Recent News for Conditioning
Article
Criteria for Tevis Veterinarians Judging Haggin Cup Winners
August 04, 2010
Veterinary involvement in the selection of the Haggin Cup, awarded to the horse found to be in the "most superior physical condition" after successful completing 100 miles of the Western States Trail, is extremely important. ... Read More
Article
Basic Conditioning of the Equine Athlete
August 02, 2010
Basic conditioning of the equine athlete involves consideration of the event in which the horse will be competing, the level of competition that you expect the horse to achieve, the time you have in which to condition the horse, and the horse... Read More
Article
40 Tips for the Trail Rider
June 22, 2010
This year marks the 40th anniversary for Lynn Palm as a horse trainer and clinician. Palm offers 40 tips to trail riders as they hit the lush green trails or sandy beaches with their horses. Trail riding is an excellent wa... Read More
Article
Microbiopsy May Predict Performance
May 29, 2010
A new, simple muscular microbiopsy technique can reveal important information about a horse's athletic potential as well as possible pathologies that can affect performance, according to a new study by Belgian researchers. By ana... Read More
Article
Horse Stretching Benefits, Approaches Detailed
March 31, 2010
Horses are athletes, too, and according to research, they need that stretching as much as humans do.... Read More
Article
Respiratory Tract Abnormalities and Racehorse Performance
March 27, 2010
Abnormalities in the throats of yearling racehorses will negatively impact the horses' athletic potential, making careful evaluation of these structures an important part of the prepurchase examination. "Veterinarians routin... Read More
Article
Conditioning the Trail Horse (Book Excerpt)
March 24, 2010
Most people wouldn't think of getting up from a desk job and heading off into the mountains or hill country for long hikes without first getting into condition. The same should be true for your horse. Your trail horse should be conditioned ... Read More
Article
TheHorse.com en Español: Entrenamiento de Primavera
February 05, 2010
This is one of a series of articles translated as part of our partnership with A Caballo, an equine publication based in Mexico, and Jorge Murga, DVM. Keep an eye on TheHorse.com for more Spanish-language resources coming soon. Read this article in E... Read More
Article
Radiographic Abnormalities in Young Quarter Horses Common, AAEP 2009
January 29, 2010
A high prevalence of radiographic abnormalities exist in the joints of yearling and 2-year-old Quarter Horses.... Read More
Article
Lawsonia Infection in Foals: No Negative Effect as Adults (AAEP 2009)
January 29, 2010
Horses that recover from Lawsonia intracellularis infections cost less as yearlings than their siblings, but they race just as well. The bacterium L. intracellularis is the causative bacterial agent for equine proliferative enteropathy (E... Read More
Article
Pregnant Mare Exercise: No Negative Effect on Fetuses in Study
January 28, 2010
Some of us tend to think we should keep a broodmare's physical efforts down to a minimum. But new research shows the heart rates of 9-month-old fetuses remained unchanged during and after maternal exercise.... Read More
Article
Emerging Disease: Equine Proliferative Enteropathy
December 27, 2009
Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is an emerging intestinal disease primarily of recently weaned foals. Lawsonia intracellularis, the causative bacterium of EPE, is capable of inducing similar disease in many animal species... Read More
Article
Rider Position, Horse Back Movement Evaluated
December 22, 2009
A rising trot is less loading to a horse's back than a sitting trot, producing less vertical force as measured through new biomechanical techniques, according to Dutch researchers. From the kinematic data of 13 riders on two horses, scientists were ... Read More
Article
Exercise Causes Slight Hoof Changes, Researchers Report
December 12, 2009
About 30% of lameness in horses is associated with foot problems, yet little research focuses on the biomechanics and function of the equine hoof. Researchers recently found slight differences in horses' hooves following exercise.... Read More
Article
Study: Lactate Levels Could Guide Equine Conditioning Programs
November 17, 2009
Low-intensity exercise over long periods was an effective approach to conditioning horses, as indicated by blood lactate levels measured in a new study. Blood lactate, the ionized form of lactic acid, which is a byproduct of... Read More
Article
Controversial Dressage Training Method Under FEI Investigation
November 03, 2009
Responding to public outcry following the Internet posting of a video showing an international-level dressage competitor warming up a horse using a method some call inhumane, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has... Read More
Article
Condition Horses to Prevent Lameness
October 02, 2009
An athlete's body is conditioned to withstand an amazing amount of work and stress. From runners to swimmers, all athletes train their bodies to handle the specific stress their sport requires. Unfortunately, it is still not uncommon for these ... Read More
Article
Older Horse Elmer Bandit Completes Iowa Competitive Ride
September 21, 2009
Perfect fall weather found 38-year-old Elmer Bandit completing both days of the Stephens Forest Competitive Trail event near Lucas, Iowa, this past weekend. The event added 40 miles... Read More
Article
Training Alters Stride in Racehorses
September 19, 2009
Training mature racehorses produces a decrease in the protraction (extension) time of the forelimb and might reduce the risk of training-induced injuries, said Marta Ferrari, DrMedVet, PhD, MRCVS, of Park Veterinary Centre in Watford, U.K, and... Read More
Article
Older Horses: Elmer Bandit Might Compete This Month
September 02, 2009
Elmer Bandit, the 38-year-old record holder for competitive trail mileage, hasn't hit the trails lately, but last weekend foundthe gray Half-Arabianand owner Mary Anna... Read More
Article
Equine Heat Tolerance Parameters Examined in Study
August 26, 2009
In a step toward understanding heat tolerance in horses, Brazilian researchers recently concluded that respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and rectal temperature (RT) are the most useful parameters for distinguishing equine adaptation t... Read More
Article
16-Year-Old Quarter Horse Racehorse Still Winning
August 20, 2009
American Quarter Horse runner Silent Cash Dasher on Sunday won at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla. Owned and trained by Gary Earp of Jay, Okla., the gelding by Dash Easy is 16 years old. In a sport with the majority of its participants... Read More
Article
Saddle Pad Research Shows Variable Changes in Rider Pressure
August 12, 2009
Saddle pads might help reduce painful pressure on a horse's back caused by ill-fitting saddles, but the ideal pad will vary from horse to horse and from saddle to saddle, according to a new study by Austrian researchers. Optimum pressure... Read More
Article
Tevis Veterinarians Add New Post-Ride Check
July 30, 2009
Head Tevis Cup veterinarian Greg Fellers, DVM, will implement a new post-ride vet check this year. His check will be conducted within two hours after horses complete the 100-mile ride from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, Calif. "What I am looking for... Read More
Article
Researchers Examine Oral Acetate for Equine Exercise Recovery
June 15, 2009
An inaugural study has found that a sodium acetate electrolyte solution given orally with a typical hay and grain meal following exercise enhanced skeletal muscle metabolism to restore depleted glycogen (energy) sources.... Read More
