OK exercise is actually good for the immune system in moderation. Excessive strenous activities such as racing or showing your horse in multiple classes in a horse show can have a dramatic negative effect on the immune system.
Here is an article found in The Horse about a study on the effects of strenous activity on the immune system. http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=9910
To summarize what the researchers in Italy’s Sport Horse Research Center found is that genes are affected by intense activity. Four of the genes affected are related to the cell cycle and metabolism management. “If these genes are overexpressed or underexpressed, immunity is affected.”
Interesting study, which of course leads to more questions, but the common horseperson can understand that physical stress can lead to becoming ill…DUH!
