VALOR Marginal gains by Cavalor

If you make a 1% improvement in a host of tiny areas, the cumulative

benefits would be extraordinary

– Sir Dave Brailsford

Marginal Gains 6

Ernst Oertel about how to unleash the potential of your horse

Energy 8

All about energy by Dr. Jane Williams

Research 13

The research behind Cavalor Artitec

TRUTH OR MYTH 14

Detox for horses makes sense

The Role of the Lymphatic System in Energy 16

The relation between the lymphatic system and high performance

Photo’s: Łukasz Kowalski • The Curragh • Shutterstock

Dear Racing Enthusiasts,

We’re all familiar with winning and losing. Today, the two are more closely linked than ever before. We are increasingly pushing the limits of what humans and animals can physically and mentally handle. Here, “marginal gains” play an important role. The sum of seemingly small adjustments to training, feeding, stabling, transport, or management as a whole can actually mean the difference between winning and losing.

I experienced the importance of marginal gains myself in the 1990s when, in top condition, I came in fourth at the national swimming championships, 3/100ths of a second behind the bronze medallist. How happy I would have been if a little more attention had been paid to the small details that might have achieved that podium place. Instead, I was sent home with a pat on the back. This event made me realise that, when it really matters, nothing should be left to chance.

In my career as an international sales manager I have learned that knowledge is essential, and so I am constantly looking for marginal gains in the way I impart knowledge. The challenge is to explain what makes the difference in a way that works. Because it’s the details that make the difference. How do you explain complex material in a simple way? We are always looking for the best way to explain what really makes a product different.

Details make the difference in the Cavalor brand as well. How do you set your brand apart from the jungle of feed and care products? By delving into the details. By proactively developing useful solutions and extensively testing formulas under different conditions. We also work closely with independent experts. It’s only when everything has been examined and proven that you, as a brand, can claim that a product delivers on its promise.

Marginal gains are the key. When you optimise even the smallest details, no matter how irrelevant they may seem, you can achieve the impossible.

“Unleashing full potential” starts here! Enjoy reading, and until next time!

Tom Versprille CAVALOR SALES MANAGER

ERNST OERTEL: MARGINAL GAINS

THE KAHAYLA CLASSIC, A CLASS 1 RACE FOR ARABIAN HORSES IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DUBAI WORLD CUP, AND THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS RACE IN ARABIAN RACING, THE WINNER RECEIVING $1M. CAVALOR HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INTERVIEWING ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ARABIAN RACE HORSE TRAINERS OF ALL TIME, ERNST OERTEL.

His story is a remarkable one of triumph and success, but also hardship and adversity, not least due to an injury in 2013 which led to an above the knee amputation of his left leg. Despite this life changing ordeal, Ernst returned to training and also riding, a unique display of determination and strength which was the focus of the award winning documentary “Leg Up”, in 2017.

Ernst, since the “Leg Up” documentary what have been your highs and lows?

I continued to train in Dubai for Khalid Al Nabooda, I achieved Champion trainer for the third time in 2019, and then runner up for the last 2 years. The top moment was when I won the £1m Kahayla Classic in March 2019 with AF Maher, and finished second in the same race last year (2021). Having quality horses is a big factor in the success – I had a reinfection of my leg about 3 years ago. I had to have IV treatment for 6 hours a day. That was quite stressful and I couldn’t wear my leg. I got back in the saddle last year and was back to riding 9 lots per day.

How do you ensure that each horse is fulfilling his potential?

I think the main thing is to keep them healthy and sound. A horse is limited to how fast he can run and if they’re healthy they are going to give you their best. If they have a problem I back off. I think the older (and more experienced) you get I think you tend to look after them better – if you don’t

give them time, you will wish you had –injuries don’t get better by working them, they get better by rest.

Could you give us some insight into your sustained success and longevity?

You’ve just got to get on and do things, if you leave things, they build up but if you face them, then it’s like one problem’s gone and there’s one less problem to solve. Consistency is probably my best trait. I like to keep things simple and do things correctly.

What drives you?

I like winning! I love the horses, but mainly it’s that I enjoy getting the best out of them. I have a competitive nature, it’s great when you win!

How important is recovery in your approach to training?

Horses are like people, some recover quickly after a race and others come back and won’t eat for a couple of days. It all depends on the horse. I ensure horses get plenty of time off. It is very rare that I would want to have a horse back out running the week after a race. We give them electrolytes and I think it’s important that they eat naturally for good recovery.

