Heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring provides a non-invasive window into equine autonomic nervous system function that reflects stress, health, and welfare state.
Heart rate variability monitoring represents a significant welfare advance for horses by providing continuous, objective information about autonomic welfare state. Traditional welfare assessment relies on behavioral observation, which requires presence and skill. HRV monitoring provides continuous data that reveals stress responses invisible to behavioral observation, including pre-visible physiological changes that could allow earlier intervention. The rider HRV biofeedback research adds an interesting dimension: improving rider relaxation through biofeedback training improves horse HRV, demonstrating the direct welfare connection between human emotional state and horse welfare during riding.