VALOR When winning is key by Cavalor

dedicated to athletes in the equESTRIAN world

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK When winning is key

Life is a race Desire the goal – Andrew Michael Ramsey

contents • •

Photo’s: Wilhelm Westergren

Healy racing

Racing photos

LIFE’S A BEACH 6

Ado McGuinness about his approach in training and what makes him tick

OXYGEn 8

The importance of the respiratory system, Dr. Emmanuelle van Erck explains

TRUTH OR MYTH 12

Untreated oats are the safest and best energy source for my horse

A WINNING MINDSET 14

The team of people and mindset that keeps Danny O’Brien at the top of his game

Muscle power is everything 16 Dr. Caroline Loos shares the secrets of how to build a strong topline

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Dear horse racing enthusiast,

Speed is the thread that runs through all our lives. It is the deciding factor in races, making the merciless difference between winning and losing. Driven by ambition, we continue pushing the boundaries and finding new innovations. However, there is only one essential ingredient for success: cooperation. Teamwork makes the dream work. It really is that simple. You might have all the talent in the world, but if you can’t cooperate you’ll never get anywhere.

Cooperation is making a connection, an honest and sincere connection. That was instilled in me from a very early age. More than once, I heard my mother turn to me and say, “Be honest about yourself and others. Believe in your own abilities, be ambitious, but above all, stay close to your own roots and never lose yourself in pride. Only by acting with integrity will others want to work with you. Alone, you might go faster, but together you’ll go further.” I’m still grateful to her for that.

Given this background, it’s no coincidence that Cavalor has become a part of my life. The values that I was brought up with are reflected every day in the brand, the company and our products.

Honest products that live up to their promises. Everything is based on passion, ambition, knowledge, scientific research and above all, a whole lot of teamwork; the essential building blocks for a strong brand.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the development of feed and care products for horses that need to perform at the highest levels, we’re entitled to call ourselves real experts in our field. The core values of our brand – innovation, quality and research – are central to the development of our products and services every day. We do our best to contribute towards a world full of healthy and happy horses. We are convinced that horses that feel good will perform better.

I still feel proud every day to be part of the Cavalor team. We stand together for empowerment.

For you: trainer, jockey, farrier, vet – your team. We do this not only by developing and offering highly efficient products, but also by providing useful information – this magazine is living proof of that.

I hope you all enjoy reading this Valor magazine and, as a brand, we feel extremely honoured to be able to be part of your successful team.

And we’re off!

Tom Versprille

INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER CAVALOR

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LIFE’S

ADO MCGUINNESS ABOUT HIS APPROACH IN TRAINING AND WHAT MAKES HIM TICK

A BEACH

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ADO MCGUINNESS IS ON AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY AND COMPETING WITH SOME OF THE BEST ON THE PLANET. HIS INTERNATIONAL FORAYS HAVE PROVEN LUCRATIVE WHILE ON A DOMESTIC LEVEL HE HAS MADE A MARK AT THE GRADE ONE TRACKS UNDER BOTH CODES. WE MET WITH ADO TO SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE THESE GIANTS OF THE SPORT ON, HOW HE APPROACHES IT AND WHAT MAKES HIM TICK.

The Co. Dublin postcode of Skylark House stables belies the environment in which Ado McGuinness trains his increasingly successful string of horses. Close in distance but a long way away from the busy suburbs of North Dublin is a hidden corner of calm, surrounded immediately by farmland but more crucially for Ado, coastline to the North, East and South.

Looking for that sparkle “I say that I have the biggest equine spa in Ireland, we use the beach a lot as part of the training programme here. The day after fast work, the day after a run, even the day before they run. Sometimes I see a horse just lacking a bit of sparkle in its eyes so we just take it to the beach for three, maybe four days. You know yourself that the sand, salt water and sea air make you feel better and I see the same in my horses” Improving Stock Ado has built a reputation for improving what he refers to as “second hand horses” sourced from the horses in training sales, recent notable purchases Bowerman and Saltonstall have both been busy winning or placing in races in Qatar and Saudi Arabia respectively.

“This is a side of the business we want to continue developing. My assistant Stephen does an amazing job in sourcing these horses, our facilities seem to breathe new life into them and there is a lot of prize money to be won on a global scale.”

It is easy to see that the beach could have a large part to play in this, especially when combined with Ado’s perceptive attention to each horse’s wellbeing. Saltonstall has risen from a rating of 99 to 111 since joining Ado while Bowerman has won 6 from 14 starts and placed another 4 times.

“These are horses that we often have to take a bit of a punt with, they may have had a veterinary issue that has prevented them selling for a lot of money and so then they’re in my budget. Between our kind gallops at home and the facilities at the beach we are able to work around these issues and keep the horses happy”.

