Equine exercise physiology is an area that has been subject to
major scientific advances over the last 30 years, largely due to
the increased availability of high-speed treadmills and techniques
for recording physiological function during exercise. Despite the
scientific advances, many riders and trainers are still using
little more than experience and intuition to train their horses.
The aim of this book is to sort the fact from the fiction for
the benefit of those involved in training, managing or working with
horses, and to provide an up-to-date summary of the state of play
in equine exercise physiology. Scientific theories are explained
from first principles, with the assumption that the reader has no
previous scientific background. The book is designed to save
competitors and trainers a lot of time and effort trying to extract
information in piecemeal fashion from a host of reference sources.
For the first time, everything you need to know about exercising
and training horses is here in one text.
Tabella dei contenuti
Foreword.
Acknowledgements.
Part I The Raw Materials.
1 Introduction.
2 Energetics of exercise.
3 Muscles.
4 Connective tissue.
5 The respiratory system.
6 The cardiovascular system.
Part II Exercise and Training Responses.
7 Muscular responses.
8 Skeletal responses.
9 Respiratory responses.
10 Cardiovascular responses.
11 Aspects of physiological stress and fatigue.
12 Thermoregulation.
13 Introduction to biomechanics.
Part III Applications of Exercise Physiology.
14 The demands of equestrian sport.
15 Training principles.
16 Training facilities.
17 Practical training.
18 Exercise testing.
19 Indicators of performance.
20 Feeding performance horses.
21 Transport.
References.
Further reading.
Index.
Circa l’autore
Dr David Marlin is the leading expert on equine exercise
physiology in the UK, and is well known internationally. He has
published over 100 scientific papers and is best known for his work
on heat and humidity leading up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Throughout his career he has also worked with top racehorse trainer
Luca Cumani and the British Eventing, Dressage, Show-jumping and
Endurance teams. He is currently Head of Physiology at the Animal
Health Trust in Newmarket and a Visiting Professor in
Cardio-Respiratory Physiology at the University of Bristol.
Kathryn Nankervis has taught equine exercise physiology
on a range of programmes from National Diploma to MSc level. Her
current job is Equine Science Centre Manager at Hartpury College.
This unique centre is one of the best in Europe and combines an
Equine Veterinary and Therapy Centre. Kathryn designs individually
tailored exercise programmes using a wide range of techniques in
order to rehabilitate competition horses with musculoskeletal
dysfunction.