Crazy Ideas

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Because every professional that has responded in this thread, and the few I have spoken to privately, has stated clearly that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.


I do, however, enjoy your stuff on rock and roll message boards.

Where did people post that I have absolutely no idea what I am typing about? I missed that post.

I just know some large animal vets, some trainers from a small track, and the equisterian types of riders that dont understand the chances taken with two year olds.

So I pose this as a question that is way too radical apparently and never discussed... ? that in itself is interesting.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Where did people post that I have absolutely no idea what I am typing about? I missed that post.

I just know some large animal vets, some trainers from a small track, and the equisterian types of riders that dont understand the chances taken with two year olds.

So I pose this as a question that is way too radical apparently and never discussed... ? that in itself is interesting.

Your thought is reactionary, and while obviously there are some threads of truth within it, taken as a whole it is pretty much a perversion of the truth. Personally I find a naive selectivity about what is wrong with racing, while ignoring the similar supposed wrongs, to be hypocritical. But, hey, that's just me.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Your thought is reactionary, and while obviously there are some threads of truth within it, taken as a whole it is pretty much a perversion of the truth. Personally I find a naive selectivity about what is wrong with racing, while ignoring the similar supposed wrongs, to be hypocritical. But, hey, that's just me.

A perversion of what truth?

And this is not a thread about what is wrong with racing as a whole. Just one little aspect that has been brought to light to me by others that are around horses. And are interested in their longterm health in their "profession".

I actually think its neat how incredibly fast some two year olds can run. It is amazing.

[Riot]

Pgardn, you may find this interesting. Highlights mine:

Bone. December 2006;39(6):1322-30. Kristien Verheyen1, Joanna Price, Lance Lanyon, James Wood 1 Epidemiology Unit, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, United Kingdom. kverheyen@rvc.ac.uk

Abstract
In order to gain insight into those training regimens that can minimise the risk of fracture in athletic populations, we conducted a large epidemiological study in racehorses. Thoroughbred racehorses provide a suitable model for studying fracture development and exercise-related risk factors in physically active populations. They represent a homogeneous population, undertaking intensive exercise programmes that are sufficiently heterogeneous to determine those factors that influence injury risk.

Daily exercise information was recorded for a cohort of 1178 thoroughbreds that were monitored for up to 2 years. A total of 148 exercise-induced fractures occurred in the study population. Results from a nested case-control study showed a strong interactive effect of exercise distances at different speeds on fracture risk.

Horses that exceeded 44 km at canter (< or =14 m/s) and 6 km at gallop (>14 m/s) in a 30-day period were at particularly increased risk of fracture. These distances equate to ca. 7700 bone loading cycles at canter and 880 loading cycles at gallop. Fifty-six fractures occurred in the subset of study horses that were followed since entering training as yearlings, when skeletally immature (n = 335).

Cohort analysis of this data set showed that, in previously untrained bones, accumulation of canter exercise increased the risk of fracture (P < or = 0.01), whereas accumulation of high-speed gallop exercise had a protective effect (P < 0.01). However, increasing distances at canter and gallop in short time periods (up to one month) were associated with an increasing fracture risk.

All training exercise involves a balance between the risk of fracture inherent in exposure to loading and the beneficial effect that loading has by stimulating bone cells to produce a more robust architecture. Results from our study provide important epidemiological evidence of the effects of physical exercise on bone adaptation and injury risk and can be used to inform the design of safer exercise regimens in physically active populations.

Originally Posted by Riot

Pgardn, you may find this interesting.

All training exercise involves a balance between the risk of fracture inherent in exposure to loading and the beneficial effect that loading has by stimulating bone cells to produce a more robust architecture. Results from our study provide important epidemiological evidence of the effects of physical exercise on bone adaptation and injury risk and can be used to inform the design of safer exercise regimens in physically active populations.

Cool. So training them appropriately at two years old is benificial given the right amount of rest, etc... In fact it is better for them which was already obvious. You must use muscles and bones so they develop properly. Part of why living in zero gravity would really screw up a young horse, just like old John Glenn.

So we dont necessarily have to race them competitively, and still keep them healthy.

[Riot]

Cohort analysis of this data set showed that, in previously untrained bones, accumulation of canter exercise increased the risk of fracture (P < or = 0.01), whereas accumulation of high-speed gallop exercise had a protective effect (P < 0.01). However, increasing distances at canter and gallop in short time periods (up to one month) were associated with an increasing fracture risk.

I wanted to requote the study, above, I posted. I want folks - anyone who rides or trains any horse that's reading this - to catch the marked significance and importance of that last sentence, regarding daily training patterns of young horses.

The take-home being: you need to give young horse bone the appropriate time to remodel and repair.

Doing so builds stronger, safer bone. Not doing so, does not.