Hartpury University Repository

Tabor, Gillian

Marlin, David

Williams, Jane

CAN HUMAN TRAINING LOAD QUANTIFICATION
BE APPLIED TO EQUINE TRAINING?
Gillian Tabor*, David Marlin and Jane Williams
Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, GL19 3BE, 
*Corresponding author: gillian.tabor@hartpury.ac.uk
INTRODUCTION
Optimal training requires understanding of exercise variables to achieve enhanced performance and progression. Rating of
perceived exertion scales (RPE) are validated as proxy measures for physiological workload in human sport, alongside
Edwards’ training load. Edwards’ methodology measures the product of the accumulated training duration (in minutes) of five
heart rate (HR) zones by using a coefficient relative to each zone and then summating the results. Both methods are validated
to monitor Training load (TL) in human athletes [1].
Research objective: to investigate if training load calculations derived from HR and RPE scales could 
potentially offer a simple measure of workload in equine training regimens.
METHOD
• Sample: 32 horses; 16 Warmblood/part-bred sport horses and
16 Thoroughbred racehorses; aged: 7.5±2.8 years
• HR data (Fig. 1) were obtained during exercise across a range of
equestrian disciplines: dressage/showjumping (n=16) and
thoroughbred race training (n=16).
• Based on Edwards’ TL, duration (mins.) spent within five pre-
defined training zones (Fig.2 & 4) were factored to obtain
internal TL.
• RPE (Fig.3) were collected from experienced riders and trainers
who were blinded to the HR data, reflecting horses‘ RPE for
entire sessions then multiplied by exercise duration to
determine session RPE TL.
• Spearman’s correlations (p<0.05) identified if relationships
existed between session RPE and internal TL.
REFERENCES: [1] Clarke, N., Farthing, J.P., Norris, S.R., Arnold, B.E. and Lanovaz, J.L., 2013. Quantification of training load in Canadian football: application of 
session-RPE in collision-based team sports. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(8), pp.2198-2205.
RESULTS
• Statistically significant positive correlations between 
session RPE TL and internal TL were found for both 
riders and trainers ratings of TL (Fig. 5)
• Riders: cohort: r=0.80 p=0.0001
 sports-horses: r=0.81 p=0.0001 
 racehorses: r=0.72 p=0.002 
• Trainers: cohort: r=0.82 p=0.0001 
 sports-horses: r=0.89 p=0.0001 
 racehorses: r=0.94 p=0.0001
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest session RPE TL and internal TL can be used as inexpensive and easy tools to quantify TL and objectively
assess progress in training. Further study of novice owners and riders use of session RPE could determine if experience level
determines ability to assess TL. In addition, exploration of optimal HR zone allocation for specific ages, disciplines and breeds,
alongside application of TL monitoring within equestrianism, is warranted.
Fig. 5: Correlation between all cohorts session-RPE TL and Internal TL 
Rating Work level
1 Very very easy
2 Easy 
3 Moderate 
4 Somewhat hard
5 Hard 
6
7 Very hard
8
9
10 Maximal 
ZONE
HEART 
RATE (BPM)
1 <80
2 81-120
3 121-160
4 161-200
5 >200
Fig. 4 Example 
graph 
demonstrating the 
five heart rate 
zones
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Se
ss
io
n
 –
R
P
E 
TL
Internal TL
Fig. 1(above): Polar HR electrodes and watch.
Fig.2 (top right) Heart Rate Zones
Fig.3 (right) Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)  
Foster’s modified Borg scale
r=0.89
p<0.05


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