Healthy horses win races When asked about technological advances in the approach to training Ado is at pains to express that he keeps things simple.

“Ability and health are the main two factors in winning races. It’s as straightforward as that. Now, when a new batch of hay came the other day it was tested for aspergillus immediately, I’m not going to wait for them all to get ill before testing and we are meticulous about keeping the yard clean, disinfected, clean waters and mangers, that’s all health related. Don’t forget, track records in horse racing have barely changed over the years compared to, say, Formula One lap times in the same time period.”

The approach is clearly working well with a consistent, year in year out, climb of the ranks.

“Irish and English racing are the pinnacle of the sport, this is the toughest proving ground. The quality of horse we have to compete against to win a maiden is staggering. I cannot think of a tougher place to win races but there is a plus side: the international bloodstock industry is very aware of this and we have, like many in similar positions, sold a number of horses for export. It’s crucial to our business and we are fortunate that our breeding and racing industries are so well regarded globally. I aim to buy a handful of youngsters each year with the view that one or two of them

can be sold profitably, it’s a necessary part of our business - I cannot think of many who could afford not to sell a Group One horse nowadays.”

What to expect of the future Meanwhile he is also concerned about some modern day developments that could have harmful repercussions for the sport.

“We all love what we do, but it doesn’t pay very well and it is the love of it that keeps us involved. Horses are like a drug, there is no cure, regardless of which discipline, you’re just hooked. We all see that our horses receive better care than most humans, the top veterinary clinics more efficient than any hospital, the quality of routine care and diet is outstanding. I see my yard as a football squad, while they might not all be ready to play a full 90 minutes they are getting every bit of help they can.”

It’s all about loving horses What worries me is the 0.01% that do not love horses in the way the rest of us do, made so visible by social media which allows this bad news to travel far and wide, very quickly. These two things combined allow people’s perception of our sport to be damaged and this could become a real problem.”

Despite an uncertain global economy, news prejudicial to the sport and competing on the hardest stage Ado McGuinness is making things work for his horses first which has an uncanny way of looking after his owners, staff and family. His interest in the sparkle in each horse’s eye speaks volumes in a modern bustling, data driven world and this most peaceful corner of Co. Dublin has, without doubt, a lot more stable stars to look forward to over the years.

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OXYG The horse is an elite athlete, with a cardiovascular and muscular physiology far superior to that of a human. Lung function is becoming increasingly well recognised as the critical consideration for loss of performance due to the comparative fragility of the equine respiratory system. The science of lung health has consequently become an area of vast interest for trainers, racing authorities, animal welfare and equine sports medicine alike, raising the need for cutting edge research into measures to improve respiratory health from a holistic perspective involving every aspect of equine care, diagnostic processes and proactive management of inflammatory lung conditions. In this article Dr. Emmanuelle van Erck Westergren outlines for us how the horse’s single greatest limiting factor in performance is their res­ p iratory system, why and how we should help maintain this most important consideration of training horses.

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GEN

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The role of the respiratory system is to deliver an adequate supply of oxygen to the blood, in order to enable energy production in the muscles for sustained periods of activity. The respiratory system operates via a number of mechanical and chemical processes which must all be performed with optimum efficiency in order to maintain peak performance levels.

DR EMMANUELLE VAN ERCK WESTERGREN DVM, PHD, ECEIM IS A LEADING AUTHORITY IN THE FIELD OF EQUINE PERFORMANCE. WITH 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN EQUINE RESPIRATORY HEALTH, SHE LEADS A PRACTICE OFFERING CLINICALLY DRIVEN PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS SERVICES, SPECIFICALLY FOR SPORTS AND RACE HORSES.

Horses are elite athletes with a cardiovascular system that is extremely adaptable to training and highly effective in the delivery of oxygen to the muscles. In addition to this they have a spleen capable of increasing the circulating red blood cell count by up to 50%. By comparison, the equine respiratory system does not adapt to training, which renders it the limiting factor in exercise performance, in terms of its ability to meet the oxygen demands of exercise.

The gaseous exchange has to be operating at optimum efficiency because of the anatomical constraints of a long trachea, and the mechanics of the upper airways. Oxygen arrives at a fragile pulmonary capillary membrane, which is highly susceptible to rupture because of the high pressures involved. This rupture of the membrane deposits blood into the alveoli which both restricts oxygen uptake and could lead to disease and loss of performance.

