Six mares and six geldings were used to determine the effect of forage quality on muscle glycogen utilization by exercised horses. Horses were fed 1.5% BW/d of high quality (65.6% NDF; 41.1% ADF) or low quality (74.6% NDF; 51.2% ADF) hay and a concentrate resulting in three diets: high quality hay and concentrate balanced to meet energy requirements (HQ); low quality hay and concentrate balanced to meet energy requirements; and low quality hay with the same amount of concentrate as the HQ diet. The effect of hay quality on serum insulin, serum glucose, whole blood lactate, and respiratory parameters were also determined. Results suggested varied metabolic responses to exercise between sexes and a possible glycogen sparing effect when low quality forage was consumed.

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