Conserve Energy & Reduce Fatigue
Fatigue is any tiredness and decrease in athletic performance occurring in both high-intensity bursts and lower-intensity endurance. Because horses can be trained on high-speed treadmills, we can precisely measure their respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic responses to exhaustion.
The Impact of Fatigue
When fatigue sets in, it manifests in the horse’s gait, joint movements, muscular support, and willingness to perform. Generally, the more intense the exercise, the earlier the onset. At a horse's highest attainable speed, exercise typically cannot be maintained for more than 30-40 seconds.
Insights from Dr. David Marlin
The word “fatigue” covers a wide range of manifestations depending on the event:
- The Absolute Limit: The horse that will not move another step.
- Endurance: A horse at the end of a 100-mile race that is reluctant to trot.
- Racehorses: A horse slowing in the last eighth of a mile, yet still traveling over 35 mph as it passes the post.
- Eventing: A cross-country horse that slows from a fast gallop but returns to pace after a few strides at a slower speed.
Energy Demands by Event
FLAIR® Strips reduce the energy required for breathing by 5-6%, delaying the onset of fatigue across all metabolic pathways:
1/4 mile races: 60% of energy is generated via anaerobic metabolism; 40% via aerobic pathways.
At 5 furlongs, over 70% of energy is generated via aerobic pathways requiring oxygen.
At a mile, 80% of energy is aerobic. Longer distances require even higher oxygen efficiency.
The Biological Causes of Fatigue
Fatigue is often due to multiple factors contributing simultaneously. While a reduction in muscle glycogen plays a role in endurance, fatigue can still occur even when glycogen levels are high (such as in show jumpers).
Depletion of Energy Stores (ATP)
ATP is the fundamental source of energy at the cellular level. Because muscle stores only support several seconds of activity, ATP must be constantly regenerated from ADP in four ways:
1. High Energy Phosphates
Replenishment from molecules within the cells. This is an anaerobic process (no oxygen required).
2. Glycogen to Lactic Acid
Rapid anaerobic breakdown of intramuscular energy. The resulting accumulation of lactic acid, hydrogen ions, and increased blood potassium plays a key role in the development of fatigue.
3. Aerobic Metabolism (Glycogen/Glucose)
Occurs in the mitochondria using oxygen to break down glucose into CO2 and water. This is highly efficient but slower than anaerobic pathways. 90% of glycogen is stored in muscles; the rest in the liver.
4. Aerobic Metabolism (Fat)
Breakdown of triglycerides using oxygen. While fat stores are nearly impossible to deplete in one bout, this process takes place slowly within the mitochondria.
Other Contributing Factors:
- Metabolic myopathies (Tying up/PSSM)
- Accumulation of metabolic by-products (lactic acid, ammonia, H+ ions)
- Environmental conditions (heat, humidity, altitude)
- Disturbances to electrolytes and hydration
- Central and peripheral nervous system fatigue
The Recovery Advantage
Repletion of muscle and liver glycogen takes 24-72 hours. Oxygen is critical during the recovery phase to rebuild these energy stores. This is why you should not remove the FLAIR Strip until the horse is fully cooled out and breathing has returned to normal.
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