Biltmore Post Race Analysis OMNI

[Roger Rittenhouse-vmaxept <roger@vmaxept.com>]

BILTMORE- Metabolic DNF- OMNI
Today I was suppose to be at the SETC in Clemson Univ. However, after
getting home late Sunday (9pm), I thought it was best to stay home and
observe OMNI for any complications.
After my initial post, I made a detailed list of notes and ideas, also
had a good session with Carol about what went on from the time I left
until Race day. She said I told her  I was going slow, so she did not
need to come  and crew- guess I lied, a crew would not have helped
anyway - and really did plan on doing it fast-- as in about 8-9 mph or 6
hrs ride time. I never tell anyone my plan before a race. 

A RECAP- After 38 miles - loop 2 Omni clears VC 2 and starts a mild
colic. Lack of response to preliminary treatment, 2 dose Banamine and
about 4 gal water/lytes by tube, did not correct the problem. Suspecting
a full gut shutdown he was placed on IV fluid and Ca. Came out of it in
good shape after  30 liters.
METABOLIC
VC 1 all A except gut B- no cri - ate well and drank -from trough and
buckets with local water. Ate back at trailer
VC 2 all A except gut - B- cri 52/52 showed pre colic response and did
not drink or eat.

 BLOOD WORK
Sure was glad this machine was brought in by Dr Mike Foss. We may think
about finding out how we can fund one for the SE rides. It would REALLY
show some great information. 
Glu 138   Bun 15    Na 141    Tco2 41     Augap 8     Hem 37    Nbt 13  
Pc02 53.8   Hc03 39   Beocf 16-- these were reported to be all ok. I am
not sure what they all mean. The parms that were out of spec;
pH 7.471 - very slight alcholdohysis- (spelling )  but you would expect
this since most endurance horses have low pH at the end of a race.
Cl 96 - norm 100-110
K 2.6 - norm 3.3-5.5  for this machine
Glucose was high because the K was low. One of vets can explain this

Potassium and Chloride losses = electrolyte problems.

PRE-RACE PROTOCOL - went over this before- small doses of electrolyte
before travel and after arrival on Thursday. One oz. Gave total of 4 oz
on Thursday, along with 30 cc Pro-botics liquid each time.
FRI same  - small doses through the day - Total 5 oz
Pre-race 2 oz 1/2 hr before start.
I have used this protocol at the last 3 rides.

FEEDING. He was alone at this race. He gets 'worried' and does not eat
or drink well. I felt the small does of electrolytes through the day
would get him to drink more. I bring my own water. I feed small feedings
of his normal feed during the day - no oil or fat (rice bran) was added.
Beetplup water and the mix. Added VitE/SE at normal levels. No Carbo
supplement. Hay was alfalfa and the Dengie Hi-Fi. Not feed at home in
large quantities. Same as was done at the previous rides. At Million
Pines he ate very well, had his buddy, never really quit eating, I fed
him with a nose bag to keep the other horse from getting his ration. He
ate hay all the time. So this was quite different. I believe is started
on a 1/2 full tank.
He did drink some amounts of the local water- City water with chlorine
and ? He ate lots of grass, a better grass then he has at home

ISSUE 1- Lack of eating caused the gut to be empty- less then was
required to keep it full. Rectal exam showed it was empty.
ISSUE 2- What caused the K to be so low. Could it be bound somehow? MOST
of the metabolic pulls were all  low in K.

Almost no one used the same method of electrolyte protocol. We all fed
different products and various amounts.
OMNI drank a fair amount of water from the troughs around camp on both
days.
 Last year at the Fall Biltmore  - we did not use any 'local' water for
drinking.
Nor was there this much rich grass. We did NOT see the pulls in the fall
either.

ISSUE - COULD the water or the grass set up a situation to create a
problem. How many riders did or did not use the local water or let them
chow down on the great grass. I don't recall I let our horses drink that
much 'local' water at other Biltmore rides. I wonder if a tank of 'wild'
water for drinking may be better. 

WEATHER- I have been to hot rides this spring, under winter coats. Both
of the first rides were very warm for Feb and March. The last ride was
not real warm but we went fast. I condition in the mid day and go fast.
I really do not want to use the weather for  a reason, it just did not
seem all that bad for the first 2 loops.
ISSUE - Horses are all in the hot sun with very little shade. Omni was
in the sun all  day. Maybe should put a tent or shade next year.

SPEED- Could have slowed down. HR was of course higher then previous
races, but not out of acceptable limits. He never went anaerobic. Close,
but I kept him under 175. He was working at aggressive levels around 145
to 165. NOT out of range for him for the  speed and effort or his
condition. I base this on the fact he recovered within minutes of
arrival, even when he was starting to colic, he showed no signs of over
use. He did not pee blood, had no muscle cramps or tie-up. Would be nice
to had muscle enzymes. His working HR levels on loop2 were acceptable
and lower. His trot at the 10 mph pace was about 145 to 150 with canter
HR drops to 130. Slow down to easy trot - HR dropped to 110-125. Walk
under 90 within less then a minute. I estimate his anaerobic threshold
to be about 180, Based on 80% of his max HR of 220. Our conditioning
program has progressed to miles of hard trots and canters and short
gallops. I find I have to push more on the same roads and trail to keep
the HR up to a good working level. I cannot fully discount speed as the
cause but I doubt it was the major issue. We could have slowed down -
and may still had the problem- like out on the trail.
'Going to fast'  is relative- right, you don't know where that is until
you pass that point. He never asked to quit- I never asked him to move
out. I was actually holding him in for the whole 38 miles.
He did not have the classic  Exhaustive horse syndrome. Therefore I do
not consider he was 'over-ridden'

ON TRAIL ISSUES
He drank well on trail- there were times he wanted water but the crowds
were too much for him, and he stopped. Some riders can't wait their turn
at water, so we moved on to other sources. I felt he was drinking ok.
Ate grass on loop 2  going up the Mtn, I hand pulled as much as I could-
on foot- and he ate all  I fed him - as well as taking some on his own.
Electrolytes, for on trail I use LYTE and NOW paste. I have been using
this for years. I believe this is about the best pre-mixed product there
is. It does seem to work. 
ISSUE - I only gave 1/2 a normal dose on each loop - one time.. that was
too little.
Drank about a gallon or more of water from trough just before VC2- it
was not cold.

