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| 2. |
- Byström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of girth strap placement and panel flocking material on the saddle pressure pattern during riding of horses
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 502-509
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Both flocking material and girthing have a significant influence on the saddle pressure and should thus be considered in saddle fitting. Wool seems a better flocking material than foam of the type used in the current study. For girthing, traditional placement seems equally good if not better than the v-system. However, further studies are needed to show if these results are valid for a larger population of riding horses.
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| 3. |
- Essen-Gustavsson, Birgitta
(författare)
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Differences in the metabolic properties of gluteus medius and superficial digital flexor muscles and the effect of water treadmill training in the horse
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 665-670
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- P>Reasons for performing study:Flexor tendon injury may be due to flexor muscle fatigue, contributing to fetlock joint hyperextension and tendon damage. A water treadmill provides resistance training on flexor tendon muscles, which might reduce the risk of tendon injury.Objective:To determine the effect of water treadmill training on the properties of the gluteal and superficial digital flexor (SDF) muscles and on cardiocirculatory response to a standardised exercise test.Methods:Five healthy unfit horses were trained on a water treadmill for 5 days/week for 4 weeks, starting with 5 min/day increasing to 20 min/day. Before and after the water treadmill training, an incremental SET was performed on a land treadmill to determine velocity at a heart rate 200 beats/min (V(200)) and resting gluteal and SDF muscle biopsies were obtained for biochemical analyses.Results:There was no measurable difference in resting concentrations of gluteal or SDF muscle glycogen, lactate, ATP or glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), or activities of citrate synthase (CS), 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after training and no change in V(200), Lactate, glycogen, G6P and ATP concentrations were 50% lower and type 1 fibres 30% higher in SDF compared to gluteal muscles. CS and HAD activities were similar between SDF and gluteal, while LDH was lower in the SDF muscle.Conclusions:A more strenuous water treadmill conditioning protocol may be needed to induce a training effect in gluteal and SDF muscle and heart rate response. The low substrate concentrations and oxidative capacity of SDF may predispose this muscle to catastrophic fatigue during maximal exercise.
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| 4. |
- Essen-Gustavsson, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of crude protein intake from forage-only diets on muscle amino acids and glycogen levels in horses in training
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 341-346
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- P>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.Materials and methods:Two high energy forage-only diets based on high-energy grass forage were fed for 23 days in a crossover design to 6 Standardbred horses in racing condition. One forage diet provided a high (HP) CP (16.6%) intake and the other diet provided recommended intake (RP) of CP (12.5%). At Day 19 a standardised treadmill test was performed to mimic a race. Blood samples were taken before, during and after (up to 90 min) the treadmill test and muscle biopsies (m. gluteus) were taken before and after exercise and after 90 min. Amino acids were analysed with a HPLC-technique and glycogen with a fluorimetric method.Results:A main effect of the HP diet was that muscle glycogen and leucine concentrations were higher compared to the RP diet. Branched chain amino acid concentrations in plasma remained higher during early recovery from exercise on the HP diet compared to the RP diet. Intense exercise caused a similar decrease in glycogen, aspartate and glutamate concentrations in muscle and increase in alanine concentration on both diets.Conclusion:Feeding a forage-only diet with a high CP intake increases glycogen and leucine concentrations in muscle of horses in training. This may be beneficial for muscle recovery following intensive exercise.
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| 5. |
- Essen-Gustavsson, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of feed deprivation on Standardbred horses fed a forage-only diet and a 50:50 forage-oats diet
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 335-340
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- P>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.Methods:Twelve adult Standardbred horses in training were used. The 2 diets were fed in 2 experimental periods of 3 weeks each in a crossover design. The last day of each period the horses were fasted for 12 h. The horses were weighed and their water intake measured every day during the trial and every hour during the 12 h feed deprivation. During feed deprivation total plasma protein (TPP), insulin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea, glucose and acetate concentrations were analysed.Results:Bwt and water intake was higher on FD compared to OD. Bwt loss was higher during feed deprivation on FD compared to OD. TPP was lower before and during the last 8 h of feed deprivation on FD compared to OD. Plasma insulin was lower on FD than on OD at feeding and for 5 h during feed deprivation. Plasma NEFA and urea increased on both diets during feed deprivation. Plasma glucose was not affected by diet or feed deprivation.Conclusion:High energy forage diets could be an alternative to high grain diets for athletic horses. The small increase in bwt on FD diminished with feed deprivation and the low TPP concentration indicate a greater potential to use an internal fluid compartment to maintain plasma volume.
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| 6. |
- Hernlund, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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Kinematic characteristics of hoof landing in jumping horses at elite level
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 462-467
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The landing and braking characteristics of the hooves varied substantially between hind-, fore-, trailing and leading limbs. Developing mechanical testing devices for arena surfaces, this fairly wide range of biomechanical events must be considered, in order to simulate the horse-surface interaction.
