Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis (Glade et al., 1984; Ralston, 1995). More specifically, foals that experience an exaggerated and sustained increase in circulating glucose or insulin in response to a carbohydrate (grain) meal may be predisposed to development of osteochondrosis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an external nasal strip (NS), frusemide (FR) and a combination of the 2 treatments (NS + FR) on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in Thoroughbred horses. It was hypothesized that both the NS and FR would attenuate EIPH as assessed by red blood cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Kronfeld DS, KM Crandell, SE Custalow, et al. 2001. Studies of fat adaptation and exercise. In: JD Pagan, RJ Geor (Ed.) Advances in Equine Nutrition II. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK, pp 481-482.

The effect of aluminum supplementation on nutrient digestibility and macro- and micromineral balance was studied in balance trials in mature Thoroughbred horses. It is concluded that short-term consumption of a diet containing 930 ppm aluminum has negligible effect on nutrient digestibility and mineral metabolism in horses.

Very little research has been conducted to determine the trace mineral requirements for athletic horses. The objectives of this study were to
1) determine the digestibility and retention of copper, zinc and manganese over four different levels of intake (basal, 50% of NRC added, 100% of NRC added, and 200% of NRC added) and 2) determine how regular exercise and training alters the requirements for these trace minerals. Results of the present study suggest that exercise training results in a higher requirement for Zn, but does not affect the true digestibility and maintenance requirements of Cu and Mn in mature Thoroughbred horses.

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated a marked glycemic response when
horses were fed a fiber mix consisting of equal parts rice bran, soy hulls, wheat bran, and
soaked beet pulp (Pagan et al. 1999). We speculated that, in part, the beet pulp portion of
this fiber mix was responsible for the increase in plasma glucose concentrations after
meal ingestion. We further hypothesized that the magnitude of the glycemic response to
beet pulp would depend on how the beet pulp was prepared.

Most performance horses train and compete under a variety of stressful conditions
that adversely affect health and performance. Feeding management is of critical
importance to reduce many of these problems.

Pagan, J.D. and R.J. Geor. 2001. Advances in Equine Nutrition II. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK. Advances in Equine Nutrition is a compilation of selected papers from past KER nutrition conferences. These papers cover a broad range of topics and contain a wealth of information related to equine nutrition, veterinary medicine, and exercise physiology. Included […]

Development of orthopaedic disease : recent advances Pagan JD , Huntington PJ Australian Equine Veterinarian 19(3), 113-115, 2001 Click here to access.

To delay the onset of fatigue, endurance horses are often fed at rest stops during races. The resulting increase in blood insulin may adversely inhibit lipolysis. In humans, ingestion of fructose produces a smaller insulin rise than glucose. This study compared glucose and fructose as carbohydrate supplements for endurance horses.