What have you found most beneficial in terms of feeding strategy for your horses? We have a basic feeding strategy, and I check the horses condition twice a day to assess each horse individually. I keep things consistent because this is easy to manage. It’s about giving them the best quality nutrition and if I identify the need I will give them extra nutritional support. Feeding supplements for the sake of it doesn’t work for me.

How do you make sure training schedules are optimized for each horse?

To be honest, training on the track is less easy, I don’t enjoy galloping them hard on the flat dirt tracks, I prefer English-style training where you have the open heath like in Newmarket and use of all-weather surfaces, you can train the horses in a variety of ways and use hills to increase the intensity whilst reducing stress on their legs. It’s not as easy here in Dubai, dirt tracks are known to be harder on the horse. I like to keep things low intensity on the track, get them to the Jebel Ali, which has a short hill and then vary things on the treadmill. I tailor the training based on whether they’re sprinters, long distance or if they need to build stamina. I vary things between the dirt track, some hill work (which sadly is limited here in Dubai) and the treadmill. Being able to control exercise on the treadmill is a big help. We do lactate tests on the treadmill and use HRM so I can track recovery rates so I can ensure each horse is being trained optimally. I’ve got quite a good system!

What would you say to anyone who is facing a challenging time?

The important thing is to get out there and face your challenges bit by bit. Ignoring the problems only makes them bigger and before you know it you have a problem that is too big to handle. Create a way of tackling things that is simple and where each day can be the same as the day before, something that creates consistency – consistency and persistence are key to success.

< AF Maher winning the Kahayla Classic – fighting back after being headed at the furlong pole – a true example of a champion beating another champion.

ENERGY

Everything is energy. How to unleash the full potential of your horse? The horse is an exceptional athlete whose performance is underpinned by the dynamic interrelationships between respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal,neuroendocrine and energy systems that enable them to perform. For optimal performance, all of the physiological systems work together holistically to provide the fuel or energy to generate and maintain movement. This article will explore the role of energy in race horse performance and consider how we can adapt training programmes to facilitate optimal performance for the individual horse.

ENERGY

Jane qualified as a Veterinary Nurse then gained her Masters in Equine Science before completing her doctorate exploring the application of surface electromyography as a tool to assess muscle adaptation during training in racehorses and sport horses.

Her main areas of professional interest include scientific evaluation of equestrian performance, training and wellbeing, rider impacts on equitation, reliability assessment across equestrian science and veterinary physiotherapy, and human-animal interaction. Jane co-edited and authored ‘Training for Equestrian Performance’ with Dr. David Evans, to showcase how science and research can be applied practically to improve performance for horses and their riders, and has published over 100 research articles as well as regularly presenting at international equine conferences.

She is also Honorary President for the International Society of Equitation Science, which promotes the application of objective research and advanced practice, to improve the welfare of horses in their associations with humans. Jane is also a founding member of the Sport horse Welfare Foundation.

Exercise in the horse requires energy; this is provided at a cellular level to drive performance by adenosine triphosphate or ATP. However, as in all mammals including humans, the horse does not just have one method to generate the energy it needs for locomotion. It is important to remember that a combination of aerobic (where oxygen is utilised as the main fuel) and anaerobic (where energy comes from other sources: primarily fats and carbohydrate stores) are used during exercise. Four energy pathways are used to support performance through the production of adenosine triphosphate or ATP as shown in the table below.

Aerobic vs. anaerobic energy utilisation

The type of energy utilised will be related to the type, duration and intensity of exercise being undertaken as well as the fitness

ENERGY PATHWAYS IN THE HORSE

and the muscle fibre blueprint of the horse. When oxygen is being utilised as the key fuel to generate energy or ATP, the horse is exercising aerobically, and when energy production does not involve oxygen it is anaerobic. In reality both aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways will be recruited to support exercise from moderate to high intensity levels. Stamina in performance is associated with aerobic pathways while fast explosive ‘power’ activities such as sprinting over short distances and jumping are associated with anaerobic pathways. Therefore, while flat horses coming out of the starting stalls, National Hunt horses when jumping and horses starting to tire will utilise anaerobic energy predominately, the bulk of performance for the equine athlete should be fuelled by aerobic pathways to achieve their best.

Aerobic phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) using carbohydrate or glycogen stores in muscle tissue to generate ATP

Aerobic phosphorylation of ADP using fatty acids or beta-oxidation to generate ATP

Anaerobic phosphorylation of ADP using high energy phosphate stores in skeletal muscle to generate ATP

Anaerobic phosphorylation of ADP using carbohydrates or glycogen muscle stores to generate ATP

These two pathways are collectively known as oxidative phosphorylation (require Oxygen)

Non-oxidative phosphorylation

DR. JANE WILLIAMS IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF RESEARCH AT HARTPURY UNIVERSITY. SHE IS AN EXPERIENCED RESEARCHER, WITH A PASSION FOR ENHANCING EQUINE PERFORMANCE AND WELLBEING THROUGH INDUSTRY-INFORMED, REAL-WORLD RESEARCH THAT GENERATES CHANGE.

