Horses as athletes

Question 1

what does exercise ultimately involve

Answer 1

physical exertion (muscle contraction must occur)

Question 2

give 4 steps of “walking”

Answer 2

• legs move in forward direction
• muscle contraction to move bones
• “fuel” metabolized to create energy for contraction
• “fuel” and O2 transported to muscle

Question 3

anatomy vs. physiology

Answer 3

anatomy: structure
physiology: processes

Question 4

the study of the body systems that are involved in exercise

Answer 4

exercise physiology

Question 5

changes that occur in the body in response to a single bout of exercise

Answer 5

acute (short term response)

Question 6

changes that occur in the body over time due to repeated bouts of exercise

Answer 6

chronic (long term/training/conditioning response)

Question 7

what 2 things are needed for muscle contraction

Answer 7

ATP and Ca2+

Question 8

what 2 things are needed to make ATP

Answer 8

O2 and glucose/fat (form the diet)

Question 9

how do horses get Ca2+

Answer 9

from their diet

Question 10

O2 is needed for what aspect of exercise

Answer 10

stamina

Question 11

what is the energy form that cells in the body can identify and use

Answer 11

O2

Question 12

what happens to stamina if there is too much CO2?

Answer 12

stamina decreases

Question 13

converts the nutrients into ATP that is needed for muscle contraction and other muscle functions

Answer 13

energy metabolism

Question 14

storage from of glucose; several glucose stuck together

Answer 14

glycogen

Question 15

what percentage of muscle compared to BW does an athletic horse have?

Answer 15

50% or more

Question 16

_____ is how much O2 the animal can move

Answer 16

aerobic capacity

Question 17

what year was the equine genome published

Answer 17

2007

Question 18

the myostatin gene is considered the ____ gene

Answer 18

“speed” gene

Question 19

change in behavior or performance

Answer 19

training

Question 20

physical changes, adaptive responses, fitness

Answer 20

conditioning

Question 21

aerobic or anaerobic: low intensity, slower, many steps

Answer 21

aerobic

Question 22

aerobic or anaerobic: when ATP can’t be made fast enough, alternate pathways are needed, high intensity, shorter duration

Answer 22

anaerobic

Question 23

what is a byproduct of anaerobic exercise

Answer 23

lactic acid

Question 24

lasts over 2 hours, low intensity, aerobic

Answer 24

endurance activities

Question 25

examples of endurance exercise

Answer 25

endurance racing, trail riding, ranch type activities, lesson horses, most pleasure horses

Question 26

more than 2 miles, a few minutes long, high near peak exertion, aerobic and anaerobic

Answer 26

middle distance

Question 27

examples of middle distance

Answer 27

steeplechase horses
cross country phase of 3 day eventing
thoroughbred racing

Question 28

less than 1 min, max intensity, anaerobic

Answer 28

sprint activities

Question 29

examples of sprint exercises

Answer 29

rodeo, barrel racing, heavy horse pull, Quarterhorse racing, jump off in show jumping

Question 30

examples of other types of exercise that don’t fit into endurance, middle distance, or sprint exercises

Answer 30

polo

dressage