Frequency: The Questions

We have a youngster we'd like to keep sound. How often do we breeze the horse, and how do we even make the decision? What are the questions that need to be asked.

Bill's comments on my 6/24 posts give some introduction. Various things come to mind some of which have already been included in the blog.

Assumptions:

1. All breezes are 4f in :12.5s, which I've decided are the minimums necessary to achieve bone remodelling in any single breeze. (Emphasize "minimum". Obviously there are multiple other possibilities.)

2. We have a working scientific knowledge of bone and bone remodelling at the cellular level, and as an integral whole.

3. We have some familiarity with the physics and kiniesiology of the forces and types of concussion at work on bone tissue in the exercising horse.

4. Without nuclear scanning or some other form of accurate imaging the blog can only make assumptions grounded on available information as to the status or condition of bone in a particular moment.

5. Other than the Maryland Shin study and a here or there some dabbling in the subject, we are without any comprehensive studies (to which we could refer) that measure bone remodelling from breeze to breeze. We thus have to put the subject together for ourselves, best we can.

What we would like to know:

1. What does any single breeze get us in terms of bone remodelling?

2. Then the crucial question: from the moment of completion of the breeze, how much time passes until the remodelling (from this one breeze) has completed?

3. Is there a point of vulnerability in the remodelling bone where we would want to avoid disturbing the process between breeze #1 and #2, and, if so, how long does this last?

4. Is there a point (after breeze #1) at which remodelling starts to reverse itself unless we breeze again. If so, where is that point?

5. What do we get from breeze #2, breeze #3 and so on in terms of bone remodelling. Is it the same effect as breeze #1, less, more, or is there any sort of identifiable geometric progression as we go?

That's all for this post. As you can see, it's a complex subject that requires careful thought.

Training:
Wed. 6/25: Art: with the lead change trouble today we did some reign work in the paddock in an effort to signal to the horse which diagonal to take at the trot or which leg to lead with at the walk. Art was surprisingly responsive. He's a smart, trainable horse. Art then did, after warm up, 6f riderless at 85% speed in the mud. Rod walked 10 minutes under tack and did the riderless warm up with Art and then was removed due to speed work tomorrow.
Thurs. 6/26: Art: Nob to date has yet to hit the ground with either of our youngsters but came close twice today with Art. Art went a mile under tack. First he propped and we noticed Nob swaying in the saddle, and then at the first lead change which (Nob reports) the horse was refusing and Nob leaning way to the right when the horse suddenly changes his lead to the left leaving Nob (almost) in the air by himself. Luckily Nob held on, Art did two nice lead changes thereafter, and for the first time galloped almost the whole mile. We appear to be officially "in business".
Rod: 10 min walk under tack then riderless 3 x 2f at 90% speed.