Summary of energy pathways and muscle fibre recruitment from low to high intensity exercise in the horse.

Generally aerobic energy pathways produce energy at a faster rate but at a lower efficiency than anaerobic pathways, which while efficient, uses fuel available more quickly and depletes sooner producing lactate as a by-product. The accumulation of lactate is associated with the onset of fatigue and generally lactate values over the threshold of 4 mmol/l in the blood is indicative of fatigue. Excessive accumulation of lactate within muscle contributes to intracellular acidosis and fatigue, and can contribute to exertional rhabdomyolysis or tying up, however the energy production needed for galloping cannot occur without lactate production. Training programmes of >6 months have been demonstrated to improve the horse’s ability to remove lactate efficiently from the muscle cells, which can aid in reducing the negative effects of intracellular lactate accumulation on muscle acidosis and fatigue processes. In effect slowing the onset of fatigue and improving race performance. In reality horses are individual and lactate thresholds vary, with superior performers likely to possess more fast-twitch glycolytic fibres capable of generating glycolytic ATP at faster rates, able to tolerate larger increases in intracellular and blood lactate, and with muscle fibres capable of removing lactate from contracting muscle at high rates, giving them a performance advantage.

locomotion i.e. we train to improve aerobic capacity and delay the onset of fatigue.

Assessing VO2max is difficult in the horse as it requires a maximal exercise test, for example running to fatigue on a treadmill, and while this is achievable, it is not something we would normally undertake unless investigating poor performance. However, luckily, research has demonstrated that VO2max has a positive linear association with heart rate up to approximately 200 beats per minute in the horse. This means we can utilise heart rate as a proxy measure for aerobic capacity and facilitates access to monitoring aerobic performance via heart rate monitoring systems. The anaerobic threshold, when the horse has to utilise anaerobic energy pathways as well as aerobic during exercise, is considered to be between 75 to 85% of maximum heart rate; in our studies using racehorses we will commonly use 80% as the average threshold value. Heart rate in the horse ranges from resting values of 25 - 40 bpm to approximately 220 - 250 beats per minute (bpm) during maximal exercise; age will also influence maximum heart rate. Vincent et al (2006) proposed a simple, user-friendly method to estimate the anaerobic threshold for a horse which is easy to utilise:

Anaerobic threshold HR value using 80% of VO2max: (HR max using 240bpm as an average – age of horse = age adjusted HR max) x 0.80 = anaerobic threshold (bpm) e.g. for a 4 year old racehorse: (240-4 = 236) x 0.80 = anaerobic threshold of 189 bpm

Race performance and considerations for training

In racing, a combination of aerobic and anaerobic energy recruitment is required to achieve optimal performance. Training programmes are designed to improve aerobic fitness, delaying the onset of the need to recruit the anaerobic pathways to support performance. A common method used across sport science for humans and horses, to assess an athlete’s individual aerobic capacity is to measure the rate of maximal oxygen uptake or VO2max: the velocity or speed when maximal oxygen consumption is achieved. It is a common misconception that the volume of air taken in each breath is the limiting factor for aerobic performance, while air (oxygen) input into the respiratory system is can be a limiting factor to equine performance, it is the uptake of oxygen at tissue level in the muscles which is key to performance. Therefore, for optimal performance, the horse requires a functional respiratory system to take in oxygen and an efficient cardiovascular system to transport the oxygen to the cells in the muscles where it will be turned into aerobic fuel for

Traditionally racehorse training has been based on subjective rating of horse performance, visibly assessing the horse or via the assessment of the rider. Regular use of heart rate monitoring combined with assessment of lactate are a positive addition to a training regime. Having access to heart rate data can through the use of HR monitoring ideally with integrated GPS to also record speed and distance, provides the trainer with additional information that can be used to determine the level of work a horse is undertaking and can help quantify fitness levels by providing objective data that can be recorded and monitored across time to enable the trainer to be fully informed about the level of exercise the horse is undertaking to inform their decision-making. For example, many trainers will utilise interval training within their programmes; the premise of this form of training is to undertake bouts of short duration, high intensity exercise to develop fitness but to be successfully implemented, the horse should recover before subsequent bouts. In an outdoor environment it is unlikely that a horse’s heart rate will drop to resting levels as heart rate is also influenced by behaviour and the horse reacting to its environment. However, our work has found that often rider assessment of when a horse is recovered during interval training is not accurate and the horse’s heart rate is still high. We advocate the use of HR monitoring in this situation and using baseline recovery to walking heart rate levels of ~70-90 bpm before starting subsequent exercise bouts to get the maximum benefit from interval training.

