A Horses pulse rate

[Taboo1968]

Does anyone have any idea what a horses pulse rate should be at complete rest?

Horse was examined by vet last week and he commented that his pulse was slow? 28??? saying it should be 40? Therefore indicating poor circulation??

And how can you improve a circulation other than grooming and massaging?

 

[Shilasdair]

The old books would have you believe 38 - 42 beats per minute at rest....but more modern sources suggest it can be anywhere between 25 and 45 depending on the horse's breed, fitness, size of heart, etc.
I'm betting the horse in question is TB...they often have low heart rates as they have been bred (through 'performance testing i.e. racing) to have large hearts, giving them more capacity for exercise.
My TB mare, when out of work, has a resting heart rate of 26 beats per minute...and she's sound, hale and hearty at 19yo if that helps you stop worrying?
S

PS Sack your vet

 

[Shilasdair]

Here's some info I've just found for you;

http://www.aht.org.uk/fsheets/fsheets9.html

Obviously, if your horse isn't TB, you're f**ked!
S

 

[Taboo1968]

Thanks S!!!!

Thats made me panic less! yes its the TB (again!)

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks S!!!!

Thats made me panic less! yes its the TB (again!)

[/ QUOTE ]

You're welcome...don't worry...unless your horse has any other signs of poor circulation such as lower limb swelling?
A low resting heart rate is often a sign of an athlete...in both horse and human....
S

 

[mrdarcy]

Yep 28 is perfectly fine, not abnormal at all especially for a TB or an arab. You should try should endurance with him - with a naturally low heart rate like his he'd do very well.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep 28 is perfectly fine, not abnormal at all especially for a TB or an arab. You should try should endurance with him - with a naturally low heart rate like his he'd do very well.

[/ QUOTE ]

But with his TB muscles, he's built for speed (lots of little fast twitchers in there) and not stamina...so 'tying up' aka equine rhabdomyelosis, azoturia, azoturea, Monday morning disease blah blah might be a problem.
S

 

[Ferdinase514]

Love the signature Ovidius!

Finnus' is between 28 and 40 dep on whther he has colic or not

 

[Cop-Pop]

I can never find Bs pulse rate - I clearly have a zombie horse

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
I can never find Bs pulse rate - I clearly have a zombie horse

[/ QUOTE ]

Run your finger along his jawbone...when you feel a squelchy tube, rest your fingers lightly upon it...and count how many beats in 15 secs or 30 secs then multiply it to get bpm.
Alternatively you can try at the elbow (sort of inside) or the digital artery pulse.
Or you could always cheat and use a stethoscope

I wouldn't bother if I were you - look how unhappy it made Ovidious

S