Use of a global positioning and heart rate monitoring system to assess training load in a group of thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: Training is an important variable for determining athletic success. Nonetheless, there has been minimal scientific evaluation of racehorse training programmes. Training of racehorses focuses on running the horses at certain speeds using a combination of a stopwatch and rider's 'feel' for a horse's work intensity. Consequently, actual work intensity for individual horses is not clearly defined. Objective: To 1) utilise a combined global positioning system (GPS) and heart rate monitor system to quantify training intensity and physiological responses of a group of racehorses undergoing training and racing; and 2) compare the workload measured by the GPS to that timed and recorded daily by a racehorse trainer. Methods: Nineteen racehorses age 3 years were followed through a traditional training and racing programme over a 4 month period. Daily GPS and heart rate data together with the trainer's timing and distance data were collected while the horses were trained. Data were analysed using an ANOVA for repeated measures. Results: The combined GPS/heart rate monitoring system detected different heart rate responses in individual horses subjected to the same training workouts. The average speeds detected with the GPS system were in agreement with average speeds timed by the trainer. However, peak speeds reached during training were significantly greater (P<0.05) than those estimated with stopwatch timing. The horses average training speeds increased significantly over the duration of the training period. Conclusions: The results from this study show that a GPS/heart rate monitor system provides a reliable measure of daily workload in horses during training. This technology provides a detailed picture of horses' training sessions and has the potential to provide a greater insight into the types of training that may predispose horses to injury.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402402DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05523.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examines the use of global positioning (GPS) and heart rate monitoring in assessing the training load and intensity of racehorses, comparing the results to traditional methods of trainer’s timing and perceived work intensity. The study found GPS and heart rate monitoring to be a reliable measure of daily workload, offering a complex depiction of individual training sessions and potentially providing insight into training techniques that might lead to injury in horses.
Objective and Methods
- The aim of the research was twofold: to incorporate a GPS and heart rate monitor system in order to quantify the training intensity and physiological responses of racehorses during training and racing, and to compare the measured workload by the GPS against that of the daily timing and recording by a horse trainer.
- A sample of nineteen 3-year-old racehorses was followed over a 4 month training and racing program.
- Heart rate and GPS data were recorded daily alongside the trainer’s timing and distance measurements. This combined data was then analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures; a statistical technique used for comparing multiple measurements taken on the same subjects.
Results
- The integrated GPS and heart rate monitor system found varying heart rate responses in individual horses even when they were subjected to similar training exercises.
- The mean speeds captured using the GPS system concurred with the average speeds timed by the horse trainer.
- Nevertheless, peak training speeds measured considerably higher than those assessed using stopwatch timing.
- Additionally, the research found that the average training speeds of the horses increased significantly throughout the duration of the training period.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that the GPS and heart rate monitor system is a credible tool for measuring daily workload in horses during training.
- This technology not only offers a nuanced understanding of individual training sessions, but it also holds the potential to provide deeper insight into certain training practices that could potentially predispose horses to injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Kingston JK, Soppet GM, Rogers CW, Firth EC.
(2007).
Use of a global positioning and heart rate monitoring system to assess training load in a group of thoroughbred racehorses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 106-109.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05523.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Female
- Geographic Information Systems
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Monitoring, Physiologic / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Satellite Communications
- Telemetry / methods
- Telemetry / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Siegers E, van den Broek J, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan M, Munsters C. Longitudinal Training and Workload Assessment in Young Friesian Stallions in Relation to Fitness, Part 2-An Adapted Training Program.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
- 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.
- 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).
- Léguillette R, Bond SL, Lawlor K, Haan T, Weber LM. Comparison of physiological demands in Warmblood show jumping horses over a standardized 1.10 m jumping course versus a standardized exercise test on a track.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jun 8;16(1):182.
- Best R, Standing R. The Spatiotemporal Characteristics of 0-24-Goal Polo.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 16;9(7).
- Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK. Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete.. Animals (Basel) 2012 Dec 19;2(4):640-55.
- Munsters CC, van den Broek J, Welling E, van Weeren R, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. A prospective study on a cohort of horses and ponies selected for participation in the European Eventing Championship: reasons for withdrawal and predictive value of fitness tests.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Sep 13;9:182.
- Borresen J, Lambert MI. The quantification of training load, the training response and the effect on performance.. Sports Med 2009;39(9):779-95.
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