The heartrate reveals the condition of the horse!
A good condition is a prerequisite for good performance. It would be unfair to expect outstanding performance from your horse, without providing the right training to build a standard stamina, it’s as simple as that. And there’s no better way than checking the condition of your horse, than by using systematic heartrate monitoring during your training.
FAQ Heartrate monitoring
WHAT
Heartrate monitoring is the continuously measurement and display of a horse’s heart rate, typically expressed in beats per minute (bpm). This monitoring helps trainers track the horse’s fitness, wellness, and recovery during and after training.
HOW
The horse wears a monitoring device during training, which consists of two conducting electrodes: one above the heart and one below. Electrical contact between these two, will be picked up by a transmitter, and sent real-time to the receiver (e.g. a watch).
why
Heartrate monitoring is a reliable, quick and easy way to work on building your horse’s condition. It provides real-time feedback on exertion levels. Trainers can thus adjust workouts precisely, ensuring optimal fitness and performance without risking over-extertion. As your horse becomes fitter, it can perform at higher speeds or greater intensities with a lower heart rate.
WHAT WE OFFER
Horses are known for their ‘will to please’ and sometimes it's hard to tell if they are (too) tired or sore when you ride them... Because of this, there is a high risk of horses becoming overtrained or undertrained, which can reduce performance.
There are several benefits to using a heart rate monitor for horses while riding. With a heart rate monitor you can record the horse's heart rate from second to second, in other words: you can very easily record the horse's work level! This makes it easier to prevent muscle problems or other injuries due to (extreme) lactic acid formation. Horses will be happier to work and in many cases you can see that horses become more agile and that rhythm problems disappear.
If your horse has already been injured, heart rate training can help your horse's rehabilitation by registering its heart rate when it works, and once you know the horse's baseline values using the heart rate monitor, you can create a training programme that is adapted to the individual horse.
To get going with heart rate monitoring, we have different options:
Webinars
Infosessions
Lactate tests
online sessions that we offer once a year, where you will learn a lot about the basic of anatomy, traning principles and what tools to use
we come out to you club, riding school or group of friends and where give a presentation about training principles and what to look out for in training your horse’s condition the right way
our in house veterinarian comes, takes a basic test and then accurately measures the VO2 Max so you know exactly where your Max is so you can optimise your training
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our packages
You are more than welcome to make an appointment for us to visit you to determine your horse's baseline values and its current training/condition. You'll ride a 30-minute test - preferably on a good, large arena or oval track - where we record the horse's heart rate in the different gaits (walk, trot, canter, and possibly tölt or pace). Afterwards, we can say something about the horse's current training condition and give advice on how to improve the horse's fitness.
We also offer to create an extended individual training programme for you and your horse. The training programme covers a period from a few weeks to several months, depending on the goal, training intensity and training length. Of course, the methods are customised to the horse and rider.
We offer three different packages to get your horse and you started:
BASIC
We test you and your horse with a
heartratemonitor so you know what the condition of your horse is with a basic program
800 dkk*
Tip: we recommend this package for beginner riders who want to start exploring training based on heart rate monitoring.
PLUS
Includes basic package, plus a VO2Max lactate test and a detailed
8 week program
1450 dkk*
Tip: we recommend this package for mid and experienced riders who either have been using HR monitoring, or want to dive head-to-toe into HR monitoring and discover all the benefits of personalised HR monitoring programs.
PRO
Includes Plus, including online heartrate coaching and regular updates (subscription)
600 dkk* pr month pr horse
* The first 30 km from our home base is free, after which we charge travelcosts
Prepayment will happen by invoice
Training is the PLANNED allocation of TRAINING TIME with the GOAL of increasing performance
our customers say
My horse showed a drastic improvement and is clearly enjoying his training more.
Thanks Kimbel for the great support
Passionate about heartrate
Kimbel Kwaak
Owner and passionate heartrate monitor
Louise Vanlommel
Veterinarian
With years of experience, in training both her own horses as well as others’, Kimbel is able to see the bigger picture ánd have an eye for detail.
Since 1989, Kimbel has been working with Icelandic horses. Along with breeding, training and riding them, Kimbel has started her heart rate monitoring training journey herself. When getting her horse and herself ready for the Dutch National Championships, she quickly discovered that in order to get your horse into shape for a challenge like this, monitoring your horse’s heart rate plays a crucial part. After experiencing the results first hand, she started teaching others as well.
Since then, Kimbel has helped dozens of people getting their horse into shape. She has given presentations to groups, both in the Netherlands and Denmark, along with setting up individual training programs after stamina tests. Kimbel combines her own experience with a ton of gained knowledge. With these two, her biggest asset is being able to see what the horse needs, and adjusting the training accordingly.
Combining the academical physiological knowledge she gained during her studies and career as a vet, with her analytic way of thinking.
From a young age, Louise’s life has also been submerged in the Icelandic horses’ world. She has trained her young mare through trial and error, while trying out various training ‘systems’. After graduating as a veterinarian in 2022 in Belgium, Louise wanted to do more with the academical knowledge she gained during her studies.
After moving to Denmark and being even more exposed to Gimli, their trainers and heart rate monitoring, she gladly joined the team. Louise is now working on implementing and experiencing the benefits of heart rate monitoring during training.
Louise is the one that is accountable for the lactate tests to ensure we precisely know what the tipping point is after which the horse will start building lactate acid in the muscles.
SOME IMPRESSIONS OF HOW WE WORK
