ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Respiration Rate -- Definition?

Re: Respiration Rate -- Definition?

Truman Prevatt (prevatt@lds.loral.com)
Wed, 24 May 95 15:22:04 EDT

In the Southeast where most rides suffer from some heat and humidity
problems respiration rate critera has all but disapeared form endurance
rides. In fact at most rides respiration rate is not even taken. What has
replaced this critera is an overall impression of the horse and the quality
of the resparation. If the horse seems to be in Oxygen debt as detected by
several parameters, then the respriation rate may become a factor -
otherwise if all is well (membrane color, cap refell, CRI, etc) then not
much attention is paid to resparation rate. Now if a horse is breathing
hard deep and fast - one would suspect Oxygen debt and would look farther.
If in doubt then a temp will be taken.

Recent research has shown that the heat dissipation through panting is
higher than once thought and that panting plays an important roll in heat
dissipation under humid conditions (even in cool temperatures) - where
evaporative cooling is severly compromised.

As far as particular breeds, I have seen horses from all breeds (including
pure Arabians) that pant. Jon Warren, DVM, a well respected endruance
vet, said one time that in hot and humid conditions he worries more about
the horses that don't pant those that do.

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The race is not always to the swift, but to those that keep running.

Truman and Mystic "The Horse from HELL" Storm

prevatt@lds.loral.com
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