Methods · 5 min
Turning thresholds into heart-rate training zones
Use HRLa2 and HRLa4 to guide everyday work without taking blood every session.
12 June 2026
Lactate tests are occasional, but training happens every day. Linking thresholds to heart rate lets you carry the test results into ordinary sessions.
Three practical zones
- Aerobic base: below HRLa2, for long steady work.
- Threshold: between HRLa2 and HRLa4, for tempo work that builds aerobic power.
- Anaerobic peak: above HRLa4, for short, sharp efforts with full recovery.
Re-test regularly
As fitness changes, so do the zones. Re-testing every 6 to 8 weeks during a conditioning block keeps them accurate.
Ready to put the numbers to work?
Log your horse's step tests and recovery checks, and get VLa2, VLa4 and clear training zones on one curve.