Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

There does seem to be a lack of courtesy and manners in the world right now.  I 
have used and not used HRMs.  At this point I prefer not to since I carry so 
many other gadgets (GPS, Camera etc).  My poor little brain can only take in so 
much.  I have two problems with heart rate monitors. 
First your saddle better fit just right and your girth better be tight.  I'm 
one of those people you see with air between their girth and horse.  It's a bad 
habit but I can say I have really good balance and my horse has plenty of 
breathing room. 
Second is from the stand point of a pulse taker at rides.  I have taken many 
pulses at rides I never mind jumping in to help.  I have had more than one 
person get grumpy because I have to check the horses pulse and can't take the 
HRM word for it.  And on more than one occasion the monitor has been wrong.  At 
one ride we had a horse who wouldn't come down (there was a pen full of sheep 
on the property) so we had me on one side with stethoscope and someone on the 
other with one of the hand held HRM.  I actually heard the change in the heart 
rate before the HRM registered it as being down. 
So I think HRMs are good for a reference point but nothing beats a good old 
fashioned stethoscope especially since you can also listen to their guts.  Two 
birds one stone.  No matter what you use I think you really have to take the 
time to get to know your horse.  
At the last ride I rode my horse came into the vet check, past his vet exam 
with flying colors, his heart rate was normal but something didn't seem right.  
He just seemed tired in the hind end to me.  I went ahead and pulled.  About an 
hour later he just came unglued.  He was rearing in the corral, rolling and 
running back and forth.  His friend was right there with him.  I took him to 
the vet and his heart rate was elevated but his gut sounds were normal we gave 
him some time before treating him and once he calmed down he seemed fine with 
no treatment.  After the ride he started losing weight and his mane started 
coming out for about two weeks.  I took it easy on him and he was fully 
recovered within the following 4 weeks.  The only thing we could figure is it 
was a reaction to having been tranquilized to have his teeth done about four 
weeks before the ride.  Remember his heart rate was only elevated for maybe an 
hour and a half.  Weird things happen so
it's all about relying on your knowledge of your partner.

Alexa Campbell 



     

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=