Physiological indicators of workload in horses: Analysis of heart rate and energy expenditure during riding
Keywords:
Heart rate, energy, workload, performance, horseAbstract
Objective monitoring of physiological parameters, such as heart rate (HR), energy metabolism, and the temporal structure of exercise, forms the basis for optimizing the overall training process of sport horses. Determining the threshold between effective stimulation and overloading is crucial for preventing overtraining and performance decline. Training programs based on these indicators take into account the adaptive capacity of the horse, thereby maximizing performance while supporting health and welfare.The aim of this study was to analyze physiological parameters, particularly heart rate and energy expenditure, during riding training and its duration. Sixteen horses of different ages and sexes were included in the study and divided into two groups based on sporting experience. The first group (n = 8) comprised horses in the preparatory phase of their sporting careers with a maximum of one year of competition experience, while the second group (n = 8) consisted of more experienced horses with at least two years of sporting seasons. Horses were housed in two riding centers and fed high-quality meadow hay (10–12 kg depending on body weight), supplemented with a complete feed mixture (2–5 kg depending on workload), with ad libitum access to water. All horses were stabled in individual boxes. Heart rate and energy expenditure were measured using the CEEFIT Pulse & ECG system by Seaver. Analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in HR between groups: less experienced horses had an average HR of 93.92 beats/min, whereas experienced horses exhibited values approximately 9.81 beats/min higher. This difference may be attributed to more intense interaction between rider and horse in the experienced group, while the lower HR in less experienced horses likely reflects reduced exercise intensity. Significant correlations were observed between exercise duration and HR (p < 0.001), as well as between exercise duration and energy expenditure (p < 0.001). In less experienced horses, a strong correlation between HR and energy expenditure was also detected (p < 0.0005), whereas in experienced horses, only a correlation between HR and energy expenditure was confirmed (p < 0.0001). The results confirm substantial differences in physiological parameters between groups and highlight the impact of training intensity on the horse’s organism. These findings emphasize the necessity of a differentiated approach to training program design to optimize the overall training process.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Monika Šmondrková, Marko Halo, Stanislav Zaťko, Eva Mlyneková, Marko Halo Jr.
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