.
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Thermoregulation
Rectal temperature at rest averages 38° C/100.5° F
During warm up, the body temperature rises about 1 degree F to get muscles up to optimal functional temperature.
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Thermoregulation
The rate of heat build up depends on:
Duration of exercise
Intensity of exercise
Environmental temperature, humidity and wind velocity.
Hydration status of horse
Hair coat and body mass
Body temperature peaks 10 minutes after heavy exercise and should drop to normal within 10-20 minutes.
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Questions?
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Strength Training
Pull up hills
Add weight (gradually!) to carriage to 30-50% over competition weight
Vary traveling surfaces (in moderation)
Deep ground (sand)
Water (provides drag)
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Training
Tapering work load prior to competition allows glycogen storage in muscles to be replenished.
Do NOT over train.
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Dynamic Suppling
Good warm-up and cool-down
Dressage under saddle
Large and small circles with carriage
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Passive Suppling
Stretching exercises
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Peaking and Tapering
Low level horses 5 days prior to competition
Upper level horses decrease long slow work and add more speed work two (2) weeks before the competition
Allow the horse’s body to be fully hydrated
Allow the horse’s body to have a high storage of glycogen
Feed well prior to competition
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Peaking and Tapering
Exercise daily but decrease level
Allows any minor tissue damage to heal
After a fitness peak, let the horse down slowly over a 2-3 week period.
Stay at a low workload until about halfway to your next fitness peak, then increase work again.
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Questions?
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Heat Dissipation
Exercise = heat production
Dissipation - Most important Evaporation
Sweat facilitates evaporation which leads to high Water and electrolyte losses
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Water
Idle horse, cool day: 28 L/day (4-5 gallons minimum)
Idle horse, hot day: 80 L/day (9-10 gallons minimum)
Exercise increases consumption, need for water
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Fluid losses
Hard to estimate
Weight loss during exercise is about 90% water
Horses body 65% water
Foxhunter 3 hrs of steady going (24-100lbs) Endurance horse at 50 mi.(22-88lbs)
Thoroughbred after a good gallop(10-15lbs)
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Equine Body Water
Most intracellular
Some extracellular - Blood Plasma Large part of horses blood volume –Is the extracellular water pool.
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Plasma Volume Depletion
Occurs if sweat losses are large
Horse has less blood flow to the muscles
Dehydration has occurred
Less sweating
> body temperature
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Electrolyte losses
Horse Sweat : Calcium
Sodium
Chloride
Potassium
Protein
Trace Minerals
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Electrolyte losses with activity
Fox Hunter - 3 hours of going (33-148g sodium) (12-51g potassium) (63_284g chloride)
Thoroughbred – good gallop (16-23g sodium)(12-51g potassium(31-44g chloride)
Endurance Horse at 50 mi.(13-132g sodium)(12-48g potassium)(63-252g chloride)
Heavy sweat leads to both electrolyte and water loss
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Results of electrolyte imbalances
Acid – Base Imbalance in body
Muscle cramping, Tying up , Thumps
Less sweating > body heat
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Thirst Response and Desire to Drink
High sodium loss in horse causes less response to drink > plasma sodium causes the drinking response
In humans we lose < sodium but more water so we want to drink
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Questions?
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How do we get horses to drink well
Access to forage – hay = MOST IMPORTANT
Adapt them to drinking strange water by flavoring the water at home .
Let them see other horses drinking
Hold a bucket up for them
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Pre-event feeding practices
Diets that maximize water intake and retention
> dry feed > water consumption good Hay
Mineral block availability
Electrolyte supplementation in feed
Water and electrolytes can be retained in the large intestine
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Event practices
Train you horse to drink in the rest after the walk section
Electrolyte paste can be helpful but only if your horse drinks some at the rest
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Feeding on Competition Day
Old theory was to starve horse on the day of the competition, which leaves them with an empty gut
Current theory is feed small meal of hay and grain 4 hours prior to start of the competition or long drive
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Veterinary issues in a dehydrated
horse
Administration of water without electrolytes
Administration of electrolytes without water
Veterinarian will give balanced I.V. solution
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Post Event
Monitor your horse carefully right after the event and for a day or two
If you have a long trailer trip home it is best to wait a few hours before starting your trip home
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Post Event
Transportation can be a dehydrating experience on its own and transporting a dehydrated horse may lead to another problem like colic
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Prevention of overheating
How much work will the horse do and how strenuous will it be above and beyond what he has done in the past?
How hot will it be and has your horse been trained to acclimate to the heat ( do you have an idea of his pre work and post work body temperatures) Heat Load ?
How fit is your horse ?
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Cooling a Hot Horse
Apply copious amounts of water and scrape it off with a sweat scraper
Use ice cooled water in large volumes
Alcohol is also beneficial
Get the horse in the shade in the breeze or in front of a fan
Monitor his temperature
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Remember….
Without proper care & conditioning you’ll have a carriage, but no horse to pull it.
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Thank You!!