Measurements of fitness in thoroughbred racehorses using field studies of heart rate and velocity with a global positioning system.
Abstract: Field based studies of changes in fitness are difficult to conduct in galloping Thoroughbreds. Measurements of heart rate (HR) and real time velocity with a global positioning system (GPS) could provide a method for routine field studies of fitness. Objective: To investigate measurements of fitness in the field without using multiple, standardised steps of increasing velocity in the exercise test. Methods: Twelve healthy 3- to 5-year-old Thoroughbreds were used in the study of reliability, and twelve 2-year-old Thoroughbreds in the investigation of the effect of training. Five second averages of velocity and HR were recorded during a typical fast exercise training session, using a GPS and Polar HR monitor. A standardised exercise test protocol was not used. Regression analyses using trot and gallop data were used to calculate velocities at HR of 200 beats/min (V200), and at maximal HR (VHRmax). Data were collected on consecutive 'fast' day training sessions to assess the reliability of measurements. The effect of training was investigated with fitness tests in weeks 2 and 6 of 'fast' training. Absolute and relative differences were calculated to evaluate reliability, and paired t tests were used to detect an effect of training. Results: VHRmax, V200 and HRmax were reliable measurements of fitness, with mean differences of 2% or less. Reliability of VHRmax was not dependent on VHRmax. VHRmax and V200 both increased significantly with training (P<0.01), but there was no effect of training on HRmax. There were no significant changes in the slope or intercept of the regression equations after training. Conclusions: Velocity and HR measurements during field gallop exercise provided reliable measures of fitness which enabled a measurement of the response to training. Conclusions: This approach offers a simple, noninvasive method for monitoring adaptations to training in the field.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402404DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05525.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 tested the use of heart rate and global positioning system (GPS) in assessing the fitness levels of Thoroughbreds during training. It concluded that this method provides reliable measurements of the horses’ fitness levels and it also records their response to training.
Methodology
- Two groups of healthy Thoroughbreds were used in this study. One group consisted of twelve horses between 3 and 5 years old to test the reliability of the measurements, and the other group consisted of twelve 2-year-old horses to investigate the effect of training.
- A typical fast exercise training session was then conducted and five-second averages of the horses’ velocities and heart rates were recorded using a GPS and a Polar heart rate monitor. The researchers did not use a standardized exercise test protocol.
- Regression analyses from collected data were utilized to estimate velocities at a heart rate of 200 beats per minute (V200), as well as at the maximum heart rate (VHRmax).
- Data were collected on consecutive ‘fast’ training sessions to compare measurements and assess their reliability. The impact of training was also investigated with fitness tests in weeks 2 and 6 of ‘fast’ training.
- General statistical methods were used to analyze the collected data. Absolute and relative differences were calculated to evaluate reliability and paired t-tests were used to detect an effect of training.
Results
- The measures VHRmax, V200, and HRmax were found to be reliable fitness measures with average differences of 2% or less. The reliability of VHRmax was found not to depend on VHRmax.
- Training had significant positive effects on VHRmax and V200 values (P<0.01), but did not impact HRmax.
- The regression analyses did not exhibit significant changes in the slope or intercept after training.
Conclusion
- Heart rate and velocity measurements during field gallop exercises were shown to provide trustworthy measures for fitness. These measures were also capable of tracking the training response in the Thoroughbreds.
- This non-invasive and field-based method could be used broadly to monitor Thoroughbred horses’ adaptations to training, providing a simple yet effective approach to equine fitness evaluation.
Cite This Article
APA
Vermeulen AD, Evans DL.
(2007).
Measurements of fitness in thoroughbred racehorses using field studies of heart rate and velocity with a global positioning system.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 113-117.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05525.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Geographic Information Systems
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Fitness / physiology
- Running / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Tasker K, Lim SL, Smith AD, Whitton RC. Relationship between Thoroughbred workloads in racing and the fatigue life of equine subchondral bone. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 7;12(1):11528.
- Kirsch K, Fercher C, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Augustin J, Lagershausen H. Monitoring Performance in Show Jumping Horses: Validity of Non-specific and Discipline-specific Field Exercise Tests for a Practicable Assessment of Aerobic Performance. Front Physiol 2021;12:818381.
- Darbandi H, Serra Bragança F, van der Zwaag BJ, Voskamp J, Gmel AI, Haraldsdóttir EH, Havinga P. Using Different Combinations of Body-Mounted IMU Sensors to Estimate Speed of Horses-A Machine Learning Approach. Sensors (Basel) 2021 Jan 26;21(3).
- Best R, Standing R. The Spatiotemporal Characteristics of 0-24-Goal Polo. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 16;9(7).
- Lenoir A, Trachsel DS, Younes M, Barrey E, Robert C. Agreement between Electrocardiogram and Heart Rate Meter Is Low for the Measurement of Heart Rate Variability during Exercise in Young Endurance Horses. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:170.
- de Bruijn CM, Houterman W, Ploeg M, Ducro B, Boshuizen B, Goethals K, Verdegaal EL, Delesalle C. Monitoring training response in young Friesian dressage horses using two different standardised exercise tests (SETs). BMC Vet Res 2017 Feb 14;13(1):49.
- Borresen J, Lambert MI. The quantification of training load, the training response and the effect on performance. Sports Med 2009;39(9):779-95.
- Santosuosso E, Léguillette R, Shoemaker S, Baumwart R, Temple S, Hemmerling K, Kell T, Bayly W. 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 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17253.
- Leguillette R, McCrae P, Massie S, Filho SA, Bayly W, David F. Workload and spirometry associated with untethered swimming in horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jul 19;20(1):327.
- Nath LC, Elliott A, La Gerche A, Weir J, Forbes G, Thomas G, Franklin S. Associations between postrace atrial fibrillation and measures of performance, racing history and airway disease in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Nov-Dec;37(6):2573-2583.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
