AGSC 375: EQUINE EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY Dr. Charlie Apter 3084 Magruder Hall 785-4584 capter@truman.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION A study of the horse as an athlete, including consideration of the physiological, anatomical, and psychological adaptations in this species which endow it with superior athletic abilities. COURSE OBJECTIVES The objectives of AGSC 375 are as follows: to provide the student with an understanding of the superiority of the horse as an athlete in comparison to the other athletic species (camel, human, greyhound); to provide the student with an understanding of the unique physiological adaptations in the horse which allow it to be an athlete; to include adaptations in the skeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine systems, and in thermo- and osmoregulation; to provide the student with an understanding of the unique anatomical adaptations in the horse which allow it to be an athlete; to include considerations of the skeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine systems; to provide the student with an understanding of biomechanics and gait analysis in the horse; to provide the student with an understanding of lameness and breakdowns; to provide the student with an understanding of training regimens used for preparing the equine for competition. PREREQUISITES AGSC 193: Introduction to Equine Science TEXTBOOK Marlin, D. and K. Nankervis. 2002. Equine Exercise Physiology. Blackwell Scientific. OR Hodgson, D.R. and R.J. Rose. 1994. The Athletic Horse: Principles and Practices of Equine Sports Medicine. W.B. Saunders. LECTURE SCHEDULE Week 1: Review of the racing and performance horse industry Week 2-4: Cardiovascular adaptation to exercise and training in the horse Week 5-6: Respiratory adaptation to exercise and training in the horse Week 7-8: Muscular adaptation to exercise and training in the horse Week 9-10: Skeletal responses to exercise and training in the horse Week 11: Thermal regulation and fluid balance in the exercising horse Week 12-13: Biomechanics and gait analysis; lameness and breakdowns Week 14: Training regimens for the equine athlete Week 15: Summary of nutritional requirements of high-performance horses EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING Two 100-point tests (midterm, end of semester) One 200-point comprehensive final Laboratory assignments (total of 200 points) One 100-point laboratory final LABORATORY SCHEDULE Lab 1: Introduction to AGSC 375 lab Lab 2: Review of equine athletic competitions Lab 3: Energy systems and energetics in the equine athlete Lab 4: Muscles of thorax, thoracic and pelvic limbs I Lab 5: Muscles of thorax, thoracic and pelvic limbs II Lab 6: Anatomy of the foot and leg I (dissection lab) Lab 7: Anatomy of the foot and leg II (dissection lab) Lab 8: Muscle biology Lab 9: Hoof trimming and shoeing demonstration; correlations with normal foot function Lab 10: Gaits and gait analysis I (normal function) Lab 11: Gaits and gait analysis II (abnormal function; lameness) Lab 12: Heart and respiration rate responses to exercise Lab 13: Field trip to see high speed treadmill in use Lab 14: Overflow, review Lab 15: Lab final