compounding

What is meant by saying "the horse compounded during the running" ?

I think it means cramped up.

Not got a clue and google is no help

I always assumed that it is when a horse fades badly in the home straight, does not find any extra. Basically it had nothing to give was my assumption

Basically just stopping at end. Run out of petrol in the run in.

@ Craig, how is that different to "faded badly late", which is a comment sometimes used in the Computaform - just asking?

bayern wrote: I think it means cramped up.

.....definitely not this....."tied up" is the term used when the horse suffers from muscle cramps.....
.....compounding is often when a horse has raced too fast or has over exerted and has run out of energy
....

Its a "fancy" word used by trainers for having an unfit horse at the races. Number 123 on my list :whistle:

The comparison between Faded Badly Late and a horse which Compounded, is an interesting one.
There are no hard and fast rules. I will give you my own opinion.
When a horse Compounds, it shortens its stride dramatically. When a horse fades badly late, it just gives up the quest, has no more to offer.

The causes of the two are an interesting debate.

In both cases the horses will have high lactic acids. The faded late horse could have faded late, due to over racing early, at a tempo above its comfortable level, etc. It could also be unfit and yes, the race could also be too far for the horse. Often, when incubating a virus, the horse will also fade badly late.
The horse which compounds will almost always have a muscle enzyme issue. High muscle enzyme levels can be treated to a point, with supplements. But there are those horses that seldom come right or get over it. They have to be maintained daily, forever. There are akso dietary changes, you walk the horse a lot, keep it moving. It is not specifically a fitness related issue. In fact, you have to decrease your strenuous exercise and opt for longer steady work. And lots of walking.

Summary -
Compounding - horse visibly shortens its stride.
Faded Badly - horse just stops racing or does not put it in, without an obvious shortening of its stride.

Just my opinion.

....i have always been an advocate for the use of specific nutricuetical feed additives as a preventative to muscle enzyme and lactic acid issues..... rather than used as a cure.....:blink:

...and what about "fatigued"?

Compounded and faded badly late refer to the actual running of the race and fatigued refers to after the race, as does distressed etc.