Lung physiology Inhibition of gas exchange leads to hypoxemia (decreased level of oxygen in the blood), which leads to a decreased supply of oxygen to the muscles. Muscles that are not supplied with enough oxygen will become fatigued, ultimately leading to loss of performance, which is when we start to see “tired falls” and horses “emptying out”.

The performance capacity of a race horse relies on 3 things: 1 Adequate training 2 Well functioning cardiovascular system 3 Fully functional and healthy respiratory system Considering a well trained horse, the closer we can get to optimum respiratory health, the greater performance we will see from that horse prior to onset of hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply to the tissues) and therefore fatigue, so maintaining healthy lungs and airways in all respects is our number one priority.

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Measuring and maintaining respiratory health First and foremost, verification of lack of respiratory pathology through endoscopic examination and the culture of tracheal wash samples or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In the absence of disease, there are then a number of markers and methods that can be employed to assess performance: • Spirometry – this is the direct measuring of inhaled and exhaled air. In horses this has limitations as horses cannot be instructed when to breathe and are unable to breathe through their mouths.

• VO2 max testing – VO2 max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption. There are some prototypes of equipment that measure equine VO2 max however, the equipment has proven impractical and increases resistance to the airflow, often causing soft palate displacement.

• Lactate testing – This is the most practical method of assessing overall fitness, however it is an indirect measure of lung health. This usually takes place via a set exercise test – either conducted on a treadmill or via a GPS tracker, lactic acid levels are then measured and this is used as a marker of oxygen deficit or hypoxemia in the blood.

A thehorse.com poll that was conducted in 2017 found 84% of respondents deemed there to be no environmental issues with the stabling in which their horses were kept, but in reality it has since been found that 80% of horses live in an environment that stimulates a negative immune or inflammatory response.

Meanwhile, doing our best to ensure environmental hygiene is the most important thing we can do to protect the respiratory health of our horses. Fogging stables with antifungal solutions, treating the environment with probiotics, not using yard blowers, using quality bedding, ensuring adequate ventilation all promote a healthy ecosystem meaning the harmful fungal spores that can threaten lung health have less opportunity to grow. In addition to this, making sure horses are turned out regularly is crucial to respiratory health.

We are then also able to proactively manage the treatment of lung bleeding.

Where as some turn to the prophylactic use of antibiotics to mitigate risk of infection following a bleed, others have found success with less aggressive management strategies such as regular inhalations of essential oil products which can have mucolytic and antimicrobial effect, and the selective use of corticosteroids - it is important to note that while corticosteroids are effective in reducing inflammation short-term, over time they also suppress the immune system which means that use should be with careful consideration.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND CAVALOR BRONCHIX PULMO Dr. Emmanuelle recently conducted a study in collaboration with Cavalor. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a daily oral supplementation of Cavalor Bronchix Pulmo on the incidence and severity of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH/lung bleeding) in active racehorses, aged between 2 and 9 years old.

All horses were supplemented daily for 25 days. All other variables such as environment were consistent across the study sample. Horses were scoped and scored for Pharyngeal lymphoid folliculitis, EIPH/Tracheal mucus, Carina thickness (base of windpipe), Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage at baseline and 25 days. After 25 days, there was a significant reduction of Tracheal Mucus scores and the thickness of the bronchial carina, indicating a significant reduction of airway inflammation.

EIPH endoscopic scores were low.

The study concluded that daily oral supplementation of Cavalor Bronchix Pulmo significantly reduces incidence and severity of EIPH in active racehorses, and most notably, after 25 days, there were no bleeding episodes in any of the study sample.

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION ON RESPIRATORY HEALTH > ENDOSCOPIC SCORES

> BLOOD CELL COUNTS

Figure 1

Figure 2

T1

T2

T1

3,5

16000,0

3,0 p= 0.05

2,5 2,0 1,5

p= 0.02 1,0 0,5

14000,0

8000,0 6000,0 4000,0 2000,0 0,0

Pharyngeal score

Tracheal Mucus score

Carina Thickness score

RBC TW

EIPH score

> Significant reduction of tracheal mucus scores (p=0.05) and of the thickness of the bronchial carina (p=0.02).

RBC BAL

> The RBC counts in the TW and BAL were significantly reduced at T2 after Cavalor Bronchix Pulmo supplementation, indicating that the supplement

The presence of mucus in the trachea and bronchial carina thickness are recognized as a sign of lower airway inflammation.

race horses.

> EIPH endoscopic scores were low and were not retained for the diagnosis of EIPH.

> INFLAMMATION ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF DIFFERENT Figure 4 MULTIHERBAL FORMULATIONS

Figure 3

T1

T2

T1

8%

T2

16 % 14 %

p= 0.02

6%

12 %

5% 4%

p= 0.04

3% 2%

NEUTROPHILS (%)

(%)

7%

EOSINOPHILS

Driving for performance in sports such as racing pushes horses to the physiological edge of what they can achieve. This inevitably involves risk to the immune system and biological systems of the horse.

