THE EFFECT OF PSYLLIUM ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES IN THE PLASMA OF HORSES DURING AN ENDURANCE RIDE - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Eight horses were subjected to a 120 kilometer endurance rids. The eig ht horses were divided into two groups of four horses each. Eight days prior to competition the diet of the experimental group was supplemen ted daily with Plantago Psyllium at a dose of 0.3 g/kg body weight/day . Blood samples were drawn for measuring haematocrit, total serum prot ein, sodium, potassium and chloride immediately before the start of th e race and at the 40, 80 and 120 kilometre veterinary check points, In addition, the heart rate of the horses was recorded throughout the wh ole ride. All horses completed the ride at an average speed of 13.5 km /h. The heart rate during the ride varied between 80 and 160 beats/min without showing a distinct pattern between the horses of the two grou ps. The haematocrit increased in both groups during the ride, but to a higher extent in the control group. The concentration of the blood se rum variables measured in both groups did not change significantly dur ing the ride. The lower increase oi haematocrit in the horses suppleme nted with Plantago Psyllium may be attributable to a higher water cont ent in their intestine due to its water holding capacity.