Heart Rate Monitoring in Mangalarga Marchador Horses During a Field Marcha Test.
Authors: Coelho Clarisse Simões, Adam Gustavo Luiz, Agra de Omena E Silva Gabriella, Silva de Carvalho Renan, Cuña de Souza Vinicius Ricardo, Fazio Francesco
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Heart Rate Monitoring in Mangalarga Marchador Horses During Field Marcha Testing Evaluating cardiovascular response during actual field work provides objective data on training intensity and fitness adaptation that can directly inform adjustments to conditioning programmes and nutritional support. Researchers used integrated heart rate monitors with GPS technology to track 15 Mangalarga Marchador horses throughout a 40-minute marcha exercise session, recording maximum and average heart rates alongside velocity metrics and recovery parameters. The horses demonstrated consistent cardiovascular stability, reaching their working heart rate within 2 minutes and maintaining approximately 60–70% of maximum heart rate (around 140 bpm) throughout the exercise—a pattern indicating predominantly aerobic metabolism rather than anaerobic stress. All animals completed the trial and recovered clinically within 30 minutes, covering 7.15 km at maximum speeds of 3.75 m/s, suggesting this population was well-adapted to the gait demands. For professionals managing athletic horses in tropical environments, systematic heart rate monitoring during breed-specific gaits offers a practical, non-invasive assessment tool to optimise training load, prevent overexertion, and maintain performance whilst prioritising animal welfare.
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Practical Takeaways
- •HR monitors with GPS can reliably track fitness and training intensity in Mangalarga Marchador horses during field work, allowing real-time adjustments to prevent overtraining
- •Marcha gait stabilizes at predictable HR and speed values early in exercise (2 minutes), enabling trainers to quickly assess if horses are working at appropriate aerobic intensity for conditioning
- •Monitoring that animals maintain 60-70% HRmax during marcha work helps optimize training protocols and ensures welfare in tropical climates where heat stress is a concern
Key Findings
- •Mangalarga Marchador horses reached stable speed (3.75 ± 0.39 m/s) and heart rate within 2 minutes of marcha exercise that remained constant for the 40-minute duration
- •Animals worked predominantly in aerobic zone at 60-70% of maximal heart rate (~140 beats/min) during marcha gait
- •Heart rate monitoring with GPS-integrated system successfully differentiated exercise intensity and physical conditioning levels in this horse breed under tropical field conditions
- •All horses completed 40-minute marcha test covering 7.15 ± 1.06 km with full clinical recovery after 30 minutes