There are people (ridecamp people) that make "elastic
strap HRMs" that you just put on before you tack up and keep on during a
ride.
It's still there when you pull the saddle.
You either put the receiver on your wrist or (my preference) on the breast
collar, which you then don't remove when you remove the saddle.
The elastic strap is a great idea. Doing CTR's, getting pulse way
down quick means stripping tack a lot of times on my Morgan. Besides the
battery issue, I couldn't figure out how the HRM would benefit at the checks
when it would be off the horse.
"...Have been using a stethoscope since the 70's, guess I'll stick to
it! Thanks again, Vicki..."
What I have found useful is to put a HRM on a
piece of elastic with the watch attached. When I am alone, or just
have one crew, I strip tack and put the HRM belt on. We then start
sponging etc., when the HRM beeps it is time.
One belt we have is commercial, the other is
homemade. Some elastic, straps and a bit of velcro and you have
it. We like it more than a hand held unit.
It does not replace a stethescope though.
Stethoscopes do not need battery replacement in the middle of a ride.
If I had never used a HRM, did not love gadgets, and had worked out
good stethoscope procedures I probably would not switch either.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
