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Re: [RC] When to stop feeding fat before a race - Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVMThis requires the rider to not > > deplete the stored glycogen/glucose because glycogen is required to burn > > stored fat...if glycogen is all gone because the horse was ridden too fast - > > into his anaerobic zone - then the horse crashes because it has no > glycogen > > (instant energy) nor can it utilize fat (long term energy). So how would you manage yoru ride to try and make sure tihs is what is happening? From the exercise point of view, ride your horse well within his limits, even less than he can easily do at home. Horses at rides tend to be less than well hydrated, and that translates to somewhat sluggish blood circulation feeding the muscles---it's harder for "thick" blood to deliver oxygen and substrates and efficiently remove byproducts, including lactic acid. Reduction in delivered oxygen to the muscles creates in effect an anaerobic condition and muscles that have to work harder than normal, even at "normal" speeds. Just keep it in mind when choosing your pace at a ride, especially if your horse is still less than experienced and doesn't yet understand about taking care of himself by eating and drinking at every opportunity. Two, along the same lines, do everything you can to maximize drinking and forage intake. Use EVERY trick in the book, because just putting out a bucket of water at camp isn't sufficient for a lot of horses. Stuff him full of forage beforehand and at every check---not only because he needs the gut fill for motility, but because forage intake triggers water intake and you need the reserves. Find the electrolyte protocol that works for you and your horse---that differs for every horse. If you can feed beet pulp as part of your normal program, then that's great, it'll help with hydration and energy at rides. However, DON'T just start feeding beet pulp the week before a ride---you're more likely than not to upset his digestive tract even just a little, and offset your potential benefits with potential detrimental effects from a rapid feed change. There are plenty of other things you can do, they all are interrelated and translate back to conservation of energy, fluid and performance. The articles on my website for Beating the Metabolic Pull cover all that in fairly exhaustive detail. What about carrots? Great stuff. Nice extra source of fluid, ten pounds is equivalent to a pound of grain. Not a big source of fiber, but very nice nonetheless. Susan G SUSAN E. GARLINGHOUSE, DVM, MS Michael S. Peralez, DVM & Associates 1005 North Santa Anita Drive Arcadia, California 91006 (626) 446-8911 http://www.shady-acres.com/susan ============================================================ REAL endurance is taking your non-horsey family to a ridecamp with you! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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