Module Identifier RD10910  
Module Title EQUINE PERFORMANCE SCIENCE  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Miss Deborah M Nash  
Semester Semester 2  
Co-Requisite RD19340  
Course delivery Lecture   1 x 2 hour lecture per week  
  Practical    
  Other   1 x 4 hour visit/external talk  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Assignment  60%
Semester Exam1.5 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3  40%
Supplementary Assessment Assignment  60%
Supplementary Exam1.5 Hours  40%

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.

Module Skills

Communication Students will develop skills in writing when preparing the assignment  
Team work Practical classes will involve students working in groups when determining gait patterns.  

Reading Lists

Books
** General Text
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
Loving, N S and Johnston, A M (1995) Veterinary manual for the performance horse Blackwell Science
Marlin, D J and Nankervis, K (2002) Equine exercise physiology Blackwell Science
McArdle, W D, Katch, F I and Katch, V I (2000) Essentials of exercise physiology 2nd edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
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

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