Slow vs. Fast Twitch

[Barbara Madill <madill@teleplex.net>]

Until now, all of my horses have been Arab or Arab Welsh and the question
of developing their fast or slow twitch muscle fibers has not been a
particular issue.

However, after recognizing that my husband and I really like carriage
driving, that my temperament and lifestyle aren't geared for out and out
endurance, BUT that I really AM lazy in not wanting to have to drown my
horses in water to get good recoveries for my beloved 3 day 100's, I'd like
suggestions to help temperature control in the 1/2 Arab, 1/2 Appendix mare
who looks a lot like her 1/4 QH background that I've traded for an
endurance hopeful.

I wrote Heidi Smith and thought her response might be of interest to others
who do not have mostly natural "radiator" muscle fiber. Here are excerpts
of our correspondence.  I wondered if others have similar challenges and
how they've resolved or worked around them. 

>>>>>>In a message dated 2/24/99 7:08:21 AM Pacific Standard Time,
madill@teleplex.net writes:

<< Is it possible to encourage the SLOW twitch muscle fiber development and
 "downplay" the fast twitch?  I'm assuming I work long, low and soft...
exercises she needs anyway.  Instead of doing "strength" exercises on our
hills, I'd use them to encourage long swinging relaxed walk.  This WILL be
an interesting project.>>

<<<<<Heidi's response was:>>>>>>>>>
>>>>Yes, to some degree.  Every horse has some intermediate fibers that can be
influenced one way or another.  However, you can only change so much--these
numbers aren't "real" but for sake of illustration, let's say you have a horse
that is 70-30 FT vs. ST, and you can change him to 60-40.  Then you have a
horse that is 40-60 at birth.  You get the drift...<<<<<<

Has anyone out there had similar experiences?  
Thanks,

Barbara


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