Road to Rodeo with Rhonda Hartman: Horse Fact Friday: Fitness Levels & Risk of Injury

In our home we say to train like you fight. And training your horse to fitness levels that match the level of competition is no exception.

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar on equine fitness levels. I got a brilliant lecture, as well as demonstration on horse heart rates in specific situations. This lecture and presentation stuck with me. I've always maintained fit horses, and I've been fortunate in terms of injuries during competition. But after this lecture and doing research, I don't think it was luck. I think my fitness program for my horses helped them avoid injury.

At the bottom of this post, you will find the articles where much of this information comes from. I encourage you to research this more as well. As ambassadors of our equestrian sport (no matter which sport that is) we are responsible for educating ourselves so that we can do what is best for our horse partners.

In a study that Practical Horseman published they followed nine ponies and 20 horses as they were prepping for the European Eventing Championships in 2010 and 2011. Each pony or horse was testing using a standardized exercise test which comprised of four consecutive 1000 meter gallops at 6.7, 8.3, 10, and 11.7 (or top speed) mps. The heart rates, respiration rate, and blood tests to check for plasma-lactate was done after each run and then again after a ten minute cool down walk. This test was done at the start of training and then again, after 11 weeks of competition training. At the start of training, horses and ponies were separated into average or good fitness levels.

By the 11 week mark only four horses and three ponies remained. The most common cause of withdrawal was "locomotor injuries" which included tendon injuries, fetlock injuries, and unknown lameness. When researchers looked at which horses were withdrawn the majority were from the average fitness level group. Overall the horses that remained sound had lower heart rates than horses that were reported as injured.

In a study shared by Mad Barn, a disruption in exercise routines at racetracks in California, New York, and Florida showed that horses who had their routine disrupted were more prone to race-related injuries. KER reports that horses who have a higher rate of lactate during and after competition are not being trained sufficiently. Higher levels of lactate are frequently correlated with higher rates of injury.

In addition to reducing injury, keeping horses fit improves their gait, flexibility, improves bone mass, increases cartilage thickness, and improves joint health. Those are just the physical benefits of keeping a horse fit. Regular training is mentally stimulating and decreases some behaviors that are associated with boredom.

But is it enough to have a fit horse?

Not according to Oklahoma State Extension. The type of exercise and training matters as well. Your horse needs to exercise with specificity to increase their ability to perform. They need to train how they will compete. This is not to say that if you're a barrel racer like me that all the exercise should be done on the pattern. That's a good way to make your horse hate the barrel pattern. However, you should identify the types of moves, acceleration, and agility your horse will need for your specific event then find ways to exercise and train utilizing those moves. This will increase muscle fibers that are required for your event which, in turn, will increase their ability to perform.

And make sure you aren't skipping warm ups and cool downs. Warming up is shown to increase speed as well as provide a mental shift in the mindset of both horse and rider. Cool downs at the walk or trot show a faster clearance of lactate which enhances recovery time.

How can you test your horses fitness level?

According to EquiDocVet, there are five major components to testing equine fitness levels.

Heart Rate - A resting heart rate should be between 28 and 48 beats per minute (BPM). Testing for fitness means taking a resting heart rate, performing an exercise test, then testing to see what the recovery time is back to resting. The faster the recovery means a more fit horse.
Respiratory Rate - A normal resting respiratory rate is between 8 and 16 breathes per minute. A fit horse's respiratory rate after intense exercise should return to normal within 15 to 20 minutes.
Body Condition Scoring - Using the hennecke scale evaluate your horses BCS. Overweight horses have a higher risk for increased strain on joints, tendons, and ligaments putting them at a higher risk for injury. Underweight horses will have a hard time building muscle putting them at higher risk for injury.
Energy and Feel - This one is harder to evaluate objectively, and involves knowing your animal. Essentially the rider should be able to ascertain whether there is a dramatic difference from the start of a training session to the end of it. Is the horse absolutely worn out or still feels like they have energy? If the horse is worn out, then that's an indicator that the level of exercise is too high for the current fitness level. Things should be adjusted and gradually increased to avoid injury. Tired animals are more prone to injury.
Improvement of Stats - Have an exercise test that you periodically check to see if there is improvement. Improvement means increased fitness which is the goal.

Fitness of our animals can help them decrease injury and feel better about their work. It can also help us feel more confident knowing we are headed into competition on a well prepared horse that is up to the challenge.

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