Post Breeze/Race Remodeling VI: Further Compression

Continuing on the path that something, as opposed to nothing, happens within the bone tissue post event beyond mere commencement of osteo clast/blast activity, and that what occurs possibly includes:

slight mineral lattice contraction
bone glue stimulation
collagen expansion

On additional consideration, I have added collagen expansion as another possible post event effect. It seems reasonable that the concussion of the event followed by the subsequent increase in temperature and fluid flow may at certain locations stimulate the living collagen cells in their mitochondrial production depending on location of the cell and state of mineralization. Non-mineralized, newly formed collagen cells at the outer surface e.g. may show more thickening or lengthening than their 100% mineralized cousins in the interior.

The jist of all this is that post event within the bone tissue we have a contractive, compactive effect in the lattice and an expansion effect in the collagen and bone glue that, in concert, would seem to make for tighter, stronger, denser bone, at least in the period until the materials return to pre-event normalcy. If e.g. our horse merely stands in its stall for the next two months, at some point these effects will recede to their former condition.

I speculated that the contractive effect of the lattice will last but 3-5 days as there would be an inertia stimulating rebounding to original shape. The expansive fluid effects in the collagen and bone glue--who knows--but it seems reasonable that the cells would relax and the bone glue material dissipate and contract within 2-3 weeks.

But, if our horse does track work instead of standing in the stall, these materials will experience further compression. We may consider the contrast where in a Preston Burch stable, the horse might be expected to conduct its next breeze 3 to 4 days post event and in a Todd Plecher stable the first breeze would be 3 weeks post event. What might be going on within the bone in these scenarios?

First, decline speculation as to the effect of a mere gallop instead of a breeze. Let's leave it that the act of slow galloping might have some effect but that the light nature of that concussion would be insignificant, for purposes of discussion.

What seems more interesting to me is what occurs if the horse returns to the track for a breeze 3 or 4 days post event. We may consider the effect:

1. The mineral lattice in a slightly contracted state suffers further contraction.
2. Bone glue production and filling in the micro spaces with bone glue--a process that would seem incomplete at the 3-4 day level--is stimulated further.
3. Collagen cells that have been puffing up receive more stimulation.

If true, the above will presumably further strengthen our bone for the next speed event thereafter. The relation of this to "hard body training" and what might be different in Todd Plecher's barn, next post.

Training:
Thurs. 4/17: With the track still primarily muddy, we're relegated--as we have been since 2/20-- to galloping back and forth in a 2.5f portion. The horses first did a snappy riderless mile followed by a mile of back and forth gallop with some walk and trot under tack. Art's galloped in :17s, Rod, who is a day or so behind, much slower.