Where there are some which can be mitigated, others cannot be avoided and must instead be effectively managed holistically through a multi-pronged approach: early detection of loss of performance, managing sub-clinical chronic EIPH with nutrition and proactive use of natural remedies, medical intervention where necessary, maintaining a healthy immune system and managing a clean environment are all effective methods of minimising any negative effects of hard training, therefore enabling a horse to reach their full potential.

p= 0.0001

12000,0 10000,0

0,0

It is important to emphasise that the nutritional status of the horse is also of crucial importance in the maintenance of respiratory health, and an optimally functioning immune system.

T2

18000,0

RED BLOOD CELL COUNTS (NB/MM3)

Risk Management Having established the paramount importance of respiratory health, we then turn to the limitations of even the healthiest of equine respiratory systems and the fact that a hard working horse might still inevitably experience some lung bleeding.

Through this recognition we are able to understand the risk factors for respiratory distress, accepting some (dust from exercise tracks, desiccation of airway tissue in cold climates, fungal growth in humid climates), and go some way to mitigate others, particularly stress responses from anticipation, pain, overtraining, environment and transport.

10 % 8% 6% 4%

1%

2%

0%

0%

TW

BAL

TW

BAL

> We noted a significant reduction in the amount of inflammatory cells, namely eosinophils in both TW and the BAL, but also in BAL neutrophils.

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TRUTH oR MYTH

UNTREATED OATS ARE THE SAFEST AND BEST ENERGY SOURCE FOR MY HORSE Myth

Oats are only a safe and effective source of energy, especially for performance horses, if part of a balanced and varied diet and best slightly crushed.

Cereals are widely fed to horses due to their high carbohydrate content and fibrous properties, however, grains such as corn (maize) and barley contain starch that is particularly difficult to digest. Puffing corn and barley significantly improves digestibility, making the starch safer, highly digestible and reducing risk of colic.

Oats on the other hand are highly digestible in a more natural state. Oats should be fed lightly crushed, not heat treated. The crushing process means that the husk is slightly broken to allow amylase (the digestive enzyme responsible for breaking starch down to release glucose for ATP or energy production via the krebs cycle during aerobic respiration) to act on the starch within the oats. The husk is then optimally retained within the feed for fibrous bulk – fibre is important for slowing down the digestive process, allowing slower and sustained energy release.

If oats were to be fed completely untreated with the husk intact, it would not be possible for all oat grains to be broken down by the horse’s teeth in the chewing process. These uncrushed oat grains would not be digestible in the Small Intestine and would then pass through undigested to the Large Intestine. When this happens, potential risk factors can occur, such as changes to the pH (acidity) and the balance of the microbiome. These changes can increase risk of colic, and lead to increased gut permeability, where food particles pass through the gut lining into the blood­ stream, which can cause an inflammatory/immune response – this then impairs optimum health (for example Laminitis) and therefore performance. In this lightly crushed form, oats are 80% digestible, removing the need to puff the grain as with other cereals (like corn and barley), but this crushing process is crucial to the digestibility and safety of oats as an energy source.

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XPE

ask the

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THE QUESTION

I have a horse that is often diagnosed with gastric ulcers. I have treated the horse with Omeprazole twice but the ulcers seem to come back. Is there a way to get rid of the ulcers permanently without sacrificing the energy intake and allow my horse to keep on training and racing? At the moment I provide 7 kg of quality racehorse cubes per day (2 kg morning, 2 kg noon and 3 kg evening) as well as 2 times 2 flakes of hay per day (morning and evening). As we’re in the middle of the racing season I cannot reduce the amount of feed per day or change to a feed that contains fewer sugars/starches as the horse needs its energy to perform.

– Newmarket UK based trainer - 4 year old flat race horse (sprint distance)

THE ADVICE It is important to know that the horse produces stomach acid 24 hours a day. If the stomach is empty, there is nothing for the stomach acid to digest. Stomach acid then splashes against the unprotected squamous area of the stomach wall and causes gastric ulcers. Feeding sufficient roughage avoids an empty stomach, which is an important factor in avoiding and repairing gastric ulcers. A recent study at Ghent University has shown that the majority of racing horses have gastric ulcers classified in grades going from grade 1 (mild) to grade 5 (severe). According to the study, grade 1 and 2 cases don’t require immediate treatment while limited performance caused by gastric ulcers can be expected from a diagnosed grade 3 case on.