Another key tool for assessment of fitness in the horse is the integration of a standard exercise test (SET) into a training programme. A SET, is as the name suggests, a comparative piece of work that can be utilised at regular intervals, we would recom-

valor,

Plasma to ECF

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

HR, RR, SPLENIC CONTRACTION Hb%, SV and Q

Adrenalin / epiphrine release

FEAR Excitement/anticipation

VO2 MAX:

Oxygen uptake in muscles Respiratory system O2 in CV system gets O2 there

mend every 3 or 4 weeks, to assess training progress. This can be a set distance at a consistent speed perhaps utilising the same gallops where heart rate and lactate can be monitored to assess progress; as aerobic fitness increases, HR and lactate should reduce for the same standard test.

Regular monitoring of heart rate and converting average heart rates to the percentage of HRmax a horse is working at across intervals or pieces of work can be a beneficial addition to the trainer’s tool kit, helping assess performance potential by comparing workload to a known superior performance, to assess fitness, to be sure that the training plan is being executed and to prevent overtraining by providing data to show the level the horse is actually working at. Converting heart rates to % HRmax is easy to do: average HR / age-adjusted maximum HR x 100% and can be easy to plot and monitor across time. For example: A 4-year-old racehorse, with average HRs for an interval training session: bout 1: 190bpm, 2: 203bpm; 3: 226 bpm would be working at 81%, 86% and 96% of HRmax.

Recovery post exercise is also an important consideration; horses are amazing athletes and their heart rate will drop after exercise much quicker than humans, which is why we recommend using HR systems that monitor continuously. It is unrealistic to expect a racehorse’s heart rate to return to resting levels during a warm down from exercise but ideally, we are aiming for recovery levels of between 50-70 bpm within 5-10 minutes of the cessation of exercise, with the caveat that the environmental conditions can influence this. Monitoring the reduction of heart rate at 2-minute intervals post exercise can be another useful tool to assess fitness and performance potential in the racehorse. Extended recoveries can

indicate the workload level is incorrect for the level of fitness of the horse.

Muscle is also important!

Skeletal muscle can make up to 40% of a racehorse’s bodyweight and provides the fundamental, mechanism for energy production to drive locomotion. Thoroughbreds as a breed have a genetic predisposition through selective breeding to possess increased quantities of Type IIB and Type X muscle fibres that support high intensity, shorter duration exercise compared to breeds such as the Arabian, which are utilised for more endurance, low intensity activities (increased Type I and Type IIA fibres). It is important to also recognise that muscle fibre profiles while determined by genetics, can be influenced by training regime and the introduction of canter and gallop exercise in a training regime will result in some Type I, slow twitch fibres transiting to Type IIAX fibres to support the increased exercise demands.

Energy stores in the muscle are vital for optimal performance. Muscle glycogen concentrations in horses at rest are approximately 100 mmol/kg of wet muscle, rising to 150 mmol/kg in trained horses, however these stores can be used up quickly with a single exercise session capable of depleting reserves by a third and a high intensity exercise session by up to 50%. Therefore, when planning training and racing schedules considerations should be given to the energy demands of repeated exercise and allowing sufficient recovery time for muscle energy reserves to replete (which can take between 48 and 72 hours) before the next bout of intense exercise or a race will occur.

Final thoughts

Racehorse success is measured in terms of performance at the races, however more than ever how the industry safeguards racehorse welfare is being scrutinised by non-racing stakeholders who question racing’s social license to operate. Utilising evidence-informed training methods can reduce the risk of injury and have the potential to extend the careers of racehorses, be that in racing or their second careers when they leave the track, but also can support trainers to enable optimal performance from the racehorses in their care. Understanding how energy systems underpin performance and how we can increase and monitor aerobic athletic capacity as well as monitoring horses as individual athletes should help to achieve this.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND CAVALOR ARTITEC

Low-grade inflammation is common in joints that are used for performance. However, joint inflammation initiates a cascade of catabolic reactions that gradually degrade the cartilage and, in the end, may result in lameness.

During an extensive research program, Cavalor has designed step by step a multi-ingredient nutraceutical that is able to downregulate synovial inflammation, hence protecting the joints of equine athletes. These findings have led to the final formulation of Cavalor ArtiTec.

