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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / A consort-guided randomized, blinded, controlled clinical tr...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2024; 39(1); e17253; doi: 10.1111/jvim.17253

A consort-guided randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial on the effects of 6 weeks training on heart rate variability in thoroughbred horses.

Abstract: Fitness assessment of horses remains challenging. Heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to monitor human athlete's training, but its value is unknown in horses. Objective: The linear domain HRV variables are affected by fitness. Methods: Twelve healthy untrained thoroughbreds were randomly split into a training group (6 weeks of incremental racetrack training) and a control group (no training). Methods: Linear domain HRV variables were analyzed (high frequency [HF], low frequency [LF], their normalized units [Hf, Lf], root mean square of successive differences between beats [RMSSD], Poincaré plot features [SD1 and SD2]) while resting overnight before (baseline) and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of training. V̇O and echocardiographic indexes were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks. Changes in HRV variables over time (ANOVA), and correlation with V̇O (Pearson's chi-squared test) were tested (P < .05 significance). Results: V̇O, LF/HF ratio, and LF increased while HF decreased in the training group (before and after training mean [SD] values: V̇O 134 [12.8]-146 [16.5] mL/[kg min]; P < .001; LF/HF ratio 0.51 [0.2]-0.91 [0.3] [P = .02]; LF 37.5 [10.1]-46.8 [7.8] [P = .02]; HF 76.2 [7.9]-53.2 [7.7] [P < .001]). Training did not affect RMSSD, SD1, SD2, resting HR, or echocardiographic indexes. Strong correlations were found between V̇O and HRV variables (V̇O and LF [r = -0.59, P = .04]; ΔV̇O and the corresponding ΔLF [r = -0.88, P = .02]). Conclusions: Six weeks of training affected some frequency domain HRV variables. Further studies are necessary to validate the use of HRV for monitoring horses' responses to training.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-10 PubMed ID: 39655519PubMed Central: PMC11629100DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17253Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research centered on understanding the impact of fitness training on heart rate variability (HRV) in thoroughbred horses. A controlled study was designed involving 12 untrained horses divided into two groups, one subjected to a 6-week incremental racetrack training while the other remained untrained.

Research Design

  • Twelve healthy untrained thoroughbreds were randomly divided into a training group and a control group. The training group underwent 6 weeks of incremental racetrack training while the control group did not receive any fitness training.
  • The study examined linear domain HRV variables which include high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), their normalized units, root mean square of successive differences between beats (RMSSD), and Poincaré plot features. These measurements were taken while the horses rested overnight before and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of training.
  • V̇O (oxygen uptake) and echocardiographic indexes were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks. Changes in HRV variables over time and their correlation with V̇O were also evaluated.

Research Findings

  • The study found that oxygen uptake, LF/HF ratio, and LF values increased while HF values decreased in the training group. This shows that the fitness training had a significant impact on some of these frequency domain HRV variables.
  • Racetrack training, however, did not influence RMSSD, Poincaré plot features (SD1, SD2), resting heart rate or echocardiographic indexes.
  • Strong correlations were found between oxygen uptake (V̇O) and HRV variables. This suggests a significant relationship between oxygen uptake rate and heart rate variability in thoroughbred horses.

Conclusions

  • After six weeks of training, some frequency domain HRV variables were affected. This indicates that physical activity impacts certain aspects of heart rate variability within thoroughbred horses.
  • Further studies, according to the researchers, should be conducted to confirm the utility of HRV for monitoring horses’ responses to training.

Cite This Article

APA
Santosuosso E, Léguillette R, Shoemaker S, Baumwart R, Temple S, Hemmerling K, Kell T, Bayly W. (2024). A consort-guided randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial on the effects of 6 weeks training on heart rate variability in thoroughbred horses. J Vet Intern Med, 39(1), e17253. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17253

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 1
Pages: e17253
PII: e17253

Researcher Affiliations

Santosuosso, Emma
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Léguillette, Renaud
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Shoemaker, Sierra
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Baumwart, Ryan
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Temple, Sierra
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Hemmerling, Kaneesha
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Kell, Tessa
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Bayly, Warwick
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses / physiology
  • Animals
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
  • Echocardiography / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Calgary Chair in Eqiune Sports Medicine, University of Calgary

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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