Precision Livestock Farming in show jumping horses: Interaction between nutrition, training and performance

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is an innovative method for managing livestock that uses advanced technologies to monitor animals in real time. PLF integrates disciplines such as veterinary science, animal science, and computer science to improve animal management through sensors and algorithms. A major advancement in PLF is Precision Nutrition (PN), which adjusts animals' diets based on their physiological state or performance goals. For sport horses, PN is crucial for maintaining the proper Body Condition Score (BCS) and enhancing performance. For example, energy requirements for a working horse can increase up to 2.2 times that of a horse at rest. Tools like the "RumiWatchSystem" track chewing movements, allowing early detection of health problems. Understanding an animal's nutritional needs and using PN devices can significantly improve feeding efficiency and welfare. In sport horse training, PLF also plays a vital role. Tools like infrared cameras and AI systems can monitor gait and detect lameness early, while sensors like accelerometers and heart rate monitors track fitness and performance. Accelerometers assess jumping quality and potential injuries, and heart rate monitors help optimize training by preventing horses from exceeding their anaerobic threshold for too long. Exceeding this threshold leads to the risk of lactic acid buildup, impairing muscle function. During exercise, ATP, the main energy source, must be rapidly replenished via aerobic or anaerobic pathways. Show jumping activates both pathways, but anaerobic metabolism, involving glycolysis, results in lactic acid buildup. High lactic acid levels, above 4 mmol/l, reduce endurance and muscle efficiency. PLF technologies, combined with genetic monitoring, offer new ways to enhance sport horse training and performance. Genetic analysis helps select horses with traits that lead to better performance and longevity, while tools like accelerometers enable training adjustments based on real-time data. This study aimed to apply PLF tools to monitor heart rate and blood lactate levels in show jumping horses, evaluating their physical effort during training. Seven sport horses were monitored to understand how training influences their performance and fatigue levels. These horses, kept in well-maintained stables, regularly competed in show jumping events. Heart rate and lactate levels were measured using a Polar H10 sensor and a Lactate Pro 2 device during training sessions. The study focused on heart rate changes during jumps and the cool-down phase. Heart rate data, analysed using repeated measures ANOVA, showed no statistically significant differences in heart rate during the three minutes after the last peak in beats per minute (P = 0.3156). This may be due to the study's small sample size, which could skew the results. Despite this limitation, the study demonstrated the importance of trotting cool-downs in restoring heart rate and clearing lactic acid to avoid training issues in subsequent days. Regarding lactate analysis, the paired t-test showed statistical significance (P = 0.0008), indicating higher post-exercise lactate levels than at rest. This demonstrates that intense workouts, particularly those exceeding the anaerobic threshold (150–170 bpm), lead to lactic acid accumulation in the blood. In conclusion, PLF tools such as heart rate monitors and lactate analysers provide valuable insights into a horse's physical condition and allow training programs to be tailored to their specific needs. This not only enhances performance but also helps prevent overtraining and injuries, ensuring the well-being of the horses.