Re: biopsy

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

True, a couple days before would suffice, except that very few of the riders
will be at base camp yet.  And the hard part isn't actually getting the
samples, it's getting the participants.  Too many riders still are under the
impression that drawing 20 ccs of blood before, during and after a ride will
adversely affect the horse's performance, when it won't, not in the least.
I have doubts I could get sufficient numbers once they saw the size of the
biopsy needle and imagined that going into their horse's liver right before
a ride.  Can't really blame them.

Plus, I personally wouldn't propose to do biopsies without the use of
lidocaine and possibly some banamine or bute afterwards (and the CSU Animal
Care and Use Committee wouldn't approve the proposal without it), which
would completely conflict with the no-drugs rule.  So there are some fairly
daunting logistical problems to have to deal with.  It'll happen, just will
probably have to do it under more controlled conditions.

Susan G
----- Original Message -----
From: John Proudman GGPL B-262 <johnp@lpsi.barc.usda.gov>
To: <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>
Cc: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 7:53 AM
Subject: biopsy


> I shouldn't think that the pre-ride biopsies would need to be done
> immediately before the ride, a couple of days before should still give a
> good picture of the horse's pre-ride metabolic state.  A carefully-done
> biopsy should have no effect on his/her performance after a short
> recovery period.  Yes, it requires an owner/rider willing to accept a
> little risk in the interest of science, but this sport is filled with
> folks who are knowledgeable, curious, and take risks.  Some will likely
> agree to participate.
>
> John & Dancer (sorry, haven't done a 100 yet!)
>
> >The whole thing would be truly answered once and for all if I could
biopsy
> >for muscle and liver glycogen before and after a 100-mile ride.  But its
> >asking enough for blood samples, and I'm not brave (or dumb) enough to
> >request a rider's permission to punch his horse with a harpoon just
before a
> >ride.
>