Locomotory Profile, Heart Rate Variability, and Blood Parameters Reveal Adaptive Responses in Endurance Horses Trained on Deep Sand

Simple Summary Endurance horses are special athletes that must sustain effort over very long distances, often in challenging conditions. In the United Arab Emirates, endurance horses are usually trained on deep sand, which is thought to be particularly demanding, as it requires high muscular effort compared to firm ground. This study investigated how endurance horses adapted to deep sand training by looking at their movement patterns, heart function, and blood changes. Results showed that horses mainly increased their stride length to reach higher speeds on sand, and that those with better recovery capacity had higher parasympathetic activity, a marker of fitness and fatigue resilience. Blood tests showed increases in red blood cell measures after training, indicating high oxygen-carrying capacity during exercise. These findings show that modern monitoring tools can help trainers and veterinarians track fitness, reduce the risk of fatigue or injury, and improve both performance and welfare in endurance horses.Abstract Training on deep sand is commonly employed in endurance horses, but its physiological adaptation remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize locomotor adaptations during a 7 km controlled-speed canter on deep sand in eighteen endurance horses, to identify heart rate variability (HRV) components, and to investigate changes in hematological variables before and after exercise. Stride frequency (SF) and stride length (SL), HRV, and hematological profiles were recorded during exercise and recovery with a fitness tracker. Associations between maximum speed and locomotor parameters were assessed by linear regression, while Pearson's correlation assessed HRV relationships, also with physiological parameters. Hematological parameters were assessed with paired t-test before and after training. SL percentage change was the strongest predictor of speed (beta = 0.677). HRV analysis revealed delayed parasympathetic reactivation; the parasympathetic recovery index (PNS REC) was correlated with mean RR interval on the ECG (r = 0.968) and heart rate (r = -0.964) during recovery. Post-exercise rectal temperature showed correlations with HRV recovery indices. Hematological evaluation revealed post-exercise increases in red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and corpuscular indices. SL plays a predominant role in achieving higher speeds on deep sand, while PNS REC emerges as a practical and accessible marker of autonomic recovery and fatigue. Horses with enhanced thermoregulation recover better. Hematological results confirm a physiological stress response that may optimize oxygen delivery. Integrating locomotor, cardiovascular, and hematological monitoring may improve management and welfare in endurance training.