Respiration and heart rate are compared against the same time base,
that is, beats per minute and breaths per minute.
A respiration rate of 5 - 15 breaths per minute is typical of fit
horses in low humidity condtions. There, breathing's sole purpose
is to take in oxygen and exhale cee-oh-two. In high humidity
conditions, the horse's normal cooling method (evaporation of sweat)
becomes inefficient and inadequate to cool him properly. Very rapid
breathing -- sometimes more than 100 breaths per minute -- will carry
out a lot of body heat. Some horses do this naturally, others seem
to learn it with experience. I personally believe that a panting
horse is desirable because carrying off excess heat this way will
result in less fluid loss from sweating.
At any rate, the panting is harmless and most ride vets with
experience in humid contidions will not be concerned with it.
--Joe Long Rainbow Connection Arabians PC/LAN Manager home of Kahlil Khai Calhoun Community College AERC Hall of Fame horse jlong@hiwaay.net 11,475 miles completed