The science of soundness in Thoroughbreds

[Pan Zareta]

http://performancegenetics.com/scientific-papers/the-science-of-soundness-in-thoroughbreds/

Very thoughtful and thought-provoking commentary on soundness and the TB, especially those of American breeding, in the context of two recent studies that have spawned rather different conclusions in that regard.

[vineyridge]

Did you read the blurb from the Blood Horse about a KER study that shows that Lasix depresses the calcium system? Don't know if the study was well designed and carried out properly, but results are said to show that the sodium mechanism rebounds within three days (?) of Lasix administration, but it takes much longer for calcium levels to return to normal.

If Lasix is given so frequently that the calcium levels rarely return to normal, it would seem somewhat logical that the body is robbing the bones of calcium to fuel metabolism.

[Pan Zareta]

The number of horses sampled was small but the study was well designed and the findings were presented to the Equine Science Society in May. The implications of the documented delayed rebound of calcium levels are disturbing. Blood calcium level must be maintained and if calcium is being depleted from bone to achieve this it could, in the words of one of the researchers, be the "smoking gun of this having an effect on subsequent soundness". It was also noted that calcium supplementation "may not be enough to address the problem".