Bone density and strength are important for the long-term health and soundness of performance horses.  Marine-derived calcium mineral complexes have been shown to improve bone density and strength in laboratory animals and humans. This study evaluated the effect of a supplement containing marine-derived calcium (Triacton™) (TA) on bone density in Thoroughbred racehorses.  Thirteen horses (average […]

Joe D. Pagan1, Peter Kazakevicius2, Alyx Swanhall1, Emma Ford1, and Abby Pritchard1 1Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA; 2 Ocala, Florida, USA Radiographic photodensitometry to estimate bone density in horses was originally developed using conventional analog film radiography. Today, most researchers have switched to digital radiography (DR) to make these measurements. One important feature of […]

Joe D. Pagan, Ashlee Hauss, Alyx Swanhall, Emma Ford, Erica Rugg, Aline Bouquet, and Abby Pritchard Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA   Water, hay, and feed intake was measured in 6 Thoroughbred racehorses (age 3.3 ± 0.5 y) (BW 468 ± 14.1 kg) for 56 d at a training center in Lexington, Kentucky, during […]

Joe D. Pagan1, Emma Mulvey1, Kathleen O’Neill1, Natalie Ireland1 and Mike Davies2, 1Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA; 2ClockItEQ, Ltd., Perth, Western Australia Nutrient requirements for performance horses are dependent on the intensity and duration of exercise during training and competition. Differences between racehorses and upper-level event horses have not been previously defined. This study […]

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of dextrose or corn starch on uptake and retention of electrolytes and water in idle horses. In study 1, four Thoroughbreds (age: 6.25 ± 2.25 y; BW: 574.4 ± 82.4 kg) were used in a 4×4 Latin square trial. The horses were dosed with 92 g of […]

Two studies were conducted to measure the effect of furosemide on 72-hour digestibility and urinary excretion of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl) in nonexercised and exercised mature Thoroughbred geldings. In study 1, total fecal and urinary mineral excretion was measured in three unexercised Thoroughbred geldings for 72 […]

J.D. Pagan, B.M. Waldridge, C. Whitehouse, L. Dalglish, S. Fuchs, M. Goff, Furosemide reduces the energetic cost of exercise in Thoroughbreds independent of its effect on EIPH. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Volume 33, Issue 5, Pages 328–329. (Proceedings of the 2013 Equine Science Society Symposium.) Six fit Thoroughbred geldings (age 6.8 ± 1.2 y, […]

Pagan, J., Waldridge, B., Whitehouse, C., Fuchs, S. and Goff, M. (2014), Furosemide Administration Affects Mineral Excretion in Exercised Thoroughbreds. Equine Veterinary Journal, 46:4. (International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology 2014) Furosemide is widely administered to Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses to reduce the incidence and severity of EIPH. The magnitude and duration of mineral loss […]

Technical Bulletin, March 2015 Besides affecting EIPH, does furosemide administration have other effects? Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has conducted multiple studies to help answer the following questions: • How does furosemide affect body weight and performance? • What are the effects of different furosemide doses? • How does furosemide affect water intake? • How long […]

Huntington PJ, Brown-Douglas CG, Pagan JD. Australian Equine Veterinarian, Volume 26, Issue 1, pp 80-92, Feb 2007. Access the article.