Horse owners frequently report reduced tying-up or muscle stiffness with Fastrack supplemented

horses after strenuous exercise. Several scientific reasons and research studies support these observations. First, a review of lactic acid metabolism in the digestive tract is in order, and then a discussion of lactic acid production in the body itself.

   Microorganisms produce two forms of lactic acid, depending upon how the lactic acid

molecule is arranged. A horse can metabolize L-lactate and to a lesser degree the Dform.

High levels of D-lactate often follow excessive grain consumption with the consequential population explosion of the undesirable bacteria.

   Continuous production of low levels of L-lactate in the digestive tract should encourage the growth of lactate-utilizing bacteria. Supplementing a horse with Fastrack would provide the beneficial bacteria to supply low amounts of L-lactate to maintain a base population of lactate utilizers. The lactate-utilizing population would then be ready to expand when lactate levels elevate, such as excessive grain consumption. In addition, the Fastrack products seem to enhance the proper numbers of starch-digesting bacteria for controlled lactate production.          Briefly, the Fastrack cultures produce a "safer" form of lactate and seem to encourage lactate- utilizing bacteria that increase in number during lactate challenges.

   Let's move on to lactate production in the horse's body.

 Muscles secrete D-lactate as a by- product of energy production during anaerobic exercise or times of nutrient depletion.

Supplying proper levels of nutrients in the blood system will reduce intramuscular lactate production during exercise.

The microbial cultures in the Fastrack products enhance nutrient absorption in the small intestine and improve large intestine fermentation to extract energy from the diet. Consequently, blood nutrient levels are higher in animals fed Probiotic cultures.

   A study by Glade and Campbell-Taylor, indicated horses fed yeast culture had lower blood lactate levels before and during exercise, and faster clearance from the blood after exercise.

   Fastrack's combination of yeast culture and beneficial bacteria would enhance nutrient supply to the muscles above simple yeast culture supplementation.

   Performance and race trainers are observing less muscle stiffness or tying up of exercised horses and

quicker recoveries.

  The Fastrack products provide beneficial bacteria and yeast culture to establish the correct balance of fermentative bacteria and lactate-utilizing organisms in the digestive tract.

   In addition, the Fastrack bacteria yield a lactate form that the horse can metabolize.

   Improved nutrient absorption supplies proper nutrition to the muscles, resulting in lower lactate production during exercise.

  Owners and trainers recognize that Fastrack supplementation improves their horses' performance and recovery times.