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[RC] heart rate monitor query - KarenI've been told several times, not particularly politely, that I'm an idiot if I don't use an equine heart monitor. Did you ask why they think that? While I'm at it, I suppose this is the place to ask the most basic question: are these things REALLY necessary? No, not really. I've got a bunch of miles on a horse or two that I haven't actually used a HRM on that have completed 100's, multidays and top tens. I don't think they are necessary at all. It's only when you don't know the difference that curiosity gets the better of you. More importantly, do they interfere with one's ability to pay attention to the actual horse instead of the monitor? They sure can, and can cause undue worry for no reason at all. 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! I have to admit that I have used a HRM a lot, probably twenty thousand miles between competition and training. However, I've done a lot more miles than that without a monitor. It is a fun "toy", and can certainly be educational and helpful when conditioning. I used it mainly as an aid so I'd know for sure how long I was keeping my horses working rates up. Once I learned that though, it wasn't really useful anymore. Mostly it taught me that I wasn't working my horses hard enough. I had already been using a regular stethoscope to figure out their recoveries. After a certain point, the HRM didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, and more often than not interfered by giving false readings (either half or double). I had horses that were so sensitive skinned that they would grow in white hairs where the electrodes were placed. Just as often as not, the pulse checker at a ride will get a different reading than your HRM is going to show anyway. If you have multiple units in close vicinity, they will interfere with each other. Electrical lines can also interfere. Pulse checkers get rather annoyed if you show them your watch at 56 and they still don't believe your horse is down to 60. Saying otherwise, only makes you look like an idiot. The most recent HRM I've used for any length of time was on a Garmin 305 and that was fun just to see how the HR elevated with elevation gain and be able to download it onto my maps. I still have yet to hook the HRM up to my new 550t Garmin, but may for the EMS ride. I never liked the 305 due to the bulkiness on the wrist, poor battery life and totally lame screen. The 550t is awesome, touchscreen, easy to see, great topo and I can use it with my thumb while wearing gloves (even 2 pair of gloves today when marking trail) so I figure when I do get around to using the HRM with it, I'll like how it works. I just don't see the need for it since I find using a HRM more of an annoyance and irritant anymore more than it is useful. Using it for a lengthy time period was useful like I did, at least it taught me that I really do need to pay more attention to my horse than to a gadget and that gadgets can't be trusted. If I want to follow a gadget, I can drive a car that will show me my speed and RPM's, I need to be better than that to ride a horse 50 or 100 miles in a day. HRM's are a great guide, but only one piece of the puzzle. I do recommend to a new endurance rider to get a HRM and learn to use it, because it can be a great educational tool -- but be careful not to rely on it too much. Karen http://www.enduranceridestuff.com/blog =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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