Hand Held Heartcheck

[lyoness@castlenet.com (Joane White)]

Starting at the Rabbit Valley Competitive Ride in Colorado, we put the
Heartcheck and the stethoscope in head to head tests.  We would ask the
rider if they minded and they were all very cooperative.  In fact one rider
had a horse that had been very difficult for P&R people and that horse
tolerated the Heartcheck so well, he ask to have it for the other checks as
well.  

We found that the two methods were almost identical.  In fact I felt like I
trusted the Heartcheck better as it didn't display a reading until it had a
baseline.  I thought perhaps a beat here or there might have been me when I
was on the stethoscope.  We did not find the heartcheck higher than the
stethoscope.
We checked about 20 horses this way.  

After that ride, we have used the Heartcheck on our own horses as we arrive
at vet checks.  We have not dirrectly compared at the same time but the P&R
persons reading as always been in line with the Heartcheck reading we got
just before we presented.  

Until it has more empirical data, I wouldn't use it for the sole official
P&R but as a Crew tool, rider check or curtesy P&R it has been very efficient.

Joane, The Herd and the Lyon Crew
Price, Utah
 

                                 


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