A Funny Expression
See below for special writing credit.
“My HEART is coming out of my mouth.”
This is the funny expression that Argentines say.
“I didn’t understand it very well and found it a little exaggerated, until I went back to training after a long time out of action and my heart rate went through the roof!”
Have you ever had your heart pounding in your throat??
Our horses are true athletes and just like humans it is very important to take their vital signs to check that they are healthy and physically fit.
The horse’s pulse can be taken by palpating (feeling) an artery. Typically you may feel one of three:
The maxillary artery, under the jawbone
The radial artery, on the inside of the knee
The digital artery, just below the fetlock
Vets use a stethoscope but with a little practice you can do it without any medical instruments.
Never use your thumb as it has its own pulse and you can get confused.
Place 2 or 3 fingers under the inside of the cheek pressing a little harder with your forefinger and feel along until you can feel a consistent beat.
Count the pulse for 30 seconds and multiply the number by 2 to get the beats per minute.
INTERPRETATION:
Beats and pulse should be regular and consistent.
Rates vary among individuals according to age.
The normal heart rate of an adult horse at rest is 30-40 beats per minute (bpm) and it will be higher (120-150) after intense exercise.
While newborn foals have a resting heart rate that averages 70-90 bpm an older horse has a resting heart rate between 35-45 bpm.
This bpm may also vary according to their fitness. An active and trained horse will recover quicker and have a lower heart rate overall.
TYPICALLY In good physical condition your horse’s heart rate should return to 70 bpm within 10 minutes after intense work and should be below 60 bpm 10 minutes after moderate exercise has ceased.
Changes or Irregular Heart Beat could indicate stress or illness in horses.
Hot weather, exercise and age could also affect heart rate changes.
If your horse’s heart rate is above 80 bpm it can be sign of:
Dehydration
Colic
Heart or lung issues
Infection
Alternatively, very low heart rates below 20 bpm can indicate
hypothermia
heart disease
severe circulatory conditions
We can also apply this knowledge to our own heart rate! It’s good to be self-aware and notice changes.
When you book a ride with AMPASCACHI you can change lives!
3% is donated to Fundacion del Azul
Specialized in equine-assisted therapy,
this Foundation offers treatment and integration to people with disabilities.
Your contributions help children from northern Argentina have access to equine assisted therapies.
CONTACT: katrinhempler@ampascachi.com
Iglesias 114 Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
Writing Credit: Katrin Hempler - Ampascachi