Besides fatigue, what factors affect heart rate during and after exercise?
Fear, excitement, or even the presence of a groom or handler can cause the heart rate to increase, and this effect must be taken into account as a horse’s pulse is recorded. This variation can be minimized somewhat by getting the horse accustomed to having the heart rate checked after exercise. In a horse whose recovery pattern is known, an increased heart rate after exercise can be an important signal of pain or discomfort. Trainers can use this sign as an early indicator of fever, lameness, or breathing difficulties, problems which should be ruled out before training is continued. What is the relationship between feeding practices and heart rate? One study showed that ponies fasted 24 hours before moderate exercise had lower heart rates than those given feed and alfalfa hay before performing the same exercise. Another study found lower heart rates in horses fed eight hours before exercise compared to those fed three hours before exercise. In a fat supplementation trial, horses that w
