It requires self discipline from you and a lot of hard work for both, you and your horse.
What does fitness actually mean?
A horse shows no signs of distress during work and is able to do the tasks you ask for.
Its health status is not affected by doing a certain distance at a certain speed.
After work it should soon breathe normally again and look happy and not distressed. If it is heaving and sweating thoroughly even after 15 - 20 minutes, its not fit and needs a carefully adjusted exercise plan.
What factors should be monitored and measured?
There are three physiological factors, which can easily be monitored: pulse rate, respiration rate and body temperature. The pulse rate reflects the heartbeat rate and is measured by placing two or three fingers (not the thumb!) of one hand underneath the lower jawbone, where the artery crosses the bone. Count the number of beats per minute.
The normal resting pulse rate is 30 - 40 bpm. (beats per minute).
In fit horses during trotting phases it can go up to 150 - 180 bpm. and decrease after a 10 -15 minutes rest to around 40 - 50 bpm.
The respiration rate is measured by counting breathing intervals (= one inspiration and one expiration movement) per minute.
It needs a bit of practice to monitor movements and time at once.
The normal breathing rate at rest is around 10 - 20 breaths per minute.
The third factor, the body temperature is usually measured rectally with a thermometer.
Normal temperature n a horse is around 37*C.
The shorter the time it takes for the horse's pulse and respiration rate to fall from the high rates achieved when working hard to the rates applying at rest, the fitter is the horse.
Grass and hay are the basic feed for a horse, but it won't become really fit on a sole grass diet.
An overweight horse will struggle to pull a carriage and you or even a few passengers and being far too heavy. Health problems are preprogrammed.
Therefore weight control is really essential.
The horse needs a well-balanced diet that is adjusted individually to the grade of work it will need to perform. Following an exercise regime to get your horse slowly and steadily fit will help to achieve and maintain your horse's health.
Dr.med.vet. Ellen Schmidt She is a veterinary surgeon living and working in Scotland, United Kingdom. Her passion are horses and horse driving for recreation. Visit her website and sign up for the free e-zine "The Cart Wheel" on http://www.discover-horse-carriage-driving.com . This website is an "Infoport" for hobby drivers and horse lovers who would like to get expert information about most aspects of equine driving, horse care and horse health issues.
» left by Anonymous (1 year 72 days ago.)
It' s a very thorough and nice article. I have really enjoyed it. Ellen seems to be a very well experienced person. I wish all the best to her for the future. Respond to this comment
Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or
Question:
This Article has been viewed 103
times.
Article added to SearchWarp.com on Friday, October 05