Horses have tremendous athletic potential, but they did not evolve to do most things we ask of them and conditioning is necessary. On the flip side, periods without work lead to deconditioning and care should be taken to get the horse back in shape gradually. This is especially true for seniors.
Many people don't realize how much a horse loses fitness when not worked. For example, highly conditioned fit Arabians put in stalls with their only exercise being 30 minutes on a mechanical walker twice a day lost approximately 1% of the bone mineral content of the third metacarpal (cannon bone) every two weeks over a 12-week period.
Cardiac changes with deconditioning were monitored for 12 weeks in intensely trained 3 and 4-year-old Standardbreds. Heart size and function remained unchanged for the first 4 weeks, after which there was steady decline which was continuing at week 12. Skeletal muscle enzymatic efficiency, glycogen stores and mitochondrial numbers also decrease.
Horses on continuous turnout that are very active would have less dramatic declines, but will still lose condition. Older horses also have to deal with age-related changes which include:
- Sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass). This is worse in horses with PPID (Cushing's disease), but also occurs with age
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Development of central core lesions in tendons
- Reduced number of chondrocytes, the cells which produce joint cartilage
- Altered heart function
Although you may hear mention of lung function decreasing with age, this is actually one area where there are no age-related changes. However, horses with chronic lung disease do accumulate irreversible lung damage over time. Even without lung damage, older horses may seem to be working harder to breathe than younger ones at the same workload simply because it is harder for them to perform the work.
If this makes you inclined to want to retire your older horse, don't! Exercise actually combats many of the effects of aging. Even arthritis benefits from exercise. The exception is tendon/ligament strength. Because of this limitation, it's very important to condition the older horse in a way that avoids fatigue.
The type and duration of exercise is not a reliable indicator of its intensity - how hard it is for the horse to perform it. Heart rate (pulse) is best for that. A heart rate of up to 80 immediately after exercise is light work; up to 120 moderate work; over 120 hard work with 200-220 being maximal intensity. An overweight older horse doing a steep hill can easily reach the upper intensities. You have to check to tell. Keep exercise for the older horse in the moderate range. As he gets more fit, he will be able to do more at that heart rate.
Heart rate recovery is an excellent indicator of how fit the horse is for the work he just did. If he recovers to resting rate in 15 minutes, he's fit for that level. If it takes 30 minutes, you are working in the safe training zone. If over 30 minutes, the work level is too high to be safe.
In my experience, older horses typically show rather dramatic responses to the correct nutritional support. A sound diet with adequate quality protein, balanced minerals, salt, vitamin E and omega-3 is the foundation. Beyond that, these are my go-to support for the older horse:
- Jiaogulan. This is an adaptogen free of the harsh cardiac stimulating effects of Ginsengs that supports exercise capacity by enhancing blood supply to the muscles and encouraging growth of new vessels, via nitric oxide production which also benefits tendon and ligament health.
- Acetyl-L-carnitine. The combination of antioxidant effects and support for energy generation and mitochondrial synthesis makes this the perfect exercise complement. https://wp.me/p2WBdh-Fv
- L-leucine. Highly anabolic amino acid, essential for maintaining and building muscle bulk. Very helpful in overcoming temporary exercise-related muscle discomfort.
- Joint nutraceuticals (glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronate) plus MSM and herbal support. Maintaining homeostasis between forces of breakdown and repair is one of the biggest challenges in older horses. I have found a combination of effective dose nutraceuticals with targeted herbals works best.
Condition your seniors carefully with full spectrum support and you will be able to enjoy their experience and wisdom for many years, while helping them maintain their best health.
Uckele Health & Nutrition, maker of CocoSoya®, offers supplements that support reconditioning of the older horse.
Jiaogulan supports circulation to the hooves and helps maintain clear airways. Also supports healthy immune responses, muscular function, circulation, and respiratory function.Lung EQ promotes overall equine respiratory, lung and immune health. With Spirulina Platensis which may help stabilize the mast cells that release histamine. MSM supports normal regulation of inflammation. Flaxseed meal promotes balanced inflammatory pathways. Jiaogulan supports healthy histamine levels, open airways, and healthy immune response.Acetyl-L-carnitine supports efficient energy generation, normal muscular relaxation, and nerve cell production during aerobic activity. Important for generating energy from fats by acting as a carrier to transport them into the mitochondria where they can be burned as an energy source.L-leucine promotes muscular growth and recovery by supporting protein synthesis in the muscle to build bulk. L-Leucine can also be used as a fuel during exercise as a valuable energy source, supports normal glucose levels and promotes lean muscle mass.
About Dr. KellonDr. Eleanor Kellon, staff veterinary specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition, is an established authority in the field of equine nutrition for over 30 years, and a founding member and leader of the Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance (ECIR) group, whose mission is to improve the welfare of horses with metabolic disorders via integration of research and real-life clinical experience. Prevention of laminitis is the ultimate goal. www.ecirhorse.org Uckele Health & Nutrition, maker of CocoSoya, is an innovation-driven health company committed to making people and their animals healthier. On the leading edge of nutritional science and technology for over 50 years, Uckele formulates and manufactures a full spectrum of quality nutritional supplements incorporating the latest nutritional advances. www.uckele.com.
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