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The discussion about the "research ride" was very interesting. This type
of study "on-site" under real competitive conditions gives all of us
research that cannot be obtained by laboratory testing alone. The various
field studies that have been done by a variety of researchers in the past,
coupled with the treadmill research that various equine research centers
around the world have done (and are currently doing) have added
substantially to the body of knowledge on fluid and electrolyte losses.
And Ramey is quite correct that the best way to do this is on a
"controlled endurance ride" where the distances are set up with a return
to base camp for taking the various samples. On-site analysis of samples
at each stage of the ride with feedback on the condition of your horse
(while the observations are fresh in your mind) will be an effective way
to learn how to improve health and performance for your horse.
Given our past work in this area, we decided we had to jump in on this one
and add our two cents worth. As many of you know, we have been doing this
type of research for many years, including two years at the Race of
Champions in South Dakota and Utah. We currently have well over 340
endurance horses in our study as well as the treadmill studies and
research on three-day eventing horses.
We provided this metabolic performance profiling service at the Maple
Valley 50-mile ride in Penetanguishene, Ontario. This included multiple
blood samples for blood chemistry before and during the ride, during
recovery and the next morning. There was an analysis of electrolyte
supplements received by the horse, measurement of body weight to determine
sweat loss, and the collection of sweat throughout the ride. Glucose and
lactate measurements were included as a measure of the energy status and
anaerobic contribution. Determination of body fat (%) on each horse was
also included. We are in the process of writing up the scientific paper
on this and will follow up with other articles in the near future.
We incorporated a new way of collecting sweat, which according to the
riders was a big improvement over the various methods that have been tried
with limited success in the past. The method used worked quite well
despite the heavy rain in the morning and we obtained serial sweat samples
from many horses right to the end of the ride (we have since been working
with several riders to make further improvements on our methods, as we are
always happy to have input from the riders). The sweat samples show up
the individual differences between horses and this is beneficial for
devising appropriate strategies at the next competition. Before going
home, riders had a printout of the report on their horse. We then sat
down with each rider and went over the results, pointing out areas where
there was room for improvement. This was followed up by a written report
that included:
1) hydration status and water deficit;
2) electrolyte balance and deficits in the horse, including the morning
after the ride;
3) an analysis of sweat electrolyte concentrations and total calculated
electrolyte losses in the sweat;
4) the energy status of the horse during the ride (helps give information
about stress and feeding practices);
5) measurement of lactate during the ride (gives indication of stress
relative to ride speed and conditioning);
6) % body fat of the horse;
7) comparison of electrolyte losses with electrolyte supplementation
during the ride.
Several riders have already approached us asking us to plan the same thing
for next season and we are certainly willing to do this if enough riders
are interested and there is a big enough group to make it worthwhile to
travel to the various rides or at most locations. Riders can contact us
if you are interested in having metabolic performance profiling for your
horse for the 1998 season. Reports can be customized for the rider if we
can discuss this in advance. If anyone is interested in reading some of
the work we have done in the past there have been several published papers
in Equine Veterinary Journal, Compendium of Continuing Education, and
Equine Veterinary Education. There was also an article about the research
at the ROC in the July '96 Equus magazine. Feel free to contact us if you
wish more information.
All the best,
Mike Lindinger (mlindinger.ns@aps.UoGuelph.CA)
School of Nutrition and Biology, University of Guelph
Gayle Ecker (gecker@uoguelph.ca)
Equine Research Center
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