Cardiovascular variables in eventing and endurance horses over a season.

The research monitored cardiovascular health variables in competitive endurance and eventing horses throughout a sporting season, and then compared the results with those of non-competitive horses of the same breeds. Despite not finding significant variation, it’s recommended to interpret these findings cautiously as the sample size was small.

Study Design and Methodology

• The researchers examined the variations in clinical cardiovascular examination variables throughout a competition season. The subjects of this study were two eventing horses, eleven endurance horses, and a group of non-competitive control horses that consisted of thirteen eventing and seven endurance breed-matched horses.
• The chosen cardiovascular examinations were performed three different times: before the competition season started, in the middle of the season, and at the peak or end of the season.
• Various cardiovascular parameters were examined including heart auscultation; M-mode echocardiographic measurements and calculated values; the diameters of left atrial, pulmonary arteries, and aorta; color flow Doppler; exercise electrocardiograms (ECGs) measuring peak heart rates and premature complexes; and 24-hour continuous ECGs measuring premature complexes per hour.

Research Findings

• The study found no significant changes in the cardiovascular examination results when comparing the start to the end of the season. This was consistent amongst all variables including heart auscultation, echocardiograms, arrhythmias during exercise, and continuous 24-hour ECGs.

Conclusions and Implications

• For the first time, cardiovascular examination variables of eventing and endurance horses throughout a competition season are reported in this study.
• Although no significant changes were found, the authors urge for caution in interpreting the data because the sample of horses examined was quite small. A larger sample size might reveal more robust changes over the course of the season, if they exist.
• If these findings could be corroborated with a larger sample size, it could help equine medicine practitioners and trainers better understand the cardiovascular impacts of a competition season on horses.