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[RC] Question on odd heart rate on two TWH - Dodie SableTitle: MessageI ride TWH and I have
found that all of them have a lower HR when they're performing their natural
gait. I personally do not encourage trotting from my gaited horses except
in very rough terrain like found at Old Dominion. When they trot, their HR
usually goes way up so I have to assume it is harder on them to
perform.
One mare consistently
works over 12 mph in her gait, she was a hard one to keep a good pace. She
was my 100 mile prospect before she broke her leg in pasture. She
always ran 150 when working..she is a natural racker. She pulsed down
exceptionally fast and I never had to walk her into a vet check. Always
into the 40's by the time I got out of the saddle.
Another mare I
have boogies at about 11 mpg in her gait and her HR runs about 130 at this
pace. However, she takes a long time to pulse down, over 5 minutes so we
always walk into vet check. I hate walking her because she has a 1 mph
walk (grin)
My new mare that I just
started is working at 8 mph in her gait, HR runs about 130-140 flat and 150-160
on hills. She is also a quick recovery, usually down in the 50's by
the time I'm out of saddle and in the 40's within 5
minutes.
My stallion works at a
steady 7 mph in gait and never breaks 100 except on an uphill. Then he
always canters to the top, HR goes up to about 170, and when he crests the top
and settles back into gait, it quickly drops back to 100. His recoveries
are also very good (unless some mare is teasing him in the hold) down into the
50's immediately and into the 40's within 5 minutes.
I suspect that every
horse is different and if they aren't struggling, their attitude is good and
they want to keep working, then whatever it is, it is.
Dodie
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