Hassinger Equine Service

HASSINGER EQUINE SERVICE SPORTS MEDICINE - IMAGING - REHABILITATION

1. ADDOR ROAD ABERDEEN, NC 28315 - 910-281-4845 Office 910-281-3605 Fax

We have had the pleasure of using the Altitude Simulation Therapy stall on two horses of separate disciplines. During the acclimatization process we collected blood samples to evaluate lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, hemoglobin and packed cell volume before and after a routine training session.

The first horse sampled is an 8 year old warmblood gelding competing as a hunter. Training routines were intensified on the days blood samples were taken, and the intensity was recreated weekly. Once 8000 feet was reached, lactate levels before and after exercise began to equilibrate. A difference in lactate of 1.0 before exercise and 4.7 after exercise with the horse at 6000 feet was reduced to a difference of 0.8 before exercise and 2.5 after exercise at 8000 feet. Additionally, the rider commented on an marked increase in perceived endurance, noting "I used to be able to outlast this horse, pushing him through training. Now he can keep going when I'm ready to throw in the towel." Unfortunately, the gelding did not reach full altitude due to onset of an unrelated lameness that prevented further training.

The second horse sampled is a 4 year old thoroughbred filly training for racing. At this time, the horse is acclimatizing to 6000 feet. While no difference in blood parameters has yet been noted, the rider has noted an increased drive from the filly compared to her peers as well as decreased muscle fatigue immediately following workouts, decreased time to cool down, and decreased muscle soreness the day after more intense rides. He could not be more pleased with the filly's progress as she is a rescue and just returning to training following several months pasture rest.

Rider perception of increased endurance, willingness to work and rapid return to resting heart rate has been encouraging, and we look forward to continuing to evaluate the efficacy of the AST stall for optimizing performance.

James Hassinger, DVM and Megan Ross, DVM