How to take your horse's pulse and heart rate
Measuring a horse's heart rate is one of the basic constants that every owner should know how to take. It helps detect pain (colic), cardiovascular problems, and assess recovery in endurance sports.
Required materials
- Stethoscope (optional but recommended)
- Watch with a second hand or a stopwatch
Step-by-step procedure
Step 1. Get the horse to calm down
Measurements are taken at rest, before work or several hours afterward. Nervous horses or those who have just exerted themselves will have elevated, non-comparable readings.
Step 2. Find the auscultation point
If you have a stethoscope, place it on the left side, just behind the elbow, at the height of the elbow. There, the heartbeat can be heard clearly.
Step 3. Alternative without a stethoscope: submandibular artery
Below the jaw, in the groove between the two branches, an artery can be felt. Press with your index and middle fingers, not your thumb.
Step 4. Count beats for 15 seconds
Watch the clock and count beats for exactly 15 seconds. Multiply by 4 to get beats per minute. If the pulsations are irregular, count the full minute.
Step 5. Compare with normal values
Adult horse at rest: 28-44 beats per minute. Foal: 60-80. Horse just stopped after intense exercise: can exceed 100. Very low or very high values at rest require attention.
Step 6. Record the measurement
Note date, time, and value. Keeping a record allows you to detect changes by comparing measurements on different days.
Step 7. Repeat after exertion if necessary
In endurance riding and endurance sports, it is measured after a few minutes' pause: cardiac recovery is the key indicator of the horse's condition.
Frequently asked questions
What frequency indicates pain?
Above 60 beats per minute at rest, especially with other signs, suggests pain (often colic) or a cardiovascular problem.
Is the technique difficult to learn?
No. With a couple of attempts guided by a veterinarian or experienced professional, any owner can master it.
When to call the vet for a high heart rate?
When the horse is at rest and the heart rate exceeds 50-60 beats per minute without explanation, and especially if there are other signs: sweating, abdominal pain, altered mucous membranes.
