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Arabians participating in endurance competitions may suffer exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER)—commonly referred to as tying-up—more frequently than originally suspected. As such, affected horses may benefit from dietary changes to minimize bouts of this potentially debilitating condition.

Horses that have tied-up show excessive sweating, increased heart rates, and reluctance to move either after exercise or during continued exercise. Different forms of ER have been attributed to various causes such as abnormal calcium regulation in skeletal muscles and type I or II polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).

Based on a recent survey, Arabians or Arabian-crosses appear to have a relatively high prevalence of ER. To gain additional understanding of ER in this breed, McKenzie and colleagues* recruited 19 client-owned Arabian or Arabian-cross horses, 10 of which had shown signs consistent with ER.

All included horses underwent a standardized exercise test (SET) following 24-48 hours of stall rest. Blood samples and muscle biopsies were collected before and after the SET and compared between the control and ER horses. The data identified evidence of chronic myopathy in ER horses, but there was no evidence of either metabolic myopathy or a glycogen-storage disorder in any of the Arabian horses with a reported history of ER. The study authors suggested that additional research is needed in Arabians to better assess the prevalence and underlying cause of tying-up.

“Our research supports feeding horses at risk of tying-up with low-starch, high-fat, high-fiber diets rather than traditional high-starch feeds. High-fat, high-fiber diets provide adequate energy to athletic horses while minimizing the occurrence of painful bouts of tying-up that interrupt training,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor.

To serve this need, KER developed Re-Leve, a low-starch, high-calorie commercial concentrate. Re-Leve utilizes high-fat ingredients such as stabilized rice bran and soybean oil in combination with super fibers, including beet pulp and alfalfa meal. Re-Leve is available in two formulas, Original and Concentrate, to suit individual energy needs.

In Australia, please contact the KER nutrition consultation service at advice@ker.com for solutions to tying-up. For further information in the U.S. and other countries, complete this form.

*McKenzie, E.C., L.V. Eyrich, M.E. Payton, et al. 2016. Clinical, histopathological and metabolic responses following exercise in Arabian horses with a history of exertional rhabdomyolysis. The Veterinary Journal. 216:196-201.

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