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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 939534; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.939534

Measuring heart rate variability using a heart rate monitor in horses (Equus caballus) during groundwork.

Abstract: Measuring physiological parameters of stress in horses during groundwork, for example when involved in equine-assisted interventions, is important to gain insight into the stress levels of the horses. Heart rate and heart rate variability can be used as physiological indicators of stress in horses. Heart rate monitors could be easily incorporated into practice, as they are not expensive and easy to use. However, it is questionable whether heart rate monitors present accurate heart rate variability results in exercising horses, similar to electrocardiograms. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of heart rate monitors for the assessment of heart rate variability in horses during groundwork exercise. Simultaneous telemetric electrocardiograms (Televet) and heart rate monitor (Polar H10 transmitter and M430 receiver, Hylofit electrodes) recordings were performed on 28 horses (15 mares and 13 geldings). Results indicate that the heart rate monitor accurately determined heart rate and time-domain heart rate variability parameters when compared to electrocardiograms during both baseline and groundwork conditions. As expected, heart rate significantly increased and the heart rate variability significantly decreased during groundwork compared to baseline conditions. This indicates that the heart rate monitor can be used to accurately determine heart rate variability during groundwork.
Copyright © 2022 Kapteijn, Frippiat, van Beckhoven, van Lith, Endenburg, Vermetten and Rodenburg.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-22 PubMed ID: 36483490PubMed Central: PMC9723354DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.939534Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research focuses on assessing the accuracy of heart rate monitors for determining stress levels in horses during groundwork. The study found that these devices can reliably measure heart rate and heart rate variability parameters—indicators of stress—in horses when compared to more advanced electrocardiogram devices during groundwork conditions.

Research Context

  • This study is situated in the context of understanding stress in horses, specifically during groundwork. Groundwork refers to techniques for training horses on the ground before riding them.
  • Monitoring stress in horses is critical, particularly when they are part of equine-assisted interventions, which are therapeutic or learning experiences involving interactions between humans and horses.
  • The research acknowledges that two key physiological indicators of stress are heart rate and heart rate variability.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The primary goal of this study was to establish the accuracy of heart rate monitors in measuring these stress parameters during groundwork.
  • The researchers set about this by recording and comparing heart rate and heart rate variability data from both electrocardiograms (a more advanced, medical-grade technique) and heart rate monitors during baseline and groundwork conditions in horses.
  • They conducted these simultaneous recordings on 28 horses, comprised of 15 mares and 13 geldings.

Research Findings

  • The research results suggest that heart rate monitors can closely match electrocardiograms in determining heart rate and time-domain heart rate variability parameters in horses during both baseline and groundwork situations.
  • The study also confirmed the expected pattern of physiological stress markers during groundwork: an elevation in heart rate and a reduction in heart rate variability compared to baseline conditions.

Implications of Research

  • The findings of this study validate the use of heart rate monitors as a cost-effective and easy-to-use tool for assessing stress in horses during groundwork – a significant leap for equine care and potentially for wider veterinary and animal behavioural studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Kapteijn CM, Frippiat T, van Beckhoven C, van Lith HA, Endenburg N, Vermetten E, Rodenburg TB. (2022). Measuring heart rate variability using a heart rate monitor in horses (Equus caballus) during groundwork. Front Vet Sci, 9, 939534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.939534

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 939534

Researcher Affiliations

Kapteijn, Chantal M
  • Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Frippiat, Thibault
  • Sportpaardenarts - Equine Sports Medicine, Laren, Netherlands.
van Beckhoven, Cees
  • Heart for Horses, Oisterwijk, Netherlands.
van Lith, Hein A
  • Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
  • UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Endenburg, Nienke
  • Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Vermetten, Eric
  • Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Rodenburg, T Bas
  • Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
  • Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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