A new study that tracks the hearts of horses may help prevent more accidents that often harm both horses and riders.

Many of the horses who competed at Saturday's event were riding with a little bit extra under their saddles. Researchers from the Equine Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research study equipped horses with a heart monitoring device under their saddles.

The study's goal is to identify factors that may influence performance or safety issues, that can prove to be very dangerous.

Life threatening accidents like the one in 2008, where the horse mis-stepped while going over a hurdle, has researchers focusing on the horses' hearts when they're most active.

"Although we listen to the hearts of the horses before they compete and as you can see here at the finish. We don't know what's going on when the horse is competing out there jumping," said Equine Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Researcher, Catherine Kohn.

And riders say the research is vital.

"I think it's a great idea to find out more and as much as we can really about what's going on with their bodies and just the physiology involved in the sport," said rider, Mary Kate Mallory.

This is the second horse competition where the research group performed the study. The first was conducted at the Plantation Field Horse trials in 2009.

Researchers say they are still working on refining the study. One of the obstacles they face is getting the heart monitors to stick to the horses while they compete.