Save

Effect of gait on, and repeatability of heart rate and heart rate variability measurements in exercising Warmblood dressage horses

In: Comparative Exercise Physiology
Authors:
T. Frippiat Sportpaardenarts – Equine Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 170, 1250 AD Laren, The Netherlands

Search for other papers by T. Frippiat in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6581-728X
,
C. van Beckhoven Heart for Horses, Duifhuisweg 19, 5061 KZ Oisterwijk, The Netherlands

Search for other papers by C. van Beckhoven in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
V.J. van Gasselt Vincent van Gasselt Dressage, P.O. Box 170, 1250 AD Laren, The Netherlands

Search for other papers by V.J. van Gasselt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
A. Dugdale Paragon Veterinary Referrals, Paragon Business Village, 1 Red Hall Crescent, Wakefield, WF1 2DF, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by A. Dugdale in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6577-968X
, and
J.M. Vandeweerd Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (IVRU) – Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium

Search for other papers by J.M. Vandeweerd in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2482-4878
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€36.93

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measurement of the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation to the myocardium. Used as an indicator of health, welfare and fitness level, its measurement during exercise has been suggested to be helpful in sport horses. The aims of this study were to assess the within- and between-day repeatability of time-domain HRV-measurements during exercise, and to evaluate the effect of gait (as a factor of increasing exercise intensity) on HRV. Heart rate (HR), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between normal heartbeats and the standard deviation of normal (R-R) intervals (SDNN) were assessed during a standardised exercise test (SET) on five consecutive days in a sample of 21 healthy Warmblood dressage horses. All variables showed good between-day repeatability (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient), while only RMSSD showed reliable within-day repeatability (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Increase of exercise intensity was significantly associated with increased HR and decreased RMSSD and SDNN, with a negative correlation between HR and the two HRV-measurements. HR and HRV values varied significantly with intensity of exercise (rest, walk, trot, canter and whole SET), though HRV at rest was not different to that at walk, and HRV at trot was not different to that at canter. In conclusion, the results of this study support the use and show the repeatability of time-domain HRV-measurements during exercise in Warmblood dressage horses. Further investigation for use of HRV in other equestrian disciplines, levels and health state is warranted.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1394 202 14
Full Text Views 120 22 0
PDF Views & Downloads 263 48 0