Module Identifier RD10910  
Module Title EQUINE PERFORMANCE SCIENCE  
Academic Year 2004/2005  
Co-ordinator Dr John H Harries  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Sarah Pinnell  
Co-Requisite RD19340  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours  
  Practical   3 Hours  
  Other   4 Hours 1 x 4 hour visit/external talk  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3  100%
Supplementary Assessment Candidates will be required to resit.100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Outcome 1
Understand the physiology of exercise.
Performance criteria:
a. The structure and function of the cardiovascular system is explained in relation to exercise and training.
b. Muscle physiology is explained in relation to exercise.
c. The structure and function of the skeleton is explained in relation to training.
d. The energetic basis of exercise is explained.
Ranges:
Warmblood, hotblood
Equine performance sports

Outcome 2
Investigate the selection and training of the equine athlete
Performance criteria:
a. The suitability of various fitness regimes for different horse types are distinguished.
b. An equine fitness programme is devised to meet set performance requirements.
c. Methods for predicting performance potential are identified.
d. Methods of fitness assessment are evaluated.
Ranges:
Traditional/continuous, interval/intermittent
Equine performance sports.

Outcome 3
Recognise how the equine athlete can compete safely under differing conditions.
Performance criteria:
a. Adaptations to allow the horse to perform under various climatic conditions are described
b. The reasons why horses break down are explained.
c. The welfare of the performance horse is examined.
Ranges:
Physiological, management
Equine performance sports

Brief description

An understanding of exercise physiology and the effects of training is central to the successful management of the performance horse. The development of appropriate fitness regimes with due regard for the adaptive responses required by different activities will go a long way to enabling a fulfilling competitive career with the minimum of injury.

Transferable skills

.2 IT and information handling
IT skills, namely catalogue searching ,are developed through pursuing references given to students in lectures.

.4 Writing in an academic context
Students? own writing will be assessed in the unseen examination.

.5 Oral discussion and presentation
Discussion will be encouraged during lecture and practical classes.

.8 Group activity
   Practical classes will require working in groups when determining gait patterns.

Reading Lists

Books
Frandson RD (1992) Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals Lea & Febiger
Hodgson D R and Rose R J (1994) The athletic horse W B Saunders & Co
Jones W E (1989) Equine sports medicine Lea and Febiger
** Recommended Text
Back, W and Clayton, H M (2001) Equine locomotion W B Saunders
Clayton, H (1991) Conditioning sport horses Sport Horse Publications
Hodgson, D R and Rose, R J (1994) The athletic horse W B Saunders
Marlin, D J and Nankervis, K (2002) Equine exercise physiology Blackwell Science
Persson, S G B, Lindholm, A and Jeffcott, L B (1991) Equine exercise physiology III ICEEP Publications
Powers, S K and Howley, E T (2001) Exercise physiology. Theory and application to fitness and performance 4th. McGraw-Hill
Wilmore, J H and Costill, D L (1999) Physiology of sport and exercise 2nd. Human Kinetics
McArdle, W D, Katch, F I and Katch, V I (2000) Essentials of exercise physiology 2nd edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
Loving, N S and Johnston, A M (1995) Veterinary manual for the performance horse Blackwell Science

Journals
Robinson, N E (1995) Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology 18.

Articles
Jeffcott, L B (1999) Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology 30.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4