AQHA MAGAZINE March / April 2020 AQHA March-April 2020 PRINT (1)High Res | Page 28

PG.26
HORSE HEALTH
RECOVERY
immediately after work, protein synthesis (ie muscle
repair and building) can be increased. The amino acid
supply is of specific significance for reducing fatigue,
improving stamina, maintaining muscle integrity and
speeding post-exercise recovery. Low protein and
unusable protein reduce the amount of lean muscle
mass and the power–to–weight ratio, and contribute
to higher heart and respiratory rates, sweating and
dehydration.
Picture a wooden water barrel. The shortest slat sets
the amount of water the barrel can hold. Similarly, if the
barrel represents the body, and each slat represents an
essential amino acid, a deficiency limits the amount of
muscle the body can build. Amino acids that can’t be
used because the supply of others in the ‘recipe’ ran
out are converted to fat.

The timing and amino acid profile of the dietary
protein is the most important factor influencing
muscle growth. During work, the breakdown of muscle
protein exceeds its synthesis, but by feeding specific
amino acids and anti-oxidants in the hours before and
Energy is produced from oxygen. During exercise the
muscles use fuel at a very high rate. The ‘burning’
of oxygen results (as with most power plants) in the
generation of waste products. In the muscle, these
are semi-used atoms of oxygen – called free radicals
or oxidants. Free radicals and oxidants cause tissue
damage during and after work, which manifests
clinically as dullness, loss of appetite, weight loss,
muscle soreness and pain. It is also associated with
loss of muscle mass and reduced work tolerance and
exercise capacity. The body’s anti-oxidant defence
system must upregulate to meet the increased
oxidant production. The anti-oxidant defence system
scavengers the free radicals. It requires vitamins E,
C and minerals such as selenium and zinc. If these
are provided in the pre- and post-work feeds, cell
membrane injury from free radicals is reduced –
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