Heart Rate & Horsepower: The Engine of Performance

 The equine world is often resistant to change, and utilising the latest technology. However, we need to embrace this, and allow it to improve our knowledge, direct our training and learn more about our horses.

That is why, at AEP, we are now utilising a heart rate (HR) monitor within our performance pathway. It allows us to have a direct measure of the horse's fitness levels and allows us to create a bespoke training plan for that horse - meaning quicker, longer lasting results, as well as a healthier, higher performing horse! 

Intrigued by what a HR monitor could tell you about your horse?? 

Think of your horse's heart as its engine. The more efficiently that engine works, the better the performance. Heart rate monitoring allows us to:

• Monitor Workload Intensity: Is your horse working hard enough to build fitness, or too hard, risking overtraining? This is often a very hard part to judge; as one fitness programme won’t be (or shouldn’t be) the same as another. HR provides an objective measure (i.e. a number!) of exertion, far more reliable than just speed or perceived effort (our own judgement).

• Track Fitness Progression: As your horse gets fitter, their heart rate at a given speed or workload will decrease, and their recovery time will shorten. This measure cannot be quibbled - it is a number, and can be incredibly motivating when it improves and helps you see the tangible results of your training. It will give you the feedback of when your horse is at their peak fitness.

• Identify Fatigue and Overtraining: A HR that stays unusually high during work, or takes a long time to return to normal after exercise, can be a red flag for fatigue or overtraining. Catching these signs early can prevent burnout, injury, and a dip in performance. You are unlikely to see or feel this under saddle! 

• Optimise Recovery: How quickly your horse's heart rate drops after intense work is a key indicator of their recovery efficiency (the quicker the better!). Monitoring this allows you to tailor cool-down periods as this is essential to preventing injuries and making sure they come out their best the next day. 

• Personalise Training Plans: Every horse is an individual. What's an easy trot for one might be a strenuous effort for another. HR monitoring allows you to create truly bespoke fitness plans that cater to your horse's unique physiology, ensuring they are challenged appropriately without being pushed too far- that’s where we come in! All of our horses on the performance pathway, have totally bespoke training plans, which are reviewed every month! 

• Pinpoint Underlying Issues: An unexpected spike or sustained high HR during routine work could sometimes signal an underlying discomfort, pain, or even an early stage of illness. Early detection can lead to prompt veterinary intervention, preventing minor issues from becoming major problems.

  
  

Building a Fitness Plan Around Heart Rate

Integrating heart rate monitoring into your training isn't complicated, but it is transformative. Here's how it works:

1. Baseline Assessment: Start by establishing your horse's resting heart rate and their heart rate at various gaits (walk, trot, canter) on a consistent surface.

2. Set Training Zones: Work with your trainer or an equine fitness expert to define specific heart rate zones for different types of work (e.g., aerobic base building, strength work, speed work).

3. Monitor Consistently: Use a reliable heart rate monitor during your training sessions. Many modern systems provide real-time data and can record sessions for later analysis.

4. Analyze and Adapt: After each session, review the data. How did your horse's heart rate respond? Did they stay in the target zone? How quickly did they recover? Use these insights to adjust the next training session.

5. Focus on Recovery: Pay close attention to recovery rates. A fit horse's heart rate should drop significantly within 5-10 minutes post-exercise.

   
   

The Competitive Edge

For competitive riders, heart rate monitoring offers a distinct advantage. It allows you to:

• Peak for Competition: Precisely time your conditioning to ensure your horse is at their absolute fittest for key events.

• Manage Travel Stress: Monitor HR during travel to understand and mitigate stress, ensuring your horse arrives ready to perform.

• Understand Course Demands: Analyze heart rate data from competition rounds to understand the physiological demands of different courses and adjust future training accordingly.

  
  

Ultimately, understanding and utilising HR data empowers you to make smarter, more informed training decisions. It's about moving beyond guesswork and embracing a scientific approach to equine fitness that truly fuels success, ensuring your equine partner is not just performing, but thriving. At AEP, we will advocate for anything that can make the process of training more ethical and more productive for all. This simple way of measuring how hard your horse is working, allows us to identify lack of fitness, give you strategies and processes to gaining their fitness, and monitor this throughout your training and competition.