The efficacy and especially the synergistic potential of the individual raw materials and botanical ingredients on inflammation, cartilage protection and repair has been studied over 7 years. The anti-inflammatory effect of Cavalor ArtiTec has been documented by both in vitro (cells) and in

vivo (horses) experiments and the overall efficacy in the treatment of lameness is supported by the results of a clinical pilot study. The research was performed by PEI University of Canada and Ghent University. The research followed a multi-phase approach. In the first phase, herbal ingredients were selected based on their anti-inflammatory properties, measured using inflammatory biomarkers in human cells. In the second phase 7 synergistic herbal blends were then identified and investigated for their anti-inflammatory properties and mechanism in cells to select the safest and most effective blend to trial in vivo (horses). The third phase of the research 24 healthy and clinically sound standardbred horses split into 3 groups, which were either administered ArtiTec, Meloxicam (a pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drug) and placebo. Several inflammatory biomarkers were measured over 48 hours

and it was found that ArtiTec significantly reduces inflammation and lameness compared to placebo. A subsequent field study has been conducted using 31 horses that had suffered with lameness for a minimum of 3 months. Horses were administered 90mg per day for 30 days. Lameness improved in 23/31 of the horses participating in this study, supporting the results of earlier studies, that ArtiTec has a clinically significant impact on inflammation and lameness in horses.

In conclusion, Cavalor ArtiTec is a complete multi-ingredient nutraceutical with proven efficacy for optimizing joint health in equine athletes, hence being an asset to the portfolio of therapeutics used by equine practitioners. Cavalor ArtiTec delivers everything our equine ‘athletes’ deserve during periods of intense activity and stress.

Treatment T(Oh) T(8h) T(24h) T(48h) ArtiTec® 1.45 ± 0.35 2.89 ± 0.23 2.16 ± 0.20 1.45 ± 0.35 Meloxicam 1.19 ± 0.15 1.74 ± 0.28 1.56 ± 0.24 1.47 ± 0.35 Placebo 1.39 ± 0.50 3.6 ± 0.71 2.63 ± 0.53 2.48 ± 0.34

Cavalor Artitec significantly reduces the inflammation after experimentally induced synovitis (LPS) and reduces lameness compared to placebo (pvf).

PRESSURE PLATE ANALYSIS > PEAK VERTICAL FORCE (PVF)

Time to LPS-injection * PGE 2

60.0 50.0 SRF of PVF T(0h) T(8h) T(24h) T(48h) 40.0 * Note: Differences refer to overall statistical analysis performed. Only differences for Artitec are shown here. (ref.: Van de Water et al. Equine Veterinary Journal, 2016)

Want to read more about the full research behind Cavalor Artitec? Scan the QR code

oR MYTH TRUTH

DETOX FOR HORSES MAKES SENSE

TRUTH

It can be very beneficial for people to detox every now and again. Detoxing is the process of cleansing the body of harmful waste and toxins. When a horse trains and performs at a high level, its body will produce a lot of toxins. By supporting the liver and kidneys and giving the cleansing process a little helping hand, your horse is better equipped to process these substances. A detox purifies the organs that are the engine behind this whole process, and stimulates their function. Detox for horses therefore makes perfect sense!

Look at a detox as a period of recovery. Horses are athletes, and recovery is essential for athletes to achieve peak success. Athletes need periods of complete rest and recuperation. After peak performance or end of a season, athletes de-train with controlled exercise to bring their bodies back into balance. Horses need a scheduled period of rest as well, as continually ‘pushing’ a horse to perform often results in fatigue, reduced performance, and even poor health and well-being.

Did you know that horses in the wild have their own detox systems? In winter, food is more scarce, so they automatically go into a period of eating very little. This allows the energy they would normally need for digestion to be used to detoxify the body. In addition, horses in the wild will also eat certain herbs and plants that have cleansing properties, such as stinging nettles.

We made a video about the digestive system and how detox can contribute to the health of your horses.

youtube.com/cavalorvideos

You can with this educational movie – and more – on our Youtube channel: youtube.com/cavalorvideos.

XPE T

The question

We have a 3-year-old colt that performs well during training and recovers quite fast at home but during his races (mile) he is hitting a wall a furlong out. The vet believes this is caused by early lactic acid build up. I am based in the UK and race regulations don’t allow me to provide any supplements on race day. What can I do? – Lambourn based trainer, UK

The advice

Fatigue occurs when the capacity of the muscle to perform the required exertion temporarily declines. There are multiple factors that cause fatigue in horses, and they can differ per situation. Let me walk you through 3 aspects that could make the difference in your situation.

