Genetics and conditioning

What is the contraction and relaxation of a muscle fiber called?

"Twitch"

Slow twitch muscle fibers are also known as what two fibers

Red fibers and type 1 fibers

List the 3 muscle fiber types

Slow twitch Fast twitch high oxidative (FTa) Fast twitch low oxidative (FTb)

Describe slow twitch fibers

Suited for endurance activities, surrounded by capillaries so oxygen can quickly reach them, contract slowly and are able to hold that contraction for a long time without fatigue

Give an example of aerobic exercise for a horse

Trotting for miles at the same speed over level terrain

List at least 3 ways that conditioning improves horses health

1. Improved oxygen 2. Improved lactic acid tolerance 3. Muscles learn to contract faster

when should heart rate be taken after exercise?

2, 5, and 10 minutes

Describe the second stage or exercise and the use of muscle fibers

A few minutes into warm-up- circulation in muscles has been active. The horse primarily uses fatty acids for aerobic muscle metabolism

What type of fiber do most muscles contain?

A mixture of all three fiber types but in different ratios

What can slightly alter ratios of FT fiber types, converting some FTb to Fta

Aerobic conditioning

During sprint performance what muscle fiber types are used?

All three muscle fiber types are used at the same time throughout sprint effort

fill in the blank Fiber type influences ____________ potential

Athletic

fill in the blank Slow twitch fibers ___________ be trained to contract any faster

Cannot

Describe the third stage of exercise and the use of muscle fibers

Continued exercise- different muscle fibers are used as needed. Aerobic fuel supplies or anaerobic fuel supplies are used depending on work intensity

Describe fast twitch fiber contractions compared to slow twitch fibers

Fast twitch fibers contract 3 times faster than slow twitch fibers

fill in the blanks The longer the muscles can use ________________ to fuel exercise, the more ________________ is spared for later use and the longer it will be until fatigue occurs.

Fatty acids, glycogen

Describe fast twitch muscle fibers

Have high concentrations of enzymes that rapidly produce energy from glycogen

fill in the blank _______________ and ___________ determine fiber types

Heredity and breed

Describe anaerobic exercise

High resistance exercises with fewer repetitions

Describe the first stage of exercise and the use of muscle fibers

Initial warm-up- capillaries are not yet supplying oxygen to the muscles. Muscles must use the anaerobic fuel source, phosphocreatine, in fast twitch muscle fibers

fill in the blank Durability and _______________ of the horse is greatly dependent on good conditioning

Longevity

Describe aerobic exercise

Low resistance exercise but highly repetitive

Fast twitch muscle fibers are also know as what?

White fibers or type 2 fibers

Describe interval training

Multiple workouts on the same day, separated by short rest periods

How do endurance racing horses train?

Over uneven, rugged terrain at competition speeds (lots of extended trotting)

fill in the blank Mitochondria use _________ to burn fatty acids or glycogen

Oxygen

what is the best indicator of level of fitness?

heart rate

what is respiratory rate more reflective of?

heat buildup and dissipation

What training has the greatest impact on altering muscle fiber types?

interval training

Give an example of anaerobic exercise

Short sprints, or steep hill climbs at a gallop