Give your horse small quantities of roughage throughout a 24 hour period, for example using a slow feeder (hay net with small holes) avoids prolonged periods without access to food. Roughage works as a buffer against stomach acid. Saliva also helps to neutralize stomach acid. Chewing roughage releases a lot of saliva. Ensure that you give the horse enough roughage, a minimum of 7.5 kg per day (1.5 % of your horse’s body weight). We suggest a maximum of 5 kg of Cavalor concentrates per day, broken down as follows: 1.5kg in the morning, 1.5kg for lunch and 2kg in the evening. It is important to understand that concentrated feeds stimulate the production of stomach acid, so you should always give roughage first, and then concentrates. If you opt for muesli, you are providing extra structure (compared to pellets). The structure ensures that the horse has to chew the feed thoroughly, and that also stimulates saliva produc­ tion. With Cavalor Superforce, you are feeding a muesli that is ideal for the demands placed on sprint-distance horses that need to produce explosive energy, over a short distance. Cavalor Superforce contains puffed cereals that are easier digestible and ensure a maximum absorption of the safe starches in the cereals.

Finally, we advise supplementing the diet with Cavalor Gastro Aid. This supplement has a corrective effect to maintain a neutral pH value in the stomach and to protect the stomach wall against irritation. By feeding for a minimum of 8 weeks alongside a balanced feeding regime that is appropriate for the type of work, you can ensure optimal stomach health.

– Cavalor Nutritionist, Peter Bollen

EVERY HORSE IS DIFFERENT. EVERY HORSE HAS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. FEED YOUR HORSE ACCORDING TO ITS NEEDS. WOULD YOU LIKE A CONSULTATION? THEN VISIT WWW.MYCAVALOR.COM OR CALL OUR CONSUMER LINE: +32(0)92202525

ADVICE FROM OUR EXPERT (ASSUMING YOUR HORSE WEIGHS 500KG) • Minimum 7.5 kg hay, divided into several portions per day • Cavalor Superforce 5 kg • Cavalor Gastro Aid Powder 2 x 1 scoop per day or Liquid 2 x 30 cc (= 1 pump) per day

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AWINNING MINDSET DANNY O’BRIEN TALKS TO US ABOUT THE TEAM OF PEOPLE AND THE MINDSET THAT KEEPS HIM AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME

EACH HORSE RACING BUSINESSES HAS THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND ONE OF THE GREATEST IS THE ORGANISATION THAT GOES INTO MAKING A GREAT TEAM. SINCE HE LEFT A POSITION WITH THE LATE, GREAT BART CUMMINGS TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN STABLE, DANNY O’BRIEN HAS GROWN HIS BUSINESS FROM HOUSING ONLY A HANDFUL OF HORSES TO BECOME A MAJOR GLOBAL PLAYER WITH MULTIPLE GROUP ONE VICTORIES, A MELBOURNE CUP, COX PLATE, CAULFIELD CUP AND NUMEROUS AUSTRALIAN CLASSICS AS WELL AS CAMPAIGNING HORSES AT ROYAL ASCOT. WE CATCH UP WITH DANNY TO DISCUSS HOW HE STRUCTURES THIS AND WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS IN ALLOWING THE SUCCESSES TO KEEP ON COMING.

You now have an enviable setup incorporating your racetrack barns and also a more tranquil environment at 13th Beach. Could you run us through the communication process between you and your senior staff that really makes the most of what you have?

Well we try to maintain as much consistency as possible throughout all of the different sites. We use the same feed, same hay, same vet. Daily trot-ups are reported and shared via email between myself and all senior staff, this is crucially important as we move horses from one place to the other. Similarly we do a lot of GPS/Heart Rate monitoring and this information is shared throughout the team.

I think that in days gone by trainers saw information as something that they would protect and control themselves, we’ve adopted the opposite approach. These are talented guys running my setup and the more data they have the better.

While you strive to maintain consistency for the horses through each of your different sites do you see any differences in the working environment for the team?

Well we use the facilities in numerous ways but I think the main thing is that we start all of the young horses out at 13th Beach so the team there needs to have an affinity with animals at that stage of their development. Also, they are not tied in to racetrack training hours so the team there

certainly has a better set of working hours as well as a great environment. I think that, as an industry, we are in a great position in that we attract some really talented young people, year in year out, despite the hours that come with the job and we are always able to find a place for the best of them.

Your senior staff all share passion but also bring with them a varied set of experiences from around the globe as well as closer to home. How much are you able to draw on this experience from day to day?

Everybody has their part to play and one person can’t make all this happen alone so I rely on my main assistants very heavily. They each in turn have their assistants so the horses are getting the benefit of numerous sets of eyes. I can’t be everywhere at once and my main assistants know the system.

