When it comes to the care and feeding of your horse, the more you know, the better off both you and your horse will be. That is why every horse owner should know and understand the 10 principles of equine exercise physiology. While these principles typically only apply to healthy animals in good condition, we are going to take a look at these 5 to help you understand how they apply to your horse! As always, consult your veterinarian and trainer before beginning any equine exercise program and be sure to have plenty of healthy, nutritious Kelcie's Horse Treats on hand as a reward for a job well done.
5 Principles Of Equine Exercise Physiology
1. A physiological system will adapt to stress by making itself more resistant to future stresses.
This is also known as the "Overload Theory" and it relates to the adaptation of your horse’s muscles and other systems to additional stressors from a ‘more strenuous than usual’ workout.
2. The adaptation to overload occurs during rest periods.
When your horse is working hard, his body is busy accommodating the additional workload. It is when he is at rest that his body is adapting to the additional workload.
3. All individuals respond differently to training.
Every horse is different and, as such, every horse responds differently to training. It might take some horses longer than others to show results and your horse might not adapt to a particular workout at all.
4. All adaptations are reversible.
Just because your horse seems to adapt well to a new routine, doesn’t mean that the changes have to be permanent. If your horse becomes inactive, even for a couple of weeks, it might need additional training to regain any gains they have lost.
5. There is a rate-limiting factor in all processes.
There is a wide range of factors that work together to help your horse achieve maximum performance, but there is only a few working against him. These could include a lack of flexibility, insufficient muscle strength or poor balance, among other similar conditions.
Kelcie's is a family-run, owner operated business with deep roots in the show jumping world. They hold numerous equestrian achievements, including a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Through Kelcie's, they now strive to share their decades of experience in the caring of our four-legged friends. Kelcie's Pumpkin Spice Horse Treats is one of the healthiest, natural horse treats that you can buy. They are naturally low in sugar, starch and carbohydrates. Each batch of their original recipe is specially crafted using 100% natural ingredients.
