Heart Rate Monitoring in Mangalarga Marchador Horses During a Field Marcha Test.

The research study investigates the impact of aerobic exercise on the heart rate (HR) and velocity of Mangalarga Marchador horses. The researchers used a HR monitoring system to measure these factors during a 40-minute field march test, providing insights into the physical conditioning and performance of the horses.

Objective and Methodology

• This research aims to monitor the heart rate of Mangalarga Marchador horses throughout a structured field march test. The findings of this study highlight the importance of HR monitoring as a helpful tool to assess the physical conditioning of the horses and ensure their wellbeing.
• 15 Mangalarga Marchador horses were involved in the study. They performed an aerobic exercise, or a marcha, for 40 minutes. A HR monitoring system integrated with GPS (Polar RS800CX-G3) was used to collect the data.
• The recorded data points included maximal heart rate (HRmax), average HR (HRmed), maximal speed (Vmax), average speed (Vmed), and HR and velocity variations during the exercise.
• A re-evaluation was conducted 30 minutes after the exercise was completed. Statistical tests such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ANOVA, and Tukey test were used to analyze the gathered data.

Results and Findings

• Throughout the 40-minute exercise, the maximal speed (Vmax) achieved by the horses averaged 3.75 ± 0.39 m/s, covering a distance of 7.15 ± 1.06 km.
• The marcha gait significantly influenced the heart rate (P < .0001). Within 2 minutes, all horses reached speed and heart rate values that remained consistent until the exercise's conclusion.
• The results demonstrated a dominance of aerobic activity. The horses mainly utilized 60%-70% of their maximal heart rate, which translates to approximately 140 beats per minute.
• The study affirmed that heart rate monitoring during a marcha test is an effective method to evaluate the physical fitness and exercise intensity of athletic horses. This understanding, in turn, helps to enhance their performance and ensure their welfare, particularly under tropical conditions.