Conditioning for the Next Level Meg Sleeper VMD, ACVIM (Cardiology)
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Outline n Basic exercise physiology n Basic conditioning principles n Building an athlete Conditioning for the next level Meg Sleeper VMD, ACVIM (Cardiology) Professor of Cardiology University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine Muscle fibers Muscle fibers n Muscle types u Slow twitch n Conversion between fast and slow twitch u Fast twitch fibers does not usually occur in horses u Fast twice high oxidative n Fast twitch, high oxidative muscle cells are n Slow twitch muscle cells are preferentially recruited for slow work and fast twitch cells are particularly responsive to training and can preferentially recruited for strenuous or fast work become more glycolytic (anaerobic) or more oxidative (aerobic) depending on the training Cardiovascular Physiology Cardiovascular Physiology n At rest n With conditioning u Blood volume is @ 9% of body weight u Stroke volume increases and is often >1 n Plasma volume is 16 to 30 liters liter (at maximal heart rate, cardiac n Exercising output is @ 300 liters/min) u Stroke volume increases by 20-50% with submaximal exercise u Increased heart mass u Redistribution of blood flow: 35X to 75X increase to u Resting heart rate does not appear to working skeletal muscle change (unlike in humans) u Decreased blood flow to GI and spleen u Plasma volume increases 1 Physiologic changes with Respiratory tract conditioning endurance activity n Muscles of the upper airway (nostrils, n Traditionally endurance, competitive trail riding, and most larynx, etc.) strengthen with conditioning show horses have been considered to be working in the aerobic range while race horses and event horses (during n Conditioning has very little effect on the cross country phase) work in the anaerobic range lower airway u Aerobic work is lower intensity whereas anaerobic work is high intensity and results in accumulation of n Respiratory system is the weak link lactic acid compared to the conditioning effect on the n Little lactic acid accumulation unless speed faster than heart and skeletal muscle 300m/min is sustained (11.2 mph or 18 kph) n In reality many endurance horses are exceeding the anaerobic limit at least some portion of the ride Muscular fatigue Muscle recovery n Two primary mechanisms of muscle fatigue u Lactic acid accumulation n Lactate removal from muscle cells requires t Occurs during high intensity exercise 3 hours (faster with light exercise) t Acidic environment interferes with muscle metabolism and reduces rate of energy production n Following glycogen depletion, the muscle t Once a critical level is reached, the muscle cell can cells become dependent on fat as a fuel no longer contract source with a slower rate of energy u Glycogen depletion production t Fatigue due to sustained low intensity exercise u Replacement of glycogen stores requires at t Sequence of fiber depletion reflects their recruitment least 2 days after complete depletion pattern t SO>>FOG>>FG Building an athlete: basic principles Developing a program u Basic principles n Progressive loading u Time for remodeling tissues u Denser tissue requires more time to fully uSpecificity in training strengthen compared to soft tissues uVolume of exercise t Bone: 18 to 24 months uIntensity, duration, frequency t Tendon/ligament:12-18 months u Types of conditioning t Muscle: 2-3 months uCardiovascular conditioning n Overloading uStrength training n Goals uSuppling exercises 2 Deb Bennet Long slow distance n Horses reach physical maturity at 6 years u Growth plates in the spine fuse last n Short, slow distance work that gradually n Quotes: builds to long, slow (walk, trot and short u “Productive “riding” has to be much less about saddle-time, periods of slow canter) distance mechanics and technique and more about relationship.” n Up to 2 years of LSD prior to speed u “Many people today-at least in our privileged country- do not realize how hard you can actually work a mature horse-which (depending on horses background training) is very, very hard. But before you can do that without n Long slow distance may = competition significantly damaging the animal, you have to wait for him to mature, which means waiting until he is four to six years u 6-7 mph; 4-5 days per week old before asking him to carry you on his back.” u Eurocisers Specificity in training Cardiovascular conditioning n Enhance horse’s ability to produce energy n Law of specificity by the appropriate metabolic pathways for n Maximize the possibility of getting the sport precisely what you ask for at competition if you practice getting it during training. n Types u Continuous training t Horse exercises at a fairly constant rate over a relatively long time u Interval training t Exercise is broken up into a series of short works separated by partial recovery/rest periods Speed play or fartlek Strength training n Improves strength and power of muscles n Brief periods of high speed exercise interspersed n Reduces risk of injury by strengthening with a background of lower intensity exercise joints and reducing risk of muscle strain (slow enough and long enough that there is partial recovery) n initial improvements are usually due to n Particularly useful in horses that get excited by the improved neuromuscular coordination interval training format n Supplement to event-specific exercise 3 Strength training examples Testing fitness n Heart rate during and after a standard n Hill work exercise test n Loose footing u Preset course under similar environmental n Gymnastics conditions u Cavaletti u If performed at the same speed, as the horse’s fitness improves, the HR decreases u Jumps n Decline in heart rate after a standard n Riding in snow or water exercise routine u Taken at 1 minute or 5 minute intervals u 5 minute reading is most important Suppling exercises Stretching exercises n Back and neck n Exercises to enhance suppleness or flexibility of joints n Forelimbs n Hind limbs u Stretching exercises/passive suppling u In hand exercises u Ridden exercises Stretching exercises Suppling exercises- in hand n Best results after muscles are warm n Full range of motion without over stretching 4 Suppling/schooling exercises Basic conditioning principles n “Dressage” n Increase speed OR distance work n Leg yielding n Use tools to modify the best program for your individual horse and goals n Shoulder in; haunches in n Prepare for specific variables of your n Turn on the forehand; turn on the competition haunches n Examples n Backing n Condition during heat and humidity n Counter canter n Condition while blanketed if you live in an cooler or arid region Basic Horsemanship Daily monitoring n Nutrition n Hoof care n Excellent horsemanship n Basic health care n Know your horse’s body better than your own n Vaccination, deworming, dental care n Completely examine your horse daily n Any heat, swelling, sensitivity is a sign that n Daily care and monitoring should be addressed or it will “snowball” n Excellent fitting tack n Monitor for change in appetite or weight loss n Riding lessons After the event Ride ‘em and rest ‘em n Immediately post ride n Rest time for recovery is critical to maintain u Monitor your horse soundness. u Ensure sufficiently cooled and recovered n Studies suggest cardiovascular conditioning u Walk, graze, feed is maintained in the horse for at least 4 u Treatment? weeks. n Week after the ride u Rest with turn out u When to return to work? u Care after training sessions! 5 Resources “Guidelines Should Come With an Expiration Date, Because They Are a Record of the n http://drkerryridgway.com Past.” n http://horsemassagepro.com Warren Warwick, MD n http://davidmarlin.co.uk Director, University of n https://www.mastersonmethod.com Minnesota n http://www.equinestudies.org Cystic Fibrosis Center 6.