Top Performance in Horses Involves Multiple Factors

Horses are unique among large domestic animals in that they are not raised to produce meat, milk, or fiber. Instead, horses are raised to be athletes, with work as their main productive function.

Horses perform various types of work ranging from high-speed racing at over 45 miles per hour, to long-distance endurance racing for 50 miles or more, to draft work where horses pull or carry heavy loads. The driving force behind all of these various types of work is the conversion of stored chemical energy into mechanical energy for muscular movement.

Several physiological systems in the horse work in unison to provide fuel and oxygen to the working muscle and to remove waste products that are produced from its metabolism. All of these systems function together to produce efficient movement of the horse’s limbs and body.

Exercise physiology encompasses the cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular systems as well as hematology, nutrition, biomechanics, and conformation. Each of these can be viewed as a link in a chain. If any particular link is weak, then the performance of the whole animal suffers. The study of equine exercise physiology therefore entails methodically evaluating each physiological system to assess its role in limiting performance.

Any one of the various physiological systems involved during exercise may have a weakness or failing that impacts the horse’s ability to work. For example, if one particular system limits oxygen uptake and utilization, then the horse will only be able to perform at that level regardless of how well all of its other physiological systems operate.

To give a horse the best chance of performing at its maximal level, all systems must be supported and conditioned in order to meet the demands of training and competition. Proper nutrition, a program of regular exercise, and excellent veterinary and farrier care all contribute to the horse’s well-being and ability to carry out assigned tasks.

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