After Much Thought

Here's what I've concluded is the effect on bone tissue in terms of remodelling as the horse breezes down the race track at :12.5/f or faster. You'll have to left click on the graph to really see it.

Please note this is for an appropriately warmed up horse in training probably age three or older. On the left part of the graph going up is the bone remodelling effect of the exercise and on bottom going right is distance traveled/furlong.

The graph shows bone remodelling effect commencing from the very first stride, but for the first two furlongs there's very little happening, and you begin to see a dramatic geometrical increase at about 2.5f which continues to increase on a steep incline till you get to about 6.5f. I'm surmising after 6.5 f the effect continues to increase but at much slower rate.

Where did I get this stuff??

I'm considering what happens to bone tissue with the horse motoring down the track. Talking structure here and remodelling effect. After a bit of thought, some Googling and reading a few available studies that are free instead of for sale, doubt anybody knows. The most relevant quote I found:

"The specific structural properties (of bone tissue) optimized during remodeling remain unclear." University of Calgary, 1992.

So we're left with guess work, though there's some available info. In making guesses it helps to understand the remodelling process. If interested, you can Google, but for here note that there is:

growth
modelling
remodelling

Growth and modelling refer to youngsters growing bones, and remodelling refers both to response to external stimuli and the ongoing tearing down (resorption) and building back up that occurs in bone tissue from birth to death regardless of exercise.

What happens in the bone tissue as distance at :12.5/f increases and where the conclusions come from, next post.

Training:
3/4/08 We're into March, and a stroke luck that it rained only an inch on Sunday and Monday and that we're up to about 37 degrees at the farm this afternoon. That's how bad the weather's been that I'd consider this sort of weather good luck. Both horses still miraculously had their shoes and were exercised riderless in the Astride paddock. Thank heaven the tractor broke down and I was unable to mow it. The deep grass provides both a cushion for frozen ground and something to run on when it's wet. Got a few nice spurts. Horses refuse to run full speed on hard ground, which has been a problem, then about 10 minutes tack work with Art. Will begin tack work with the 2 yr. old when daylight savings time hits next week.