Equine Athletes

Question 1

The three ways to describe exercise amount:

Answer 1

-frequency (how often)
-duration (how long)
-intensity (how hard)

Question 2

What fuels exercise?

Answer 2

ATP

Question 3

ATP

Answer 3

gives energy
-aerobic ATP is the most efficient and sustainable
-require O2

Question 4

VO2

Answer 4

the volume of oxygen used per unit of body mass per minute
-the amount the body is USING not inhaling

Question 5

What is the VO2 at rest?

Answer 5

about 5 ml/kg/min

Question 6

What happens once a horse reaches its max intensity?

Answer 6

it starts producing oxygen anerobically

Question 7

Oxygen use _____ in horses

Answer 7

varies

Question 8

Most better athletes have:

Answer 8

-a higher VO2 max
-lower oxygen utilization at a given submaximal exercise intensity

Question 9

What part of the body needs oxygen?

Answer 9

muscles

Question 10

What systems deliver oxygen?

Answer 10

the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system

Question 11

Oxygen delivery in the cardiovascular system:

Answer 11

1. blood (RBCs)
2. vasculature
3. heart

Question 12

Red blood cell (RBC)

Answer 12

-erythrocyte
-main oxygen carrying component in the blood

Question 13

In the erythrocyte, oxygen is associate with…

Answer 13

hemoglobins
-brings O2 to organs
-takes CO2 away

Question 14

Splenic contraction

Answer 14

-the spleen stores extra red blood cells
-during excitement, exercise, etc. some extra red blood cells are released into the circulation by the spleen

Question 15

PCV/Hemotocrit

Answer 15

measures % amount of red blood cells in circulation

Question 16

What is the effect of exercise on cell volume?

Answer 16

with exercise and intensity of exercise there are more RBCs due to splenic contraction

Question 17

Arterial

Answer 17

blood going to the muscles (with O2)

Question 18

Venous

Answer 18

blood coming from the muscles (with CO2)

Question 19

How does vasculature adapt during exercise?

Answer 19

through vasodilation

Question 20

Vasodilation

Answer 20

-vessels widen
-allows for more/better blood flow to the muscles
-does not happen immediately (why you have to warm up)

Question 21

What is the resting HR?

Answer 21

30-40 bmp

Question 22

Steady exercise on HR has what effect?

Answer 22

little to no effect

Question 23

HR increases during exercise with…

Answer 23

-intensity/more difficult training
-once the horse tires

Question 24

Factors affecting exercise intensity:

Answer 24

-speed
-weight carried
-incline
-ground resistance

Question 25

What can HR indicate?

Answer 25

the effects of all the factors that affect exercise intensity

Question 26

What is HR a good indicator of?

Answer 26

total effort

Question 27

Max heart rate of athletic horses?

Answer 27

about 220-240 bmp

Question 28

Max heart rate of less athletic horses?

Answer 28

about 150-160 bmp

Question 29

What can HR also be affected by other than effort?

Answer 29

-excitement -fear -pain

Question 30

Heart rate (HR) =

Answer 30

beats/min

Question 31

Stroke volume (SV) =

Answer 31

liters/beat

Question 32

Cardiac output (CO) =

Answer 32

HR x SV

Question 33

Cardiac output increases during exercise primarily due to...

Answer 33

an increase in HR

Question 34

What happens to stroke volume during exercise?

Answer 34

it does not increase, it could even decrease

Question 35

Oxygen delivery by the cardiovascular system increases during exercise due to:

Answer 35

-splenic contraction -vasodilation -increase in cardiac output (from increased HR)

Question 36

Nose breathers

Answer 36

horses do not breath through their mouths

Question 37

What does the upper airway do in horses?

Answer 37

-humidifies air -brings in air -warms air

Question 38

What does the lower airway and lungs do in horses?

Answer 38

-brings oxygen into the blood -pulls CO2 out of the blood

Question 39

Respiration rate

Answer 39

number of breaths taken per minute

Question 40

Tidal volume

Answer 40

volume of air per breath

Question 41

Minute volume

Answer 41

volume of air per minute

Question 42

Resting RR

Answer 42

about 8-16 rpm

Question 43

Galloping RR

Answer 43

about 120 rpm

Question 44

Resting TV

Answer 44

about 5-6 liters

Question 45

Galloping TV

Answer 45

about 12-14 liters

Question 46

Resting MV

Answer 46

about 70-80 liters

Question 47

Galloping MV

Answer 47

about 1500 liters

Question 48

At a gallop and canter, RR is linked to:

Answer 48

stride rate -they can breath as fast as they can move their legs

Question 49

What is the good about RR linked to stride rate?

Answer 49

Good -they exhale with less energy expenditure because the piston effect allows them to not have to use their diaphragm to exhale

Question 50

What is the bad about RR linked to stride rate?

Answer 50

Bad -when cantering/galloping slowly they have to breath slowly-they have to learn how to control their breath when going slow

Question 51

Is the respiratory system limiting during submaximal exercise in normal horses?

Answer 51

not really

Question 52

What may the respiratory system be a limiting factor to?

Answer 52

race performance

Question 53

At rest, a ______ amount of oxygen in the blood will be used by the _______

Answer 53

small; muscles

Question 54

At submaximal exercise, ________ oxygen is used by ______ but ______ maintain 100% O2 saturation in blood

Answer 54

more; muscles; lungs

Question 55

At maximal exercise, _______ oxygen is used by muscle, but lungs don't maintain 100% O2 saturation in arterial blood

Answer 55

more -becomes harder for muscles to get enough oxygen

Question 56

Except at max exercise, a normal respiratory tract can...

Answer 56

maintain oxygen content in the blood

Question 57

What factors of the respiratory system can limit performance?

Answer 57

upper and lower airway diseases

Question 58

Upper airway diseases

Answer 58

-left laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring) -dorsal displacement of soft palate (choking)

Question 59

Lower airway diseases

Answer 59

-exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding) -recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) -inflammatory airway disease (asthma)

Question 60

Parts of the throat

Answer 60

-epiglottis -vocal cords -arytenoid cartilages -soft palate -trachea