Lasix VI
To sum up my opinion--probably many appropriately trained, appropriately warmed up horses with adequate precautions that involve avoiding speed work in adverse weather conditions, taking note of slight EIPH developments and when they occur to tip toe intelligently through training etc. can race without lasix through long careers.
The fly in the ointment is the number of perfectly good athletes that would be lost along the way from the malady of EIPH. What %--it is unknown, we can only guess. My guess is 25-50% depending on the luck of the particular year. The % is high enough to be ridiculous. No matter for those uninvolved on the horse side. For owners and trainers disaster for many.
This leaves the following as anti-lasix arguments:
1. Detriments resulting from lasix shots.
2. Genetics.
3. Integrity.
All three are nearly absurd arguments that fail to pass close and fair analysis.
1. Detriment resulting from administration of lasix: The argument is that lasix is so detrimental to certain aspects of horse physiology that it should be, combined with other arguments, banned. The negative side effects are contained in that lengthy list of lasix evils that Tom Ivers published in his books that has been around forever. There are but two of those that should be of any concern whatsoever:
1. Dehydration, and
2. Demineralization.
Counterpoints:
Dehydration: I have tried to mimic the dehydration effects of lasix by doing my 6 mile runs after a night of urination without ingesting any water before hand. While I never consider running in this situation as ideal, frankly there is zero effect. While my blood pressure undoubtedly is a little reduced, exercising in this situation gives me the nagging feeling that the blood may be a little more sludgy. Bottom line analysis of this is that the thoughts are likely primarily psychological. Try it. Hydration is an insignificant problem. Why--urinations produce only mild instead of serious dehydration. The argument-- considering the alternatives-- has zero weight.
Demineralization: This is the fairly absurd argument that a couple of lasix shots a month are detrimental to bones. A properly supplemented horse is not going to experience bone mineral loss, period. I doubt it needs further discussion. BUT, if it does, then consider that the lasix ban is for "race day". Needless to say a lasix ban will likely produce far more lasix use than previously because trainers will have heightened concern re EIPH and will use lasix in breezing at every opportunity. This does not happen now, particularly in light breezing. The argument utterly fails imo.
On to genetics, next post.
Training:
8/16: Off.
8/17: Riderless, another, got to get this horse to the race track workout. Rodney in the last two riderless workouts is flashing flat out sprinting speed. This is happening because the older horse is racing with him again. Its fun, and lazy Rod is into it. Do my eyes deceive me? Last night big Rodney galloped another half mile after the w/o concluded. I am dreaming, possibly.
The fly in the ointment is the number of perfectly good athletes that would be lost along the way from the malady of EIPH. What %--it is unknown, we can only guess. My guess is 25-50% depending on the luck of the particular year. The % is high enough to be ridiculous. No matter for those uninvolved on the horse side. For owners and trainers disaster for many.
This leaves the following as anti-lasix arguments:
1. Detriments resulting from lasix shots.
2. Genetics.
3. Integrity.
All three are nearly absurd arguments that fail to pass close and fair analysis.
1. Detriment resulting from administration of lasix: The argument is that lasix is so detrimental to certain aspects of horse physiology that it should be, combined with other arguments, banned. The negative side effects are contained in that lengthy list of lasix evils that Tom Ivers published in his books that has been around forever. There are but two of those that should be of any concern whatsoever:
1. Dehydration, and
2. Demineralization.
Counterpoints:
Dehydration: I have tried to mimic the dehydration effects of lasix by doing my 6 mile runs after a night of urination without ingesting any water before hand. While I never consider running in this situation as ideal, frankly there is zero effect. While my blood pressure undoubtedly is a little reduced, exercising in this situation gives me the nagging feeling that the blood may be a little more sludgy. Bottom line analysis of this is that the thoughts are likely primarily psychological. Try it. Hydration is an insignificant problem. Why--urinations produce only mild instead of serious dehydration. The argument-- considering the alternatives-- has zero weight.
Demineralization: This is the fairly absurd argument that a couple of lasix shots a month are detrimental to bones. A properly supplemented horse is not going to experience bone mineral loss, period. I doubt it needs further discussion. BUT, if it does, then consider that the lasix ban is for "race day". Needless to say a lasix ban will likely produce far more lasix use than previously because trainers will have heightened concern re EIPH and will use lasix in breezing at every opportunity. This does not happen now, particularly in light breezing. The argument utterly fails imo.
On to genetics, next post.
Training:
8/16: Off.
8/17: Riderless, another, got to get this horse to the race track workout. Rodney in the last two riderless workouts is flashing flat out sprinting speed. This is happening because the older horse is racing with him again. Its fun, and lazy Rod is into it. Do my eyes deceive me? Last night big Rodney galloped another half mile after the w/o concluded. I am dreaming, possibly.
posted by rather rapid at
12:07 PM
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1 Comments:
Hello RR-
What is an athlete? Is a horse an athlete because he can simply run 6F in 1:10 off of a couple 4F in :50 training breezes?
What if 2 horses accomplish the above feat, yet one gets injured and the other goes on to thrive and races 6F in 1:09 and 3 next time out? Who is the better athlete?
If you need a drug to 'survive' 6F in 1:10 - you are a substandard athlete compared to one who doesn't need it - and I don't believe we can allow the substandard ones into the breeding pool for 5 decades without problems surfacing.
If after a race one horse gets his weight back in 2 days, and the other takes 5, the second horse is an inferior athlete: see Toby's Corner after the Wood, because you likely will never see him again otherwise on the track.
Next time you experiment on yourself during a 6 mile run - you must do so after taking the human equivalent of a powerful diuretic and not drink for several hours while AWAKE.
And skip the subjective, 'don't feel right' opinions; strap on a heart rate/GPS monitor and this is what you will find:
A typical well-hydrated run may find you covering 6miles in 60 minutes with an avg HR of 142bpm if you are in reasonable shape and attempting to exercise aerobically, i.e. not pushing it too hard.
Next, attempt your experimental 6miles and strive to hit 60 minutes also, but now the avg HR will be near 160bpm - as the same exact level of work was harder on your system metabolically - meaning exercise under dehydrated conditions is less than ideal on your internal physiological systems.
Will it kill you? Of course not, but you will not be so well-recovered the next day (this is what McPeek states).
Like horseman always say: It's not how fast you go, but how you go fast. The typical subjective opinions are all we've had over the past 100 years, but no longer.
"How you go fast" can be defined with objective physiological data. Let's talk about that 6F in 1:10 again:
Horse 1 shows a HR recovery of 162bpm 2min after crossing the wire, while Horse 2 shows 147bpm - Horse 2 is fitter and will bounce back stronger with less chance of injury.
Gallops: Horse 1 completes his 2min lick for one mile with a blood lactate level of 5.3mmol/liter, while Horse 2 does the same workout with a level of just 3.3 - Horse 2 is fitter.
That is the 21st century version of "how they go fast" - and precisely what I will be talking about at the Bloodhorse Pedigree, Genetics, and Performance Symposium in Lexington next month - can you attend?
It'd be nice to meet face to face after all these years!
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