You were lucky to have spent some of your formative years in the industry working for “The Cups King” and emulated him in winning the Melbourne Cup yourself . If you could take just one way in which he has influenced you what would it be?

I was fortunate to see how resilient he was on a mental level. This is an incredibly tough game and guys like Bart were just the same whether they had just won the Cup or gone months without a winner. This was a great lesson to take away with me and remember through the highs and lows. He

stuck to his guns and continued to do what he knew was right throughout.

When travelling horses on a global campaign your team must become even more crucial, both those who fly with the horse but also those who take up the slack at home. Who are the unsung heroes?

Look, everybody plays a crucial part. It’s important when taking on a trip like that to get to grips with the facilities at hand locally so, for example, when we took Sham Express to Newmarket to prepare for Ascot I went myself along with my travelling Head Groom. In future, I may draw upon the experience of (assistant) Ben Gleeson who has worked extensively in Europe before coming to join me as my assistant at Flemington, its useful knowledge to have on the team.

You’ve built this up from humble beginnings. During the growth of the stable what were the key periods of developing the management structure you now have in place?

The biggest game changer was getting my Barson/13th Beach facility. The beach exercise is really kind on their legs so we have some horses who just do much better there. A trainer is only as good as his horses, team and, importantly, the sum total of his facilities.

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MUSCLE POWER IS EVERYTHING TO BUILD THE MUSCLES THAT SHAPE THE TOPLINE, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE HORSE WITH THE BUILDING BLOCKS AND THE NECESSARY ENERGY TO DO SO. THESE TWO ELEMENTS COME FROM DIETARY PROTEIN AND CALORIES.

THE MUSCLES IN THE BODY HELP TO SUPPORT THE SKELETON OF THE HORSE. THE BETTER THE MUSCLES ARE DEVELOPED, THE MORE THE SPINE AND JOINTS WILL BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED. A WELL DEVELOPED TOPLINE IS ESSENTIAL FOR LONG TERM HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF THE EQUINE ATHLETE. A HORSE’S TOPLINE IS SHAPED BY THE MUSCLES ALONG THE WITHERS, BACK, LOIN AND CROUP. ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL MUSCLING CAN DIFFER BETWEEN HORSES, EVERY HEALTHY HORSE CAN DEVELOP A STRONG TOPLINE. THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE WELL BALANCED NUTRITION IN COMBINATION WITH PROPER EXERCISE.

AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE IS DR. CAROLINE LOOS, POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY (USA). DR. LOOS HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH HORSES HER WHOLE LIFE AND WORKED IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE EQUINE INDUSTRY BEFORE STARTING HER PHD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN 2014.

HER RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON OPTIMISING PROTEIN FEEDING IN RELATION TO MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW METABOLIC DISEASES, SUCH AS INSULIN DYSREGULATION, MAY IMPACT PROTEIN METABOLISM IN HORSES.

Proteins for overall health Next to water, protein is the most abundant substance in the body. It is a part of nearly every tissue, including muscle, organs, brain, blood, immune cells, skin, etc.

Therefore, paying attention to the quantity and quality of protein in your horse’s diet is not only important for building topline but also for overall health. Protein from the diet will be broken down into amino acids in the digestive tract which the body can then use to make new protein. An important thing to remember is that not all protein is created equally. Only high quality protein will be able to provide all the essential amino acids in the right amounts and ratio to efficiently build up muscle protein. Examples of high quality protein sources to look for in your horse’s diet are soybean meal or ingredients such as potato protein, peas, beans and lupins. Despite some recent controversy regarding the use of soy in horse feeds, there is currently no scientific evidence of any negative effects on horse health. If properly sourced and processed (i.e. always use a reputable feed brand) and fed at appropriate quantities, soybean is a superior protein source to support top level animal performance due to its high digestibility and favorable amino acid profile. Note that when it comes to protein feeding, quality is

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always more important than quantity. The higher the quality of the protein, the less is needed to meet requirements. Excess amino acids cannot be stored in the body and will simply be excreted. Therefore, overfeeding protein not only has little benefit, it can actually have adverse health effects in certain situations (e.g. liver problems, elevated insulin secretion, increased sweating, swollen legs, skin problems, etc.) and even limit growth and proper muscle building.

Necessity of energy In contrast to what many people believe, there is more to building muscle than just feeding enough high quality protein. In fact, the first limiting nutrient in a horse’s diet is always energy, as it is needed for every metabolic process in the body. Building and maintaining muscle, in particular, is energy costly. If the body senses there is not enough fuel to do so, it will prevent activation of muscle building processes. Moreover, prolonged energy-deficiency in the diet can lead to muscle breakdown. So, no matter how much protein you feed, if energy is limiting, the horse cannot build muscle.

