Re: RC: RE: When a horse "quits"

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/8/99 6:52:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, step@fsr.com 
writes:

<<  We got into the hold, they drew blood
 and had results within 20 minutes - his blood glucose
 was very low, bordering on hypoglycemic. He spent the
 hold eating, plus I gave him an extra 30 minutes of 
 hold/eat time, and gave him a few doses of Carbo Charge. 
 They drew blood again towards the end of the hold and his
 blood glucose was back up to normal, but by the end 
 of the next loop (90 miles)it was the same story. >>

This is the sort of yo-yo you get on with blood sugar when relying on carbs 
when more "steady state" energy systems (such as volatile fatty acids) have 
been exhausted.  You need to base the energy "input" on having a steady 
metabolic source (the ol' gut full of roughage for days before the ride) and 
you may be able to use carbs to an advantage in small frequent amounts to 
"help out," but once you have "hit the wall" and exhausted the main fuel 
system, (not enough VFA's coming from the large colon and cecum, and muscle 
glycogen shot) the carbs are just a temporary "reserve tank" that runs out 
pretty quickly.

Sue, Steph is right that this is a drop in blood glucose in many cases.  
Steph, sounds like this was a lesson in matching the outgo to what is in the 
fuel tank all the way through the ride.

You CAN get these sorts of symptoms from drops in Ca or K, too, but I do 
think it is an energy problem more often than not.

Heidi


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