Date of Award
5-2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science - Agriculture
Department
Agriculture
First Advisor
John Michael Mehaffey
Second Advisor
Joe T. Mask
Third Advisor
Kimberly Reuscher
Fourth Advisor
Sharon Rice
Abstract
Barrel racing demands peak physical performance from equine athletes, yet limited research evaluates the field-based strategies used to optimize equine recovery at competition. This study assessed recovery management approaches used by competitors to elucidate their influence of physiological recovery by measuring heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature during a high-profile barrel race competition. Physiological data were collected at baseline, immediately post-exercise, and during a 15–30-minute cooldown period to characterize recovery under real-world conditions. Significant increases in HR, RR, and BT occurred from baseline to post-run (p < 0.001), followed by reductions during cooldown (p < 0.01), though values remained elevated (p < 0.05). Rinsing reduced HR and RR (p < 0.01), while shade and fans decreased RR and variably influenced HR. Noise, as a confounding variable, decreased HR but increased BT (p < 0.001). Ultimately, these results emphasize multimodal recovery approaches in competitive equine management in the field.
Repository Citation
Hetrick, Lauran E., "Post-Exercise Vitals Recovery Response in Barrel Horses: A Field Study on Cooling Methods Used by Competitors" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 690.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/690
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