Always make sure the diet meets the daily energy needs of the horse. Calorie-rich ingredients in horse diets are mainly grains (carbohydrates and sugars), oils (fat) and

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING LACTATE; LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT? Muscles are critical for movement, as they contract and relax. Every muscle in the body has its own function. Your horse can only be in top shape when its muscles are. Muscles are made of cells, that together form fibers that align in bundles in the muscle. Muscle cells can be regarded as a sort of ‘fuel factory’ for the conversion of energy. Muscles can convert this energy in two ways: aerobic and anaerobic. In aerobic exercise, the muscles mainly get their energy from fats and fibers, which they convert with the help of oxygen. In anaerobic exercise, the muscles use the energy from sugars and carbohydrates, without the help of oxygen. Anaerobic exercise will after a while also produce lactic acid (lactate), a waste product that comes from muscles being broken down. A horse in motion uses a combination of two types of muscle fibers. Type 1 for continued effort and type 2 for explosive effort. These muscle fibers are engaged according to the type of training, energy source, level of circulation and whether aerobic or anaerobic conversion is needed.

Lactate is formed to provide energy to anaerobic muscles (type 2) during exercise, and this lactate will build up inside the muscles. The built-up lactate is then converted to glycogen or glucose and re-enters circulation as an energy source for aerobic muscles (type 1).

to a lesser highly digestible fiber sources.

Lastly, various vitamins and minerals play a role in muscle building mechanisms in the body. Only well balanced diets, supplying adequate amounts of energy, protein and essential micronutrients (i.e. vitamins, minerals and trace elements) will provide all the key nutritional elements to build a strong, healthy topline.

Principles of muscle building There is still a common misconception that certain feeds or supplements will turn your horse into a body builder. Unfortunately, this is not true. Proper nutrition is essential, but strong musculature can only be achieved though the stimulation of adequate exercise. Intensive exercise will result in metabolic stress and microdamage in the muscles. In response to this, the body will trigger cardiovascular, nervous and muscle systems to make improvements so the horse is better able to handle the strains of the next exercise bout. This adaptive response to exercise is the reason for increased fitness and muscle strength that occurs over time. However, continued improvements will only occur if the body is repetitively challenged by progressively increasing exercise intensity. This concept is called ‘progressive loading’. For our horses this means muscle development is only going to be evident by gradual increases in training intensity. If the exercise intensity remains too low, there will not be enough physical stimulus to trigger the body to build up more muscle.

Ideal exercise program To effectively build up topline, the exercise program should balance both the intensity and the type of training sessions throughout the week or month. It is important to leave adequate time between more intense exercise bouts to allow for proper repair and strengthening of the muscle fibers.

If the horse is exercised before the muscle is fully recovered, it will be broken down instead of build up. To avoid a setback in muscle development, include 1-2 days of

lighter exercise between high intensity sessions. For the most effective results, you want a step by step increase in exercise intensity over time to maintain the proper progressive loading of the muscle. It is also important to exercise the right type of muscles. Although topline is associated with the muscles along the spine of the horse, it is in fact the core muscles that need to be developed to support the back.

Improving general flexibility, strength and core stability is key to developing a healthy topline. Regardless of your discipline, frequently changing up the exercise routine is a good way to keep triggering the adaptive response, thereby continuously stimulating development of different muscle groups.

Furthermore, variation in training will provide healthy mental stimulation and keep your horse happier and more focused.

Building up a strong topline can only be achieved with proper nutrition and exercise.

High quality protein and adequate calories will provide the building blocks and fuel to make muscle protein. Additionally, an appropriate exercise program is needed to stimulate the build-up and maintenance of the topline muscles. If your diet and exercise program are appropriate but your horse is still not building topline, seek advice from a veterinarian. Subtle lameness, pain, disease, viral infections, digestive problems or in some cases underlying metabolic disorders can undermine muscle development.

Cavalor VitAmino is a protein balancer for strong muscles, enriched with vitamins and minerals. It’s a source of high quality proteins that, due to their high digestibility and specific amino acid profile, make an optimal contribution to the development of more muscle mass. When building muscles, it is important that horses have sufficient building materials, including certain amino acids. Cavalor VitAmino contains soy, alfalfa and potato protein that contain all the essential amino acids in the correct proportion so that strong muscles are obtained as efficiently as possible.

Do you want to learn more about the role of nutrition in building muscles?

Visit our Youtube-channel and watch our educational move “Did you know how a horse’s topline is defined?”.

