Horse&Rider Magazine: Taking your horse's heart rate

Your horse's pulse should be between 36-42 beats per minute. The pulse is most often felt on the jawline, but it is possible to check it on the fetlock and by feeling or listening to the heartbeat.

Here, veterinarian Jo Dudney of the Liphook Equine Hospital, shares her tried and tested methods for listening to and feeling your horses heartbeat.

How to check

• Position your horse with his forleg slightly forward.

• Standing to your horses near side, place your hand or stethoscope flat on your horses side just behind the elbow. You may need to press quite hard to feel your horses heart rate.

• Listen or feel for one minute, counting the beat.

Before taking into consideration vital signs like temperature, pulse and respiration, take a moment to stand outside your horses box and just observe his demeanor.

Is he alert and interested in his surroundings? Is there any food outside his stable suggesting that he is dropping his feed and needs his teeth checked? Is there any evidence of discharge outside his door (for example, from his nose?). Then as you approach the horse, continue to assess his demeanor, taking into account his body and coat condition.

If you have any questions about your horses health, always seek professional advice immediately so an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse and rider
• heart rate
• horse
• horse heart
• healthy horse
• equine care
• horse health care
• your horse

[horseandridermag]

They certainly do. A normal 16hh horse's heart weighs around 4kg, but that could increase to 5.5kg as he gets fitter

[RubyJean341]

No sound

[Neoneelart]

horses have big hearts dont they?