INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION • human athlete • 100 meter sprints • 100 km ultramarathon • top speeds • human sprinters • 22 mph • ultramarathon • 10mph • up to 100 km

2. equine athlete • Thoroughbreds • 1000-3000 m • endurance horses • 80-160 km (50-100 miles) • Quarter Horses • over 400 m tracks • top speed 44 mph

3. racing dogs • greyhound • 250 m sprints to long distance races of 600-1000 m • 37 mph during races up to500 m • husky • Iditarod (Fairbanks to Nome) • 1049 miles in 12-14 days • racing camel • 4-10 km • 22 mph

4. Comparison of Organs, % of Body Weight

5. Comparison of Organs, % of Body Weight

6. Comparison of Organs, % of Body Weight

7. Muscle Fiber Composition • human athlete • sprinters type II • 75% • endurance type I • > 75% • Thoroughbred racehorse • sprinters type II • > 80% • endurance type I • ~ 30%

8. Athletic Ability • genetics • environment • athletic nutrition • track surfaces • shoes • jockey • training • training methodology

9. Hemoglobin concentration Mechanics Gas exchange ATHLETIC PREFORMANCE Anaerobic capacity Heart size Skeletal muscle properties

10. Techniques for Research of the Athletic Species • treadmill • respiratory gas analysis • heart rate • blood samples • muscle biopsies

11. Form and Function • built to cover terrain quickly and easily • efficiently refuel with relatively low-energy food sources • body structure and shape conducive to carrying man • natural saddle over center of mass: rider and mount are in balance • rider can easily influence motion of horse by shifting their weight • center of mass high off ground; horse can lose balance if not in tune with the rider • long neck for easy grazing; head for balance of weight • head and neck provide steering for rider • horse typically follows its head • gallop: rocking horse motion • requires less energy • little motion for the rider

12. horse can speed over a distance to outrun predators • can attain top speed in a short period of time (7-10 sec) • can run 2 times as fast as a human • stride can be 4 times the length of its body • legs are not to long they will interfere • legs operate like springs due to tendons and ligaments • large body mass hinders sudden movements for the rider • hoof • replaces itself continuously in response to demand • hoof wall is hard - resistant to injury • structurally provides easy attachment of a shoe for further protection • nervous system has self-protective responses

13. Magnificent Machinery • endurance level to outlast predators due to aerobic capacity • respiratory system has superior ability to deliver O2 to muscles • breathing directly correlates to stride frequency • heart rate 30-40 bpm to 240 bpm • spleen provides more RBC (hemoglobin) to carry O2 to muscles; initiated by epinephrine due to excitement or exercise • horse is more effective at recycling lactic acid than man • efficient cooling system due to sweat and respiration

14. Behavior • Herd instinct - mentally better to work with • safety in numbers • willing to follow the leader of the herd (person)

15. Dysfunction • digestive system • developed to graze continuously, not “stable” life • lungs • have primitive internal structure • have only a few “sentinel cells” to defend against foreign invaders • joints • force on limbs - bone can adapt, but cartilage is not as resilient • lower legs have not muscle “fine line” between conditioning and breakdown • back • stronger than most animals, but still need a saddle for extended use • instinct • horse may shy and bolt due to natural instincts