A Simple ECG Test Could Flag Racehorses at Risk of Exercise Arrhythmias

A new study led by the University of Surrey shows that a brief heart trace taken during a warm-up trot can help identify racehorses at risk of cardiac arrhythmias during intense exercise. Using an AI system developed by researchers, the method analyzes short electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings taken at rest or light activity to detect subtle irregularities in heart signals. The study, involving 110 racehorses, found the AI could accurately distinguish at-risk horses, achieving strong predictive performance. Importantly, it is especially effective at ruling out horses not at risk, allowing veterinarians to focus further testing on those flagged.

This approach could improve safety by identifying potential cardiac issues earlier, rather than waiting for problems to appear during peak exertion. Researchers believe the method could enhance monitoring, performance, and welfare in racehorses while offering insights applicable to human medicine.