Equine Nutrition Research: Using a High-Speed Treadmill

Kentucky Equine Research maintains high-speed treadmills at its research facilities in Kentucky and Florida. These important pieces of equipment are always a highlight of farm tours. In this video, research coordinator Michael Sandwick discusses different types of studies utilizing the high-speed treadmills and how the findings from these studies relate to real-world horse nutrition.

The treadmills are used for studies relating to nutrition and exercise physiology. Horses on an exercise trial are specially trained for this work and are asked to walk, trot, canter, and gallop on the treadmill at varying speeds and distances depending on purpose of the study. Sometimes the duration or speed of exercise is determined by how long it takes the horse to reach or maintain a certain heart rate.

Research horses in race training also participate in studies designed to mimic typical training conditions. Their measured exercise is more likely to be a gallop or breeze on the six-furlong training track. Researchers monitor their speed, distance, and heart rate in real time.

Sandwick got her start with the company as a summer intern. She is currently finishing her master’s degree at Kansas State University while working at the Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center in Ocala.