Re: RC: Re: Complex Carbohydrate Use

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/16/99 1:16:08 AM Pacific Standard Time, Tivers writes:

<< My guess is that you did not, and that your horse had plenty of 
opportunity to be awash with VFAs at the time he crashed. In fact, if blood 
samples were taken at the time, you'd verylikely see elevated mobilization of 
fats and fatty acids. To no avail.   >>

Again, you are mixing your VFA's and fats.  You are correct that the VFA's 
can't do it alone, but if they are there in sufficient quantities, the 
glucose and glycogen will go farther and last longer.  And (surprise!) many 
of the horses that hit the wall also have their guts shut down...  So no, 
their VFA production is not what it should be, either.  You are right that 
they are likely getting into fat stores big-time at that point--not conducive 
to racing.  You may help them through this with carbs, but upping the VFA 
production in the future will help them greatly to prevent such a scenario by 
preventing that emergency "crash" in their glucose through having sufficient 
VFA's present to support the glucose better.  Of course, there is always the 
possibility that the rider simply rode like a fool, too--and no matter HOW 
much carb you add, you can't control the rider who is going to go until 
something breaks...

Heidi


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=