There are those on this list that remember how emphatically I endorsed
this HRM for dual use on people and horses just after I got mine at
Christmas. I've now been using it for a couple months so here is an
update.
I love my monitor. It goes on really easy and pops right off. It doesn't
hang up saddling or unsaddling or anything. The longest part is I've taken
to braiding the strap through a lower part of Magnum's mane only to keep
it up over his withers... I'm not sure I'd have to do this, but atleast I
know it will stay in place until I take it off. I don't use a breast
collar which is what their directions picture attaching it to.
I keep the display on my left wrist on the transmitter side. When he dries
out, it does tend to loose the signal. To get it back, I squirt under it
with my waterbottle. I think this will work better when I have gatoraide
mixed in with the water. Last Saturday, welll... it's a long story... but
we had a bit of a rodeo, so he was all sweated up before we left. And then
we did our hardest ride so far this year and he got sweatier than he has
in the past. And... that monitor kept the signal the whole way. Even on
the way home when he was cooling out and drying off.
So salts and moisture are needed to keep the signal with a long coat winter
coat. Also, since I ride in a stubben survival with large knee rolls, I
think sometimes too much "stuff" gets in between the transmitter and the
receiver and that can break the signal.
Dominique also said I may be losing the signal because I don't have it fitted
right so I'll ask her to look at it at the next ride. I have never used
a "wire" monitor so I don't know if those "lose signal" or not.
It's easy to use so I use it all the time and when I really need the
signal (working hard, uphill, trotting flat, P&R stop) it's there. I do
recomend this monitor, especially for anyone who doesn't want to fiddle
with wires and stuff, or who really won't end up using a monitor that's
too hard to get on and off...
... or if you run and don't want to buy two HRM's, one for you and one for
your horse. All the 'people' stuff comes with it. ;-)
:) - kat
in intermittently sunny Palo Alto, CA ...with Magnum the "I'm a pet" TB