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 Regular
Posts: 95
| I did a random search on google the other night, looking for info on conditioning my horse and I came across a heart rate monitor that you put inbetween your horse and the cinch to monitor their heart rate. Anyone ever used one? |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
  
Location: NE Texas | Yes, I have. I have one and actually use it quite a bit, especially when we were galloping colts to send them to the race track. I still use it, but not if i'm just going to go lope circles....only if i'm going to long trot for a distance, gallop a distance or do speed/hill work. The information is monitored live on a wrist watch and then I bought a pad that will download the information to a program on my computer. What was the most cool about it to me is that you could tell by a horse's resting heart rate if something was bothering him. It's an interesting tool for sure and requires some research to really use it effectively, but I do have one and do use it. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 836
Location: Southern Pennsylvania | Herbie - 2014-04-28 5:38 PM
Yes, I have. I have one and actually use it quite a bit, especially when we were galloping colts to send them to the race track. I still use it, but not if i'm just going to go lope circles....only if i'm going to long trot for a distance, gallop a distance or do speed/hill work. The information is monitored live on a wrist watch and then I bought a pad that will download the information to a program on my computer. What was the most cool about it to me is that you could tell by a horse's resting heart rate if something was bothering him. It's an interesting tool for sure and requires some research to really use it effectively, but I do have one and do use it.
What is the average price for (a good) one? Are there any brands to shy away from? Thanks  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Yes. I have a Garmin 305 GPS and it comes with the heart rate monitor on a chest band for people. A simple adapter kit allowed me to modify it to work for my horse. The leads go under the girth area as you describe. I do distance now...not barrels anymore...but the principles of conditioning are similar. It is a great tool for assessing your conditioning program and how well your horse manages under work and recovery. I never have had a rub from it despite miles and miles of riding...sometimes 30 miles in about a 6 hour period in competition. (CTR not Endurance)
The fact that mine is also a wrist GPS is extremely handy as I want to know how far I've travelled at what pace. How fast am I currently travelling etc. I do intervals on good trail alternating long trotting for a mile ot two and canter for a mile etc. And...handy to not get lost.
Ive had the same one for several years and it's held up great. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | SunnyGotMeGood - 2014-04-28 4:53 PM Herbie - 2014-04-28 5:38 PM Yes, I have. I have one and actually use it quite a bit, especially when we were galloping colts to send them to the race track. I still use it, but not if i'm just going to go lope circles....only if i'm going to long trot for a distance, gallop a distance or do speed/hill work. The information is monitored live on a wrist watch and then I bought a pad that will download the information to a program on my computer. What was the most cool about it to me is that you could tell by a horse's resting heart rate if something was bothering him. It's an interesting tool for sure and requires some research to really use it effectively, but I do have one and do use it. What is the average price for (a good ) one? Are there any brands to shy away from? Thanks
It looks like they don't make the model I have anymore. It's most similar to this one with the two pads, GPS, and wrist watch. I think mine cost about half this much, but i've also had it several years. http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/polar-equiners800cx.html |
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Draw the Line
Posts: 1371
Location: Too Far North | Heart rate monitors are the best tool for conditioning a horse. I use one for Endurance conditioning. You can train in a specific heart rate range and monitor recoveries and KNOW when your horse is in shape, not just guess.
Conditioning a horse is no different than conditioning a human athlete. People use these gadgets all the time to condition smarter and faster. I am always surprised that barrel horse peeps don't use them more. They have been used in the endurance and race track world for years with good results.
I use a V Max heart rate checker and just a basic heart rate monitor that I can check my horses heart rate as I am riding, but it doesn't have the features that allow me to download the info to my computer and analyze my rides. That will be my next purchase. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2151
| Is there a specific way you hook up the human chest straps so it works on your horse? I would love to have one of these but can't pay the $400 plus price tag. Maybe the human one would be the more economical way to go. |
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Draw the Line
Posts: 1371
Location: Too Far North | achipintime - 2014-04-29 3:20 PM
Is there a specific way you hook up the human chest straps so it works on your horse? I would love to have one of these but can't pay the $400 plus price tag. Maybe the human one would be the more economical way to go.
You can get a horse conversion through the distance depot. It is for a particular brand. Vmax and garmin I think.
here's a link.
http://www.thedistancedepot.com/V_MAX_301_305_Transmitter_Adapter_K... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Yes that's the transmitter adapter kit I purchased for my Garmin 305. It was simple to do and it works great. Love Love Love my Garmin. |
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Heart Rate Monitor