Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I've been told several times, not particularly politely, that I'm an  
idiot if I don't use an equine heart monitor.  So, being an obedient  
sort, I'm trying to unravel the mysteries of monitoring.  After a bit  
of sleuthing through the archives, I see lots of questions but few  
replies.  Perhaps the responses went directly to the questioners  
rather than to ridecamp?

I get that there are two main companies, that both have their merits.   
What I don't get from any of the vendor-sites is exactly how either  
system works so it is difficult to figure out which one would work  
best for us.  The key here is that I am a very lazy person who wants  
the simplest, plainest system.  No need for bells and whistles, no  
need for GPS, much fun as that would be.  Seeing people fooling around  
with goop and electrodes and wires makes me terrifically anxious.  Is  
there a simple system that doesn't involve so much stuff??

For starters, is the v-max heart belt something one can use instead of  
the separate wires and electrodes?  The product description says for  
use "at rest" and "at vet checks".   Is there a reason the belt cannot  
be used while riding?

While I'm at it, I suppose this is the place to ask the most basic  
question:  are these things REALLY necessary?  More importantly, do  
they interfere with one's ability to pay attention to the actual horse  
instead of the monitor?  As an athlete myself I've determinedly shied  
away from heart monitors when training--but I suppose I can feel my  
own effort more accurately than I can feel my horse's....  Hmmm.   
Still worry that the thing will get between me and my horse literally  
and figuratively.

So there, go ahead and tell me why I am an idiot and why I need to use  
a monitor;  then tell me which one to get!

Mary K.



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