<< I was thinking about fat horses, I have one, and this thought occured to
me,
I am no expert and have not read the fit race horse but just thinking of the
reason for fat (stored energy) doesn't it make sense that a horse needs
some fat so they have some place to draw extra enegy from?
If they are too lean they won't have any where to draw extra energy from
except their muscles which I would assume is not good?
If you're gonna ride...ride hard or stay home.
Happy Trails
Bobbi & Shai >>
There has to be some fat around--if simply for the health of the cells walls.
My point was that many of the horses considered "fat" were actually
well-fueled with carbohydrate (glycogen within muscle cells). A genuinely
"fat" horse will have his backbone rolled down into a valley of fat. In
contrast, a big "apple ass" on a horse is probably all stored glycogen (and
water). When glycogen is depleted to zero, fat cannot be burned. When
exercise is somewhat intense, fat burning is inhibited. When glycogen/glucose
stores are high, fat burning is inhibited. When blood lactates are high, fat
burning is inhibited. The body wants to use glucose/glycogen for all exercise
above very light work. It will, however, use fat when glycogen stores drop
off--that's the "second wind" we all experience about 5 minutes into
strenuous (but not maximal) work.
ti