Exercising arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in horses: Review of the literature and comparative aspects.
Authors: Navas de Solis C
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
Exercise-induced arrhythmias in horses are frequently detected during and immediately after athletic work, yet distinguishing benign rhythm variations from clinically significant ones remains a substantial challenge in equine practice. De Solis's 2016 literature review synthesised current understanding of exercising arrhythmias and their potential links to both poor performance and sudden cardiac death (SCD), whilst drawing comparative lessons from human sports cardiology protocols. Although SCD in equine athletes is statistically uncommon, its occurrence during competition carries profound implications for rider safety and public perception of equestrian welfare. The review highlights that whilst suspected relationships exist between certain exercising arrhythmias and adverse outcomes, evidence-based mechanisms remain incompletely understood, underscoring gaps between equine and human athletic screening standards. For practitioners managing competition horses, this work emphasises the need for systematic baseline cardiac assessment and careful interpretation of exercise-induced rhythm disturbances, rather than dismissing all arrhythmias as incidental findings.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Not all arrhythmias detected during or after exercise require intervention; distinguish between clinically significant and benign rhythm variations in athletic horses
- •Maintain high awareness of sudden cardiac death risk despite its rarity, as it poses serious safety risks to riders and spectators during competition
- •Apply comparative knowledge from human sports cardiology when evaluating and managing equine athletes with suspected exercise-related cardiac issues
Key Findings
- •Arrhythmias are common in equine athletes during and immediately after exercise, with many being clinically irrelevant
- •A suspected but unproven link exists between exercising arrhythmias and poor performance or sudden cardiac death in horses
- •Sudden cardiac death during races or competitions is rare but has significant safety and welfare implications
- •Current principles and recommendations for equine exercise arrhythmias differ from those established for human athletes