Racing speeds of Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and Arabians

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

While Quarter Horses are recognised as the fastest breed of horse, direct comparisons to race times with other breeds can be misleading. Quarter Horse races begin when the starting gates open. Thoroughbred and Arabian races begin a short distance from the gates after horses have started running. This study compared speeds of these breeds as they accelerate from the starting gates and during the middle and end of races.

OBJECTIVES

To compare racing speeds of the 3 breeds, and to compare speeds during various segments of the races.

METHODS

Video tapes of races were obtained from a local track. The various race segments were viewed and the winning horse timed by 5 individuals. Fastest and slowest times were removed and the 3 remaining times averaged.

RESULTS

Quarter Horses averaged faster speeds than Thoroughbreds even when Thoroughbreds were raced at a distance (402 m) similar to Quarter Horse races. Both breeds were substantially faster than Arabians. Quarter Horses racing 336 m or less gained speed in each segment of the race while Arabians and Thoroughbreds racing 1006 m ran fastest during the middle of the race and had decreased their speed in the final segment of the race.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite similar race times reported for 402 m, Quarter Horses averaged faster speeds than Thoroughbreds when timed from a standing start. In short races, both breeds accelerate throughout the race. Arabians, despite being known for endurance, had slowed by the end of the race.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE

This study demonstrates that Quarter Horses achieve faster racing speeds than do other breeds. It also reveals a potential flaw in race-riding strategy as a more consistent pace throughout the Arabian and longer Thoroughbred races may be more efficient and result in a faster overall race time.

Mineral balance in horses fed two supplemental silicon sources

Numerous studies suggest that silicon (Si) supplementation is beneficial for mineral metabolism and bone health. Mineral balance studies have not been performed in horses to determine how these supplements affect absorption of other minerals. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the effects of two different Si supplements on mineral absorption and retention in horses. Eight geldings were randomly placed in one of two groups: control (CO) or supplemental Si, which was provided by one of two supplements. The first, sodium aluminium silicate (SA), contains a bioavailable form of Si and is high in aluminium (Al). The second supplement contains oligomeric orthosilicic acid (OSA). All horses received textured feed and ad libitum access to hay. Supplemented horses received either 200 g of SA or 28.6 ml of OSA per day. Following a 10-day adaptation period, the horses underwent a 3-day total collection. Blood samples were taken on days 0 and 13. The two balance studies were conducted 4 months apart to reduce carryover effects. Intakes of Al and Si were greater with SA supplementation (p < 0.05). Sodium aluminium silicate increased faecal and urinary Si excretion (p < 0.05). Calcium retention and apparent digestion were increased by SA (p < 0.05). It also maintained plasma Si compared with the CO which tended to have a decrease in plasma Si (p = 0.08). Supplemental OSA increased retention of Ca and B (p < 0.05) and apparent digestion of B (p < 0.01). Orthosilicic acid tended to increase Si retention (p = 0.054), apparent digestion (p < 0.065), and also increased plasma Si. Both supplements were able to alter Ca retention and B metabolism, however, only OSA was able to alter Si retention, digestibility and plasma concentration. Orthosilicic acid, an Si supplement without substantial Al, appears to be a viable option for Si supplementation as it increased Si retention and digestibility.

Sodium zeolite a supplementation and its impact on the skeleton of dairy calves

Twenty calves were placed on study at 3 days of age and were placed according to birth order into one of two groups: SS, which received 0.05% BW sodium zeolite A (SZA) added to their milk replacer, and CO, which received only milk replacer. Blood samples were taken on days 0, 30, and 60 for osteocalcin (OC) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) analysis. On day 60, the calves were euthanized, and synovial fluid, articular cartilage, and both fused metacarpals were collected for bone quality analyses such as architecture and mechanical properties, mineral composition, and glycosaminoglycan concentration. There were no differences in OC concentrations because of treatment (p = 0.12), and CO calves had lower DPD concentrations than SS calves (p = 0.01), but the OC-to-DPD ratio was not different between treatments (p = 0.98). No differences in bone architecture or mechanical properties were detected. SZA supplementation increased cortical bone (p = 0.0002) and articular cartilage (p = 0.05) aluminum content. Glycosaminoglycan concentrations were not different in synovial fluid or cartilage. Supplementation of SZA appeared to alter the rate of bone turnover without altering bone strength. Aluminum concentrations in the bone and cartilage increased, which may be a concern, although the long-term consequences of such remain to be determined.

Tissue response to a supplement high in aluminum and silicon

The objective was to determine the effects of sodium zeolite A (SZA) on mineral metabolism and tissue mineral composition in calves. Twenty calves were placed on study at 3 days of age and were placed into one of two groups: SS, which received 0.05% BW SZA added to their milk replacer, and CO, which received only milk replacer. Blood samples were taken on days 0, 30, and 60 for mineral analysis. Urine and feces were collected on day 30 for mineral metabolism, and on day 60, the calves were euthanized, and samples were taken from numerous organs for mineral analyses. Aluminum retention was increased in the SS calves (p = 0.001). Silicon concentrations were increased in the aorta, spleen, lung, muscle, and kidney of the SS calves, and aluminum was increased in all SS tissues (p < 0.05). Calcium concentrations were increased in aorta, liver, muscle, and tendon; phosphorus concentrations were increased in aorta, but decreased in plasma; magnesium concentrations were increased in aorta, heart, kidney, liver, and pancreas, but decreased in plasma; and iron concentrations were decreased in kidney and liver (p < 0.05). The accumulation of tissue aluminum and therefore potential adverse consequences may preclude any benefits of using SZA as a dietary supplement.

Bee pollen product supplementation to horses in training seems to improve feed intake: a pilot study

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of supplementation of Dynamic Trio 50/50, a bee pollen-based product, to improve physical fitness, blood leukocyte profiles, and nutritional variables in exercised horses. Ten Arabian horses underwent a standardised exercise test (SET), then were pair-matched by sex and fitness and randomly assigned to BP (receiving 118 g of Dynamic Trio 50/50 daily) or CO (receiving 73 g of a placebo) for a period of 42 days. A total collection was conducted from days 18 to 21 on six geldings to determine nutrient retention and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) digestibility. Horses were exercise conditioned and completed another SET on day 42. V160 and V200 were calculated from SET heart rates (HR). Lactate, glucose, haematocrit (HT) and haemoglobin (HB) concentrations were determined from SET blood samples. Total leukocyte count, and circulating numbers of various leukocytes and IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations were determined in rest and recovery blood samples from both SETs. Geldings on BP (n = 3) ate more feed than CO. BP had less phosphorus excretion, and tended to retain more nitrogen. BP tended to digest more NDF and ADF while having lower NDF digestibility and tending to have lower ADF digestibility. No treatment differences existed for V160 and V200, HR, lactate, HT and HB. There was a trend for lymphocyte counts to be lower in BP than CO on day 42. Dynamic Trio 50/50 supplementation may have a positive effect on performance by helping horses in training meet their potentially increased nutrient demands by increasing feed intake and thus nutrient retention.