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veterinary
2024
Cohort Study

Autonomic regulation in athletic horses repetitively participating in two novice jumping classes on consecutive days.

Authors: Wonghanchao Thita, Huangsaksri Onjira, Sanigavatee Kanokpan, Poochipakorn Chanoknun, Chanprame Sarisa, Wongkosoljit Sirapatch, Chotiyothin Wanlapa, Rattanayanon Nontaruj, Kiawwan Ratsamin, Chanda Metha

Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science

Summary

# Editorial Summary Consecutive-day competition schedules are commonplace in equestrian jumping, yet little is known about cumulative physiological stress from back-to-back events. This 2024 study evaluated heart rate variability (HRV)—a sensitive marker of autonomic nervous system balance—in athletic horses competing in two novice jumping classes on consecutive days, comparing parasympathetic and sympathetic activation before, during, and after each competition. The researchers found that HRV parameters shifted significantly between days, with reduced parasympathetic tone and elevated sympathetic dominance on day two, suggesting incomplete autonomic recovery and accumulated fatigue despite the novice-level demands. These findings have direct implications for competition scheduling and recovery protocols: even moderately-skilled horses show measurable physiological stress accumulation across consecutive days, indicating that rest days between competitions may be necessary for genuine parasympathetic restoration rather than merely superficial recovery. For farriers, physiotherapists, and competition managers, this evidence supports implementing structured recovery time between events and monitoring individual horses' baseline HRV to personalise work loads—particularly relevant when horses are entered in multiple classes or consecutive fixtures, as continuing to load an already-sympathetically activated nervous system may compromise both performance and welfare.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Practical Takeaways

  • HRV monitoring may provide objective data on stress levels in competition horses, helping identify when consecutive-day events may exceed individual horse welfare thresholds
  • Consider using autonomic nervous system markers alongside traditional welfare assessments when planning back-to-back competition schedules for athletic horses
  • Individual horses may show different stress response patterns to consecutive jumping classes; personalized assessment rather than one-size-fits-all scheduling may better support welfare

Key Findings

  • Heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess autonomic nervous system regulation and stress responses in jumping horses competing on consecutive days
  • Consecutive days of novice jumping competition resulted in measurable changes in stress response markers via HRV analysis
  • The study demonstrates that animal welfare assessment in equestrian sports can be evaluated through autonomic regulation monitoring

Conditions Studied

stress response in athletic horsesrepetitive jumping competitionconsecutive-day competition participation

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