1/30/2011
Ambrose had yesterday off. He was fitted with his HR belt and we started off down the hill. My plan was to do about 10 miles or so, 8 at the minimum. Ambrose did quite well in the first mile down to the bottom. After the turn around he really wanted to pick up the pace. I let him pick it up a little, actually quite a bit faster then he had done before. We cantered up the hill at about 15-18mph, he slowed a little bit as we went past the barn but did not have to drag him like I had to do a few times before. Ambrose kept the pace at a fast trot and about 13mph on the downhill. Ambrose was pulling like crazy making it hard to control the quad with one hand, the faster we went the faster he wanted to go. I had my camera so decided to take a short video and slow him way down. He was still pulling hard even though not going fast. I looked down and noticed that he had lost his RR glued on boot at about 5 miles. I had no idea where or when he had lost the boot, if we had been under saddle I think I would of noticed. I had put a used pair of used boots on him to play with a different protocol of installing the boots.
Ambrose went back to the barn which was only 1 mile away, still pulling and acting stupid, going sideways etc.. The more fit they get the stupider they get, can't wait to ride him. We have a long ride coming up on Tuesday at a place I have not been before.
I pulled his old boots and put new ones on, still playing with the gluing protocol. Ambrose's body is changing, you can start to see more definition in his muscles, even through his winter coat.
Thinking back on how Ambrose was acting today, time will tell, but good possibility because of the speed that I let him go after his downhill warm up that he had a spleen dump, that would certainly account for his rowdiness...., I know that MONK will act that way.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying reading this. What is a spleen dump? What causes it?
Thanks,
Steven Estergreen
Mulino, OR
Spleen dump is what they try and do at the race horse track just before they race, the spleen dumps about a bizzillion red blood cells into their system, it makes them very active.
ReplyDeleteOxygen consumption is key
Horses need a lot of oxygen when they run. They carry their own emergency supply in their spleens.
“The horse spleen is a giant bag of extra blood,” McKeever said. When the horse runs, its spleen contracts and forces a fresh supply of oxygen-rich red blood cells into its blood stream, effectively pumping extra oxygen into its cardiovascular system virtually on demand. Human athletes, on the other hand, must train at high altitude to produce a greater supply of red blood cells.
When at rest, about 35% of the total blood volume in humans and horses is comprised of red blood cells. Humans maintain that proportion even during exercise. Horses increase their red blood cell numbers to more than 65% of blood volume during a race. This greatly increases the horse’s ability to carry needed oxygen, but also makes the blood thicker. Fortunately, the horse’s heart is able to overcome this viscosity.