ELECTROLYTES - we try to put all the blame on this - Gave too much or
not enough or not often enough.  Used a product that was unbalance made
from 'rocks', used one that was harsh and caused mouth burns- then he
wont drink or eat. Messed with the pH balance of the guts. And on and
on. We had enough 'west ' riders and a vet-  to know we have to give
larger then normal doses of electrolyte then other areas and I sure
don't want to hear - 'I should not use any' - my horse would be dead I
bet. The problem is - they all require something and in unknown amounts.
How do I know the pre- mixed commercial product I use is correct for my
horse under the conditions of the competition. Like if I added LITE salt
would my K levels be higher? The muscle contractions in the guts shut
down because of the loss of K. SO what happened first, was he low in K
before the race - did he NOT keep the GI track full because he was
stressed? or in some other imbalance..   then the situation just
snowballs.. no eat no drink - get empty - gut get  unbalanced
electrolytes.  Blood test BEFORE the race would be great. I sure would
like to get him tested at he next one, would be very helpful with a
horse that had a problem before.
IF a horse sweats water and electrolytes as we are told, they loose the
ions all together, he can't sweat out Ca or Na and keep K, right - no
selective process here, so where did the K go with all these horses?
Gave 2 oz at VC 1, should have given more?

PROBOTICS- Can too much cause a problem? I have seen the use of these
types of supplements bring a horse out of the dumps within 30 minutes,
but they were NOT in colic mode. The idea is the use of substances to
keep the active bacteria alive and well will keep the guts working.
SO what happens first -the natural contractions-- can't spell that one
-- peristolius?? stops then the guts quit and dry up.. or the micro
flora dies and the guts stop, or is it either or both, caused by
different failures.
Getting too hot in the guts- going too fast over heating will kill the
bacteria then digestion stops.
Loss of K will slow down or stop contractions. If they do not drink or
eat the guts stop working - nothing to process. A real balancing act.

MORE ISSUES. At Million Pines there was NO grass  - the water was from a
well. He ate hay and drank 'home' water except for the VC.  Gut was full
from the start, he  ate well at all the VC

Would he had  done better IF I had fed some Carbs- to kick start the
desire to eat. I felt that did happen at the other rides.  I gave the
electrolytes mixed with CC and waited for him to start to eat. 
Even  if I gave small amounts pre ride - not pre-load but enough to keep
the appetite active- would that had helped? Since he was not eating
well, would the induction of simple carbs helped to keep the guts
working and thus full?

The loops were shorter at all the other rides. Drank and got
electrolytes more often, got time to rest more often. Long legs between
VC at the speed - takes it toll, This type of problem happens at the
OD100  - use to be 25 miles until the first VC. I think the longest leg
is about 15 miles now.

WORMING  This has been beat to death. Yes I have been using Strongid-c
for 10 years--or whenever it came out. I need to take another fecal
exam. The issue of encysted  worms may be a problem, Are the spores
coming out now -at this time of the year? Based on the comments about
the 2X5-5day safe-guard treatment, this is the time of year to do it
before they all are triggered to come out as larvae. 
If a survey is taken - would be nice to know the worm protocol. I plan
on doing the safeguard program later this week. 

TRAILER  He seemed to NOT like hauling free in the back stall. He would
shake and act stressed when he had all that room to move and turn
around. I hauled him in reverse  slant load for the last 3 rides. He
traveled better. ate drank etc. No nervous actions. I modified the
trailer with a new rear back wall and padding.

PLAN OF ACTION.
HA
Well, first I will not make any  radical changes.  
Next ride is 3 weeks- Liberty Run. He gets the week off, and startup
next week, maybe Sunday- for a slow work, then see how he goes after
that.

I will think about adding lite salt- but how much. Too much will cause
more problems.

QUESTION - What is the brand and or formulation the vet- Ken and Todd
used to add to the stomach drench? I use to feed a product called
ELECTRADE IV 4000 back in the 'old' days before we 'KNEW ' what to give.
I bought it from my vet. I never had problems until I started to use the
home made mixes.
I also did real well on the original ENDURALYTES, developed 10 years ago
by Dr Waldron.

I really do not know what to 'fix' because I don't know what is broke.
Since he will have a buddy- I expect him to eat well.

I do plan to go slower, but not 12 hrs. Will play it as he goes on.
I will ask Dr Ken to bring blood test kits and  try to get samples
before, at 25m and the end take, if time permits.. The data will be
skewed since the blood will sit on ice  for a few days, but it may show
something ,at least comparisons. Should at least be able to get before
and after tests.

I have gone over all my notes- appears I have covered all the points I
had. Not sure what I missed.

Post status. I was checking on him all day. He still likes me 0- comes
to me when called. Came in a running tonight, nickered and flanging his
head around.. ate about 6 treat cookies he would NOT eat at the ride.
Full of grain and electrolytes and honey etc.. go figure..
Hope for some POSITIVE feedback.
Get to see our name on the DNF list next month in EN  - with a big M
That's about it, if  I think of more issues point I will  post. Ask
questions for more info if you need it , constructive comments only --
please.
Thanks hope this gets some better technical conversation going and less
bashing.
Roger