Go to youtube.com/cavalorvideo

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SAFE TO USE All Cavalor supplements are backed up by a negative contamination and administration test affected by the LCH in France prior to market introduction. LCH is one of the only 5 IFHA (International Federation of Horse racing Authorities) appointed reference laboratories. This way we assure that our products are safe to use during competition without withdrawal period.

Cavalor Derma Spray is essential for every first aid box or grooming kit. This spray is perfectly matched to the pH value of the skin and is ideal for treating minor wounds, itching, irritation and other skin problems.

The active pre- and probiotics in Cavalor Derma Spray reinforce the army of good bacteria on the skin and protect the skin flora to support the natural defence mechanisms necessary for healthy skin.

Every yard has one horse that is prone to being a poor doer and is under performing.

Does that sound familiar? Add Cavalor Wholegain to their feed. This feed balancer ensures good source of energy and a glossy coat. In addition, this balancer also provides extra nutrients such as B vitamins and minerals, necessary for cell synthesis, recovery and repair; specially designed for horses working at high intensity.

3 TIPS FOR WINNING HOOVES

FROM GODOLPHIN FARRIER DEREK POUPARD

1. Keep a balanced foot

Racehorses have been bred for speed and often have a long pastern with low heels. It is important to keep the hoof and pastern angle aligned and in optimum balance (working with the horse’s conformational limitations) to prevent injury and loss of performance.

2. Shoe at regular intervals Horse: Ghaiyyath is Cartier horse of the year 2020.

Regular shoeing intervals are very important to minimise unnecessary

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forces on the tendons and ligaments when travelling at speed. As the hoof grows the angles may change which alter the galloping biodynamics and hoof surface interaction.

3. Provide the right nutrition

A healthy diet as well as feeding a balanced mineral hoof supplement is very important to maintain a strong functioning hoof that can withstand the forces placed upon it.

DID YOU KNOW? • A natural grazing animal, the horse’s stomach produces acid 24 hours a day to digest food.

• In the racehorse, galloping mechanics create splashing of stomach acid up against the unprotected squamous region (upper region) of the stomach wall, causing gastric ulcers.

• Increasing roughage intake via trickle feeding ensures the stomach is never completely empty, always has something to digest and remains protected.

• Fibre works as a buffer against stomach acid. A kilo of roughage takes 40 minutes’ chewing time and generates 3.5 litres of saliva. This saliva, together with the food itself neutralise the stomach acid, reducing the incidence of gastric ulcers.

• Muesli (compared to pellets) also stimulates saliva production. 1kg of muesli needs 900 chewing movements, in contrast to 600 chewing movements for 1kg of a pellet feed.

Cavalor Superforce provides optimum nutrition for pure power and explosive energy.

Cavalor Superforce is a top quality sports feed specifically designed to supplement the daily feeding of the racehorse in full work and during race-day. Superforce contains an exceptional mix of balanced omega fatty acids, in addition to amino acids and an extensive range of vitamins, minerals and easily absorbable trace elements.

The feeding of horses that are actively involved in competition can be challen­ ging sometimes. Poor appetite related to gastric issues is more often seen than not.

Cavalor Gastro Aid Paste creates a healthy environment in the stomach with a focus on neutralising stomach acid and protecting the stomach wall. It stimulates the horses’ appetite after administering 1 dosage only.

Cavalor LactaTec Paste helps the muscles to perform at their best for peak performance and supports good post exercise recovery, avoiding muscle fatigue. The paste is rapidly absorbed and has been specially developed for targeted use, such as using before a particularly tough training session or race.

Give half the syringe the evening before and half in the morning of strenuous exercise. Furthermore, a dose of LactaTec directly after work can aid recovery.

Why use electrolytes? Electrolytes are important for hydration management and maintaining the acidity balance in the body.

When your horse sweats, such as during a race, training or transport, it loses not only fluid, but also key minerals. With Cavalor Electrolyte Balance, you can make up for any losses, ensure that your horse recovers quickly and remains healthy.

NEED NUTRITIONAL ADVICE?

Our experts will be happy to assist you.

Call our Cavalor ConsumerLine +3292202525 or use our online ration calculator tool at www.mycavalor.com

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When science meets sports, champions rise Cavalor is one of the few companies in the world that guarantees that its full product range (if used accordingly our prescribed guidelines) is compliant with FEI and International Federation of Horseracing Authorities rules and can be safely used during the entire season without withdrawal period.

INTERNATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITIES

Want to know more about Cavalor?

Contact Tom Versprille, Cavalor international sales manager at +441352746100 or race@cavalor.com

www.cavalor.com