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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1992; 33(1); 71-75; doi: 10.1186/BF03546937

Long term ECG recording with Holter monitoring in clinically healthy horses.

Abstract: The electrocardiogram of 9 horses was continuously recorded for 24 h with Holter monitoring to examine the variations in heart rate and rhythm during daily routine procedures and at night. Three horses had transient sinus bradycardia, and 3 had periods of sinus tachycardia. Heart blocks were detected in 3 horses, and all horses had periods of sinus arrhythmia. These changes in the heart rate and rhythm were apparently caused by variations in autonomic nervous system tone and they are probably "normal" findings in resting, undisturbed horses. Ventricular premature depolarisations were not observed in any horse, but some single supraventricular premature contractions were detected. There was preliminary evidence that in order to register the real resting heart rate and rhythm of a horse the ECG should be recorded over a long period, and also at night and without the presence of the investigator. Elektrokardiografi gjordes på 9 hästar under 24 t. Tre hästar hade övergående sinusbradykardi och 3 hade periodisk sinustakykardi. Tre hästar hade ledningsstörningar, och hos alla djur förekom periodvisa sinusarrytmier. Dessa förändringar i hjärtfrekvens och -rytm förursakades sannolikt av variation i det autonoma nervsystemets tonus, och de är sannolikt “normala” fynd hos hästar i vila. Ventrikulära ekstrasystoler förekom inte, men några enskilda atriella ekstrasystoler registrerades. Dessa fynd tyder på, att EKG borde kanske registreras också på natten och över ett långt period, om man vill studera den värkliga hjärtrytmen och -frekvensen hos hästen i vila.
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Publication Date: 1992-01-01 PubMed ID: 1598859PubMed Central: PMC8117866DOI: 10.1186/BF03546937Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research studied the variations in heart rate and rhythm of nine horses over a 24-hour period using Holter monitoring. It indicated that to accurately register a horse’s resting heart rate and rhythm, long-term monitoring, including nighttime recording, may be required.

Study Method and Participants

  • The participants of this study were nine clinically healthy horses. These horses were monitored continuously for a 24-hour period using long-term ECG recording, also known as Holter monitoring. This type of monitoring is a portable device that tracks heart rhythms over long periods.

Key Findings of ECG Observations

  • The study found that three horses had transient sinus bradycardia, a condition where the heart rate slows down than the normal rate. Also, three of the horses experienced sinus tachycardia, periods of unusually fast heartbeats.
  • Furthermore, heart blocks were detected in three of the horses. This refers to a delay in the electrical conduction system of the heart.
  • All horses had periods of sinus arrhythmia, which is typically a normal phenomenon where heart rhythms vary with the breathing cycle.
  • These changes in heart rate and rhythm were all associated with variations in autonomic nervous system tone, implying that they are probably ordinary observations in resting horses that are undisturbed.

Other Observations

  • There were no ventricular premature depolarisations observed in any horse. This condition, if it occurred, would signify an early heartbeat in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
  • However, a few single supraventricular premature contractions were detected. These are abnormal heartbeats that start in the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, and usually, they are not dangerous.

Implications of Findings

  • The study provides preliminary evidence that to gain an accurate measure of a horse’s real resting heart rate and rhythm, the ECG should be recorded over an extended period, and also at night.
  • Also, for the duration of the recording, the presence of the investigator should not be there. This finding is relevant for expected accuracy in observational studies relating to horse health, potentially influencing how monitoring procedures are carried out.

Cite This Article

APA
Raekallio M. (1992). Long term ECG recording with Holter monitoring in clinically healthy horses. Acta Vet Scand, 33(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546937

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Pages: 71-75

Researcher Affiliations

Raekallio, M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Electrocardiography / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / veterinary
  • Heart / physiology
  • Heart Rate
  • Horses / physiology

References

This article includes 11 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
  1. Nissen SD, Saljic A, Kjeldsen ST, Jespersen T, Hopster-Iversen C, Buhl R. Cartilaginous Intrusion of the Atrioventricular Node in a Quarter Horse with a High Burden of Second-Degree AV Block and Collapse: A Case Report. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 24;12(21).
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  2. Nissen SD, Weis R, Krag-Andersen EK, Hesselkilde EM, Isaksen JL, Carstensen H, Kanters JK, Linz D, Sanders P, Hopster-Iversen C, Jespersen T, Pehrson S, Buhl R. Electrocardiographic characteristics of trained and untrained standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1119-1130.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16427pubmed: 35488721google scholar: lookup
  3. Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
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  5. Hesselkilde EZ, Almind ME, Petersen J, Flethøj M, Præstegaard KF, Buhl R. Cardiac arrhythmias and electrolyte disturbances in colic horses. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Oct 2;56(1):58.
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  7. Zucca E, Ferrucci F, Di Fabio V, Croci C, Ferro E. The use of electrocardiographic recording with Holter monitoring during treadmill exercise to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses. Vet Res Commun 2003 Sep;27 Suppl 1:811-4.
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  8. McCrae P, Spong H, Moorehead J, Pearson W. Validation of a smart textile device for long-duration heart rate variability and detection of physiological arrhythmias in resting horses. BMC Vet Res 2025 Nov 19;21(1):675.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-05120-0pubmed: 41257881google scholar: lookup
  9. Maas LT, Morgan JM, Case J, Chell DD, McLean AK. Pilot Study: Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Indices in Mules Evaluated by 24-Hour Electrocardiogram. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 20;15(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15162438pubmed: 40867766google scholar: lookup
  10. Sullivan A, Adin DB, Speziok SB, Haimovitz D, Holbrook TC, Luethy D. Twenty-Four-Hour Electrocardiographic Monitoring for Assessment of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Healthy and Hospitalized Goats. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70160.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70160pubmed: 40452264google scholar: lookup
  11. Hartwig S, Rankovic A, McCrae P, Gagliardi K, Burron S, Ellis J, Ma DWL, Shoveller AK. The effects of a plant-based and a plant- and marine-based n-3 oil supplement on behavioral reactivity, heart rate variability, and plasma fatty acid profile in young healthy horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
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  12. Nissen SD, Saljic A, Carstensen H, Braunstein TH, Hesselkilde EM, Kjeldsen ST, Hopster-Iversen C, D'Souza A, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M(2) are upregulated in the atrioventricular nodal tract in horses with a high burden of second-degree atrioventricular block. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023;10:1102164.
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