From: Paca Paca, the newsletter of the Peruvian Horse Association of
Canada, November-December 1996, vol. 03 - 06
October 19, 1996
Members:
I would like to thank all the owners who allowed me to handle their
horses in Claresholm to carry out an informal survey on heart rates.
I had not planned to do this when I arrived there, otherwise I would
have been better prepared with a stethescope and a game plan.
I hope the results will be of some use or interest anyway.
8 stallions averaged 38 BPM
6 mares averaged 42 BPM
6 geldings averaged 42 BPM
The average heart rate for 20 horses 40 BMP
By far the biggest factor affecting heart rates appears to be feed.
The 3 horses with the lowest heart rates, (averaging 35 BPM), were
fed a mix of brome/timothy/grass hay - no grain - but a mix of sweet
feed and/or 12% complete feed seemed the best combination.
The highest heart rates were achieved by a group of 9 horses fed
alfalfa/mix hay and grain or sweet feed. They averaged 44 BPM.
The remaining 8 horses were fed brome/timothy/grass hay as well as
grain or complete feed above 12% protien. They averaged 39 BPM.
Since I carried out this survey I have switched my mare off of alfalfa
and oats and put her on brome/grass hay and 12% pellets. We achieved
our lowest heart rates ever in competion - dropped by 8 BPM at rest.
Again to all the people who participated, thank you! While the results
that Peruvian horses heart rates are on the high side of what is
considered the normal range (32-44 BPM), for those whom this actually
matters, there may be ways to improve them.
Thank you,
Nancy Himsl
[posted by Chris Elrod]
Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net