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| 7. |
- Jansson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma aldosterone concentration and cardiovascular response to low sodium intake in horses in training
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 329-334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- P>Reason for performing the study:Horses in training lose large amounts of sodium but little is known about the cardiovascular response to low sodium intake.Objectives:To investigate the effect of low sodium intake on plasma aldosterone (pAldo) concentrations and the cardiovascular system of athletic horses, and to identify markers of low sodium intake.Methods:Seven Standardbred geldings in training (trained twice a week) were randomly offered a standardised diet supplemented (NaS, 58 mg Na/kg bwt) and not supplemented (NaN, 3 mg Na/kg bwt) with NaCl for 5 weeks in a changeover design. Blood samples were taken once a week and in Week 5, before and following an exercise test until 22.30 h and analysed for blood sodium (bNa), total plasma protein (TPP), pAldo, troponin I and packed cell volume (PCV). Blood pressure (BP) was measured and pulse wave recorded at rest with high definition oscillometric-technique (HDO). ECG and echocardiography were recorded. Water intake was measured before and on the day of exercise and voluntary saline intake was measured for 2 days after each period. Faecal samples were taken weekly and analysed for sodium and potassium content.Results:The pAldo and the PCV was higher in NaN compared to NaS. There were no differences between diets in BP, ECG, plasma troponin I and echocardiogram but HDO pulse amplitude tended to be smaller on diet NaN. Water intake was lower on diet NaN and saline intake higher. The response to exercise in bNa, pAldo, PCV and TPP was different on the 2 diets. Faecal potassium/sodium ratio was higher on NaN than on NaS.Conclusion:This study shows that 5 weeks of low sodium intake increased plasma aldosterone concentration and PCV but no alterations in heart function was observed. Faecal potassium/sodium ratio could be used to assess sodium status in horses.
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| 8. |
- Karlström, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of training on equine muscle fibres and monocarboxylate transporters in young Coldblooded Trotters
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 289-295
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- P>Reasons for performing study:Muscular changes caused by training are breed-specific and studies on the Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter (NSCT) are limited. Knowledge about lactate-transporters in muscle in this light draught breed used for harness racing is lacking.Objectives:To identify muscular changes associated with training in young NSCTs and investigate muscular distribution of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and its ancillary protein CD147, which facilitate lactate transport across membranes.Methods:Nine horses were followed from the start of their training period until the end of their 3-year-old season. A biopsy sample of the middle gluteal muscle was collected on 4 occasions. On the last 3 sampling occasions, individual V(La4)-values (the speed corresponding to a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l) were determined in an incremental exercise test on a high-speed treadmill. One horse was excluded due to lameness. Histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on all muscle samples to determine fibre types (I, IIA, IIAX, IIX), oxidative capacity (NADH) and the expression of MCT1 and CD147. The activity of selected metabolic enzymes in the muscle before and after training was determined.Results:The percentage of type IIX fibres decreased with training while the percentage of type IIAX fibres increased. The activity of citrate synthase and 3-OH-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase increased with training. The expression of MCT1 was lower in membranes and cytoplasm of type IIX fibres compared to all other fibre types both before and after training. The antibody against CD147 stained membranes and cytoplasm of all fibres. The first V(La4)-value was lower than the last 2 in all horses.Conclusions:Muscular changes with training of NSCTs were similar to those reported in Standardbreds, indicating fibre type transitions and increased oxidative capacity. Expression of MCT1 differed among fibre types and was related to the oxidative capacity of the fibres.
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| 9. |
- Bergh, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on fibre characteristics and oxidative capacity in equine skeletal muscles
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42:Suppl 38, s. 671-675
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reasons for performing study: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used to increase or maintain muscle strength during rehabilitation. Human studies investigating different protocols show that some treatments induce changes in muscle characteristics. Despite the frequent use of NMES in horses, no studies have been published describing its efficacy.Objectives: To investigate the effects of a NMES protocol on equine fibre types and areas, glycogen concentrations and enzyme activities.Methods: NMES was administrated to m. gluteus medius and m. longissimus dorsi, on one side of 6 healthy Standardbred horses. The contralateral side of each muscle served as a nonstimulated control. The horses were stimulated at 50 Hz a day, with 21-39 mA, for 45-60 min, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Needle biopsies were obtained from the muscles on both sides before and after the experimental period. Muscle samples were analysed for fibre type proportions and area using histochemical methods and for glycogen and enzyme activities (citrate synthase, 3-OH-acyl CoA dehydrogenase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase) using biochemical methods. Muscle contractions at the location and depth of the muscle biopsy were confirmed by diagnostic ultrasound. Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon sign-rank) were used for statistical analysis. Results: No significant differences were observed in the percentage of types I, IIA or IIX fibres, fibre areas, glycogen levels or enzyme activities either when comparing stimulated and nonstimulated muscles before and after the NMES treatment, or when comparing the left and right muscle samples.Conclusions: The NMES treatment was well tolerated by the horses, but the present protocol did not induce significant muscle adaptations. Further studies are needed to describe the effect of more intense and/or prolonged NMES treatment protocols on muscles of healthy horses, and to describe if stimulation protocols induce positive changes in atrophied muscles.
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| 10. |
- Byström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Kinematics of saddle and rider in high-level dressage horses performing collected walk on a treadmill
- 2010
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Ingår i: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : Wiley. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42, s. 340-345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The literature suggests that the rider's influence on the movement pattern of the horse is the strongest at walk. For assessment of the horse-rider interaction in dressage horses presented for unsatisfactory performance, evaluations at walk may therefore be the most rewarding. Basic knowledge about rider and saddle movements in well-performing horses is likely to be supportive to this task.
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