Firstly, it’s good to realise that lactate is also a very important energy source. Muscle fibers turn lactic acid into ATP. ATP is reused by the muscles as energy. When more lactic acid is produced than the muscle fibers can convert, it enters the bloodstream. There it splits into lactate and H+. It is the H+ ions that acidify the muscles. So, it’s not about shutting down the lactic acid but to neutralise the H+ ions and stimulate the positive use of lactate. Therefore we advise using Cavalor Lactatec in combination with Cavalor Peak Performance to reduce the lactic acid build-up and stimulate the lactic acid use.

Secondly, it’s important to understand the key role of oxygen in this process. As long as muscle cells receive enough oxygen to fulfil the need for aerobic energy production, they will produce a manageable amount of lactic acid. Once the muscle cells lack oxygen to produce aerobic energy, they will start working anaerobically, which causes higher lactic acid production. Horses in stress often breathe inefficiently which leads to lower oxygen transport towards the muscle cells. Cavalor Take it Easy Forte helps the horse to reduce his stress during race, which could be the solution in this case. Last but not least: choose the right source of energy for the muscle cell to use. As long as the muscle works aerobically, it uses fat and fiber as a source of energy. Once the muscle cells start working anaerobically, it will need carbohydrates as a source of energy. By feeding the horse sufficient fat and fibre we can make it more efficient in the use of fat and fiber to produce energy. This will also help to delay fatigue. Here we advise to have to horse ration 50% Cavalor Endurix (high in fat and sufficiënt carbohydrates for anaerobic effort) in combination with 50% Cavalor FiberForce (low in sugar and starch, more oil and fiber).

All Cavalor supplements are compliant with FEI and Jockey Club rules. Of course, always take local race regulations into account when using supplements.

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 Endurix 2 kg

• Cavalor FiberForce 2 kg

• Supplement with Cavalor Lactatec in combination with Cavalor Peak Performance

valor,

– Cavalor Nutritionist, Peter Bollen

THE ROLE OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IN ENERGY METABOLISM

PETER BOLLEN IS THE FOUNDER AND HEAD NUTRITIONIST OF CAVALOR. IN 1989, PETER COMPLETED HIS THESIS, “NUTRITION OF THE SPORT HORSE,” AND WAS HIRED BY THE BELGIAN COMPANY VITAMEX WHOSE MANAGING DIRECTOR SHARED TWO OF PETER’S PASSIONS: EQUITATION AND HORSE NUTRITION. TOGETHER THEY DECIDED TO LAUNCH A LINE OF PRODUCTS DEDICATED TO THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF HIGHPERFORMANCE HORSES, AND CAVALOR WAS BORN. THROUGHOUT THE NEXT TWO DECADES, CAVALOR BUILT AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AS THE WORLD LEADER IN EQUINE NUTRITION FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE HORSES. CAVALOR HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF HORSE OWNERS AND COMPETITORS UNDERSTAND THIS VERY SIMPLE BUT CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT EQUATION: PROPER NUTRITION AND CARE = TOP-LEVEL PERFORMANCE.

In recent years, focus has turned towards the emerging science of the Lymphatic System. The Lymphatic system is as important as the well known circulatory system (like the blood vessels), and is fundamental to the functioning of the body and central to the immune system, energy metabolism, detoxification and energy availability in the horse’s body. A horse with a well functioning lymphatic system can metabolize energy and clear metabolic waste more efficiently, leading to enhanced performance and faster recovery. So how do we tap into the benefits of a well functioning lymphatic system? The first step is to understand what it is…

Nutrients and oxygen are carried in the bloodstream towards our tissues, but have you ever thought about how they are actually delivered to the cells?

This is where the lymphatic system comes in. The lymphatic system broadly speaking runs in parallel to the circulatory system and creates the point of delivery to the cells and tissues. The circulatory system carries the blood via arteries and vessels which get smaller as they reach the muscle tissue as capillaries, where the wall is only one cell thick. This enables smaller molecules like nutrients and oxygen to be pushed out of the capillaries, into the fluid around the cells, or lymph, while retaining larger cells like erythrocytes (red blood cells). The lymphatic system is an extensive system of vessels and nodes that transports lymphatic fluid around the body. There are two main functions of the lymphatic system.

