Larger Structures

A nicely done illustration, above, of cortical(hard) bone construction.

Notice at the bottom an "osteocyte" which is end product of osteoblast construction. Osteocytes then form themselves as a group into Osteon tubules which constitute the basic building blocks of the cortical bone.

Notice further in the illustration the words "compact" and "spongy" bone. The bone is compact on the outside and becomes spongy toward the center. Might we imagine in our conditioned horse there will be less spongy bone and more compact bone around the medullary cavity in the center of the bone?


Notice also in the illustration above the blood vessels and nerve endings. Will the conditioned horse have more blood vessels and nerves per square inch permitting greater materials transport perhaps more nerve stimulation in conditioned animals?

Most important for our race horse are the circular osteons which I'm guessing run along the length of the cortical bone and provide important protection against developing cracks by ending crack propagation, sealing a crack and providing a butress point were recalcifaction of the cracked material can begin.

I am wondering whether in conditioned horses osteons circumference is larger or smaller than in unconditioned horses. If larger, each osteon might have greater strength and force, and, if smaller we'd suppose there would be more osteons in conditioned as opposed to unconditioned bone.

Would our FR program with its result at the micro level also affect the larger structures illustrated above? A brief look at this, next post.

Training: An evaluation of where we are race prep wise was planned for 7/15. And, omg, on 7/16 we have the 5th straight day of rain including two days with significant totals. Our area continues as a center of storm activity even in July. Another full week of race prep thus, down the tubes. Probably never lost anything this week, but zero gain, also. Since May 3 we've lost 4 weeks now due to weather, which means we've had about 6-7 weeks use of our track or 49 days.

And, I'd gage my horses as about 49 day gallopers. They need a little more work. A rush job would require 45 days to a race. But, we're patient. We'll continue to try to turn them into something that will survive after we get there. Next review then on 8/1.


Training:
Mon. 7/13: both horses-- walk-trot 1.5 miles, wet.
Tues. 7/14: To get fast work we decide on riderless in mud. 6 x3f nearly full speed trying to leave a little so we can gallop Wed.

Wed 7/15:
Art: A 2.5 path was cut out of the wet pasture. Art trot-galloped back and forth 4 times or about 2 miles.
Rod: ground conditions dictate more riderless work for the fat one. Horse was galloped riderless off and on 3 miles, planned for slow. But, surprising energy after last nights fast work. Snappy!