Biomechanical variables in Icelandic horse riders and the effect on tölt performance: A pilot study.

Aim: To identify how riding rein direction (left and right) and rider asymmetry affect tölt performance in Icelandic horses.

Methods: Two horses were ridden in tölt by four riders on both left and right reins. Riders wore pressure insoles that measured the total absolute force (FAbs) and absolute force difference (FDiff) in their left and right feet in the stirrups.

Rein tension in harness trotters during on-track exercise.

Horseracing is under public scrutiny with increasing demands to safeguard horse welfare. It is accepted that, as a result of bit pressure and/or equipment, mouth lesions accompany many types of horse use, including racing. However, there are currently no data available on the range of bit pressures in driven trotters.

Effects of Horse Housing System on Energy Balance during Post-Exercise Recovery.

This study examined the effects of two housing systems (free-range and box stalls) on recovery of energy balance after competition-like exercise in Standardbred horses. Eight adult geldings (mean age 11 years) were used. The study had a change-over design, with the box stall (BOX) and free-range group housing (FreeR) treatments each run for 21 days.

Road transport and diet affect metabolic response to exercise in horses.

This study investigated the effects of transport and diet on metabolic response during a subsequent race-like test in Standardbred horses in training fed a forage-only diet and a 50:50 forage:oats diet. Six trained and raced Standardbred trotter mares were used. Two diets, 1 forage-only diet (FONLY) and 1 diet with 50% of DM intake from forage and 50% from oats (FOATS), were fed for two 29-d periods in a crossover design.

Effects of crude protein intake from forage-only diets on muscle amino acids and glycogen levels in horses in training.

Reasons For Performing Study: There is little information about the influence of crude protein (CP) intake on glycogen and free pool amino acid concentrations in the muscle of horses in training. High energy forage-only diets may be an alternative to concentrate rich diets and may provide high levels of CP.

Objective: To study the effect of feeding 2 forage-only diets, containing either high or moderate CP concentrations on glycogen and free pool amino acid concentrations in the muscle.

Effects of feed deprivation on Standardbred horses fed a forage-only diet and a 50:50 forage-oats diet.

Reasons For Performing Study: A higher forage allowance to athletic horses might be an alternative to increase health and the gut fluid reservoir. However, more forage might increase bodyweight (bwt) and could therefore be a limitation during competition.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of a forage-only diet (FD) compared to a 50:50 (dry matter basis) forage:oats diet (OD) on bwt, plasma protein concentration and some metabolic plasma parameters during 12 h of feed deprivation.

Effects of crude protein intake from grass silage-only diets on the equine colon ecosystem after an abrupt feed change.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of CP intake from 2 grass silage-only diets, differing in CP concentration, fed at similar DMI on the equine colon ecosystem after an abrupt feed change between the diets. Four adult right ventral colon-fistulated geldings were fed one silage-only diet high in CP (HP, 873 g of CP/d) and one diet providing recommended intakes (RP, 615 g of CP/d). An adaptation period of 15 d on either the HP or the RP diet was followed by 2 experimental periods when the diets were fed for 22 d each in a crossover design.

Effects on exercise response, fluid and acid-base balance of protein intake from forage-only diets in standardbred horses.

Reason For Performing Study: High-energy forage might be an alternative to concentrates for performance horses and such forage can be produced by an early cut. However, early cut forage is high in crude protein (CP), which may result in an excessive CP intake.

Objectives: To investigate how CP intake affects nitrogen (N), fluid and acid-base balance, and exercise response in horses fed high-energy forage diets.

The physiological responses to simulated race tests on a track and on a treadmill in standardbred trotters.

Reason For Performing Study: It is unclear to what extent the physiological response to a standardised treadmill exercise test simulating racing conditions resembles the circulatory and metabolic response observed after a simulated race on a track.

Objectives: To compare the physiological responses of a standardised treadmill exercise test used to simulate racing conditions and a simulated race performed on a track on the same Standardbred trotting horses, all in racing condition.

Methods: Six Standardbred trotters in racing condition performed a standardised inclined treadmill exercise test protocol simulating racing conditions (ST) and a simulated race on a field track (FT).