Speed and Cardiac Recovery Variables Predict the Probability of Elimination in Equine Endurance Events.

ABSTRACT: Nearly 50% of the horses participating in endurance events are eliminated at a veterinary examination (a vet gate). Detecting unfit horses before a health problem occurs and treatment is required is a challenge for veterinarians but is essential for improving equine welfare. We hypothesized that it would be possible to detect unfit horses earlier in the event by measuring heart rate recovery variables. Hence, the objective of the present study was to compute logistic regressions of heart rate, cardiac recovery time and average speed data recorded at the previous vet gate (n-1) and thus predict the probability of elimination during successive phases (n and following) in endurance events. Speed and heart rate data were extracted from an electronic database of endurance events (80-160 km in l

SUBMITTER: Younes M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4556447 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature