HRMs can monitor emotional states such as excitement, fear or anxiety, and help solve issues in jumping performance (e.g. sudden refusals or rushing). In other words: The heart is the engine that makes the horse run! Basic equine heart rate parameters

The sensor holds up to three days of data, and has a battery life of 1-2 years, with replacement batteries available. You might also notice that your horse’s level of fitness declines over time. Is he approaching retirement where this seems appropriate, or is your horse hurting somewhere and that is affecting his fitness. The information you collect is a starting point – nothing more. Heart rate is the most reliable indicator of your horse's condition when used before, during, and after exercise. Since the cardiovascular system is responsible for delivering blood to the muscles and removing by-products of metabolism, it is central to the horse's musculoskeletel system's ability to function.

As you are measuring your horse’s heart rate after exercise, also jot down his respirations to see how easily they return to a resting state. Exercise or push the horse to a heart rate just under 150 beats per minute. This is the aerobic threshold benchmark. Note the recovery heart rate two minutes after exercise and again at 10 minutes after exercise. At two minutes, it should have dropped to around 100 beats per minute and at 10 minutes should be less than 60 beats per minute. Please do not send multiple submissions (articles that have been sent to more than one publication) unless you have received confirmation that the story will not be used by another magazine. Although we prefer to use original material only, we do sometimes publish book excerpts. Do not, however, send book-length manuscripts.

The Smart Halter from Night Watch is a leather halter that has vital sign monitoring built-in. You do need to recharge regularly. It’s not designed to be used under saddle. Heart issues in horses range from having no significance, to mildly limiting, to life-threatening. Disease can develop rapidly (acute) or slowly (chronic). Very few horses have problems, but tests can determine extremely variable underlying causes. History is always part of diagnosing heart disease, but there is still much to learn about the equine heart. When using a heart rate monitor as a fitness indicator, consistent record keeping is a must. Over time, decisions to alter intensity, duration, or type of exercise to further the fitness level of the horse can be based on changes in heart rate. It allows comparisons of several horses, as well as showing an individual horse's progress during successive workouts. Most heart rate monitors have instructions regarding record keeping for evaluation. Depending on the one you choose, you may be able to transmit data to your computer or you may need to keep notes. An HRM can be used by a veterinarian to diagnose a heart flutter. Not all flutters are life-threatening.Other contributing factors that can damage the equine heart include trauma, congenital malformation, toxic insult, neoplasia, degeneration, inflammation, lesions, infection, fever, anorexia, low body score, vessel laceration, vitamin toxicity and bacteria colonization, or disease in other organs. Calming agents and various drugs can alter the heartbeat. Currently, researchers and trainers are analyzing how to best use heart rate monitors to assess the potential of horses selected for performance. Certainly, the heart rate monitor is a valuable tool for analyzing heart rate, speed and distance, and tailoring your horse's training program to optimize conditioning. In addition, use of a heart rate monitor serves as a reliable indicator of injury or illness. Dig deeper TM It is a heart belt composed of two electrodes, one of which is placed near the withers and the other under the strap. The latter is only used with the sensor CEEFIT which can be clipped on and off in a single movement. To save time, CEEFIT Pulse & ECG can remain attached to your strap. Only the CEEFIT needs to be removed for charging. This new tool guarantees time saving, ease of use and comfort for your horse.

Call your vet if you detect a weak rapid pulse or erratic, unstable and/or muffled heart sounds. Photo courtesy of April Reeves. What is an equine heart rate monitor? Do you need a heart rate monitor for your horse during exercise? Or to even measure your horse’s heart rate?Obviously your vet and trainer can help you out with designing a program, as can having your horse wear a heart rate monitor. Handy for owners and trainers, and proving particularly useful in racing, the EquinITY app allows you to livestream your horse’s speed, heart rate, stride and split interval timings while he is working from anywhere in the world, with the ability to monitor multiple horses at once. The monitor is integrated into a girth sleeve with single-button operation, and provides heart rate averages and maximums as well as recovery time. The data can be transmitted to the rider via a Bluetooth-enabled headset, and can also be analysed and replayed in detail. Non-performance horses (light pleasure) can also take advantage of an HRM, as can foals (from birth), especially if they are bred to achieve high levels of performance.

Thank you for your interest in writing for Equine Wellness. As the #1 natural horse magazine in North America, we take pride in providing our readers with the information they need to make wise health care choices for their animal companions. Our publication embraces the entire holistic spectrum, from physical health issues to the emotional and spiritual well being of our animals.The heart rate monitoring over the course of a workout also allows you to see how hard your horse is working and how easily he recovers while still exercising. Next, do a sprint-type exercise of shorter duration, but at faster speeds, to get 170 to 190 beats per minute. This is the breezing, or anaerobic, benchmark. Reduce speed if the heart rate goes above 190. Recovery heart rate should be below 120 at two minutes after exercise and below 70 at 10 minutes after exercise if the horse is adequately conditioned to this level and intensity of activity. Warming up and warming down exercises are mandatory at this level of training to assist in reducing soreness and injury. Your horse’s vital signs are a great place to start when you are getting an idea of your horse’s fitness. This starts with learning your horse’s baseline vitals – his temperature, pulse, and respiration at rest. You may want to do this in the morning and evening when your horse is chilled out. This is a new horse market, and you have a few options. There’s a device that your horse can wear on his girth – which is ideal for when you are riding. The CEEFIT System includes a strap for you to wear in addition to the horse monitoring sensor on the girth. Similar brands out there, such as V-Max and Polar Equine, offer similar products. As with any device, equine heart monitors are only as useful as the person using them. Knowing what a heart rate monitor is most effective for is vital for getting the most out of it.