How to Monitor Your Horse's Respiratory Rate

Knowing your horse's baseline temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR)
will help you in assessing his conditioning program, in monitoring
his general health and in recognizing signs of distress or illness.

Difficulty Level: Easy
Time Required: Five minutes

Here's How:

1. Secure your horse, or have someone hold him for you.

2. Carefully watch or cup your hand over his nostrils, or watch his ribs.
You can also try putting your ear against him to hear the air moving in and out.

3. Using a watch or stop watch, count for 15 seconds
and multiply by four for the breaths per minute rate.

Tips:

1. A normal horse at rest takes about 10 breaths per minute.

2. A high respiratory rate in a resting horse
can be caused by excitement, pain or infection.

3. How quickly a horse's breathing returns to within normal limits
following exercise is one of the best indicators of his fitness level.


HORSE CARE INDEX