Fasting, hay and glucose
RALSTON@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 12:55:59 -0400 (EDT)
Kim did a great job of summarizing Anne Rodiek's
study on the glucose/ insulin
responses to fasting versus feeding hay or corn.
However one very important point with respect to
the duration of the peaks: The horses were not exercising!
Laurie Lawrence did a study recently wherein she
used about the same protocol but exercised the horses
(LSD type work) 2 hours after feeding the grain or hay.
Both fasted and hay fed horses maintained steady blood
glucose throughout the exercise. The grain fed horses, though starting
their work with much higher glucose insulin levels, dropped
precipitously and were below baseline glucose/insulin after the work.
I know Sue G has the reference and hopefully has the time to dig it
out to provide the details if desired.
Bottom line, as Sue, Louise and others, including myself,
based on both science and experience: free choice the hay an seem to agree: on
the day of competition and night before: Free choice the
hay and grazing if possible, minimize the starchy concentrates
(bran mashes or soaked hay cubes my preference at checks),
use electrolytes as necessary
and KEEP IT SIMPLE!! :-)
Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD and Fling (Gee. Mom, you mean I
actually am going to get to compete next year after ten years of being
told I was born to be an endurance horse instead of a lawn ornament?)