RACEHORSES ARE ATHLETES AND AS TRAINERS, OPTIMUM ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. HAVE WE DISCOVERED ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT UNLOCKING POTENTIAL? THE ANSWER IS NO. WE ARE STILL DISCOVERING NEW SCIENCE IN EQUINE PHYSIOLOGY ALL THE TIME, WHICH GIVES US CLUES AS TO HOW WE CAN USE NEW APPROACHES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE IN OUR RACEHORSES.

Practical tips for a healthy lymphatic system

Keep horses moving - turn horses out as much as possible

Horses that are standing still for long periods of time are at risk of an impaired lymphatic system, which can impact the immune system, recovery time and ultimately performance.

Cool down for at least 15 minutes

after exercise

The period of time immediately after training is important for removal of metabolic waste products - keeping a horse moving after a hard training session stimulates the lymphatic

Energy metabolism – transporting nutrients and oxygen to the cells

All the cells and tissues of a horse’s body are surrounded by a watery gel-like substance called interstitial fluid. This provides a medium for dissolved oxygen and nutrients to travel across to the cells. Lymph capillaries, carrying these substances run through the interstitial fluid. The walls of these capillaries are only one cell thick and have junctions which overlap, making them highly permeable, which allows easy transfer of materials. In practical terms, this means the horse’s muscles and tissues get all the energy they require to carry out all their metabolic processes. As well as being responsible for giving cells the oxygen and nutrients they need, the interstitial fluid transports salts, hormones, neurotransmitters, co-enzymes, amino acids, sugars and fatty acids around the body via the Lymphatic system.

Detoxification: processing waste products

During the race season, horses are placed under physiological demands and the body has a lot to process. During hard workouts and performance, the body produces a lot of waste products. The thin walled lymph vessels also allow interstitial fluid into them to remove the waste products of cell metabolism (such as cell debris, bacteria, dead blood cells, pathogens, toxins, lactic acid and protein molecules) from each cell. This process is equally important as carrying necessary materials to the tissues to provide energy. These metabolic waste products are carried in the lymph away from the cells for

system to continue to remove waste products from cells, which includes the removal of lactic acid. By cooling down properly after every session, you can significantly improve recovery times

Consider feeding supplements that can directly benefit the lymphatic system

Functional herbal ingredients in innovative supplements can support lymphatic system function. Cleavers (Gallium aparine) is known to bring benefits to the lymphatic system. Couch grass (Elymus repens), Nettle (Urtica dioica), and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are all known to have purifying effects which can support metabolism and detoxification.

the process of detoxification. Detoxification is the term used for the processes that are happening continuously in the horse’s body to remove waste products, or metabolites that are naturally produced during the body’s normal processes. Detoxification takes place mainly in the liver, kidneys and intestines. For this reason, it is really important to ensure the horse has a healthy and well functioning liver and kidneys. By supporting the liver and kidneys you can help this breakdown process and allow the horse to better metabolize compounds that would otherwise be toxic if they remained in the body.

Gut health is also very important to the lymphatic system and detoxification, given that more than half of the lymphatic vessels of the horse are located within the gastrointestinal tract. Peristalsis (the natural contraction and relaxation of the gut wall) drives the return of lymph to the rest of the body. Movement in the gut is stimulated by food consumption (mainly long fibers) and is crucial to lymphatic system function as there is very limited muscular contraction in the horses lymphatic vessels themselves. This means it relies on passive forces from movement of other systems in the horse’s body as opposed to active muscle contractions and so feeding continuously around the clock is crucial, not only for maintaining gut health, but to maintain a healthy immune system and detoxification process as well.

Lymphatic System and Immune Function

In addition to lymph and lymph vessels, the horse has around 8000 lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are bundles of lymphoid tissue and proteins. Lymph nodes act as a filter for foreign substances that travel through the lymphatic fluid, and they contain lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight infection and disease, and so the lymphatic system is also key to the functioning of the immune system. As the lymph tissue approaches each lymph node, it slows down and collects in that area. Due to the fact that horses have so many lymph nodes, they are extremely susceptible to lymph node blockage. Lymph nodes can actually be felt or sometimes seen at various points around the horse’s body, particularly around the head and neck or when they are swollen.

Horses need to keep moving

Why is movement so important for horses? One very important point to note about the lymphatic system of the horse is that there are no direct muscular contractions within the walls of the lymph vessels to promote the flow of lymph. This means that the functioning of the whole system relies on the force of movement of other structures in the body, such as the movement of the skin to apply pressure to the underlying tissues to stimulate the transport of lymph through the vessels.

This has particular relevance to the practical care of horses in the modern day, particularly those also stabled for longer periods of time. It is very common to see leg swelling in these horses, and this has a very simple explanation in terms of the immune system. This principle of continuous movement being necessary applies especially to the legs of the horse where this elastic movement of the skin is assisted by a pump mechanism in the hoof and fetlock joint. It is thought that this is the case due to there being no muscles in the lower limbs of the horse to aid the movement of lymph from this area.

Horses therefore need to move extensively and perhaps almost constantly (up to 16 hours per day) to keep the lymph circulating around the body, and standing still for too long significantly impairs the functioning of the lymphatic system.

THE CAVALOR HIGH PERFORMANCE LINE

Horses have enormous athletic ability and are capable of incredibly strenuous work. It is important to understand the pressure exerted on your horse’s body when it must give its best. Horses performing at the top of their game can benefit from extra support at these peak times. The supplements in the Cavalor High Performance line are specially developed for top sport horses. They provide your horse with just that little extra, because again, the difference is in the details. You can recognize them by their silver look and very effective function.

Cavalor Bronchix Pulmo opens up the airways and supports pulmonary elasticity and resilience during high-intensity training and competition. A poorly functioning respiratory system is a common factor in sport horses that don’t always quite manage to exhibit their full potential. For outstanding performance, efficiently transported oxygen is crucial. Cavalor Bronchix Pulmo is designed for optimal support of the lungs and airways. It improves the elasticity and resilience of the blood vessels and facilitates respiration. Clinical testing on active racehorses has demonstrated these effects.

Frequent transport and contact with unfamiliar horses can weaken your horse’s immune system and make it sick. The horse’s physical natural defences are controlled by a complex system involving many areas of the body. This involves the thymus, the gut, the lymphatic system, white blood cells, bone marrow, antibodies, the mucosa, the skin, the spleen, and the liver. Cavalor Resist + Vit C contains vitamin C and antioxidants that support many body processes linked to the immune system.

THE WINNING EDGE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE HORSES

Cavalor Peak Performance improves mobility and performance in sport horses by stimulating blood circulation and boosting lymphatic system function. Its natural ingredients promote the efficient transport of oxygen through the bloodstream and ensure that toxins are more effectively eliminated by the lymphatic system, resulting in increased energy availability and faster recovery times.

A horse with a well functioning lymphatic system can benefit from increased energy and enhanced performance, but without feeling too fresh or fizzy.

The focus on the lymphatic system makes Cavalor Peak Performance an innovative way to improve condition and stamina and fight fatigue. It also supports optimum health, as the lymphatic system is an important component of the immune system.

Horse: Ghaiyyath is Cartier horse of the year 2020.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT A HIGH PERFORMANCE HORSE?

Performance is an individual matter. High performance horses are horses performing at a level that is challenging for them. This involves work that requires extra effort from their bodies and increases the need for certain nutrients. These horses need that little bit extra because:

• Strenuous work causes friction in the joints, resulting in micro-tears in the tissue. These in turn can cause changes to the synovial fluid and lead to lameness.

• Overload causes oxidative stress in the muscles and joints. The free radicals released in the process must be neutralised so that they cannot cause damage such as diluted synovial fluid, resulting in friction in the joint. This can lead to damage to the cartilage.

• Horses need energy to perform. Good nutrition is essential for energy, but also for metabolism, blood circulation, and the lymphatic system, all of which are important for performance.

• Stress and nervousness can have negative impacts on performance.

• Hours of travel followed by race day can take a toll on the immune system. A lurking infection can be an invisible impediment to your horse’s performance.

THE SECRET WINNING COMBINATION OF CAVALOR: LACTATEC & FREEBUTE

Combining Cavalor LactaTec and Cavalor FreeBute gives a great synergistic boost. Start giving our powerful Cavalor formula two days before the start of a race and get ready for the medals. Hard efforts often lead to stiffness and sensitive muscles. Cavalor FreeBute helps to alleviate these symptoms

and increase comfort during the recovery period, allowing horses to come back strong and ready to go the extra mile. Cavalor LactaTec works in a similar way, focusing specifically on the muscles. Cavalor LactaTec helps to prevent accumulation and stimulates the breakdown of lactic acid

Cavalor RaceForce is a palatable energy dense mix, formulated to meet the demands of race and high performance horses. Providing quick release energy for explosive performance, Cavalor RaceForce contains a high amount of oats and puffed cereals which makes it possible to provide sufficient energy for hard work with low risk of overfeeding. This is combined with an innovative blend of oils, which results in readily available energy and also a glycogen sparing effect, to promote endurance and increase recovery. Cavalor RaceForce also provides carefully selected additional nutrients to promote vitality and protect muscles. Cavalor Raceforce is not globally available. Check your local supplier.

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