[Evaluation of the performance of horses using pulse rate loading dynamics after basic training].

This research tests the performance of three-year-old horses after basic training, using pulse rate in response to increased load as an evaluating tool. They tested 278 horses and developed a method of ranking the horses’ performance from 1 to 10 based on quantiles of normal distribution for their breed.

Methodology of The Study

• The researchers conducted tests on 278 three-year-old horses who had completed their basic training. This included 145 Bohemian warm-blooded horses, 115 Kladrub Black horses, and 18 English half-bred horses.
• The tests concentrated on understanding the pulse rate response of these horses as the load increased.
• The researchers then set about developing a methodology to evaluate the performance of the horses on the basis of these test results.

Performance Evaluation Criterion

• They used an evaluating criterion called velocity (v170), derived from an experimentally determined regression dependence of the horse’s speed on their pulse rate at 170 beats per minute.
• Data points for this v170 criterion were gathered and statistically analyzed.

Ranking the Horses

• Using the quantiles of normal distribution for the tested breeds, the researchers computed variance zones.
• They used these variance zones to evaluate and rank the performance of the horses with scores ranging from 1 to 10.

Significance of Research

• With this evaluation methodology, the performance level of each tested horse can be estimated in relation to other horses of the same breed.
• This research provides a potentially useful tool to assess equine performance, focusing specifically on the relationship between a horse’s pulse rate under an increased load and its speed. This evaluation approach could be used in various equine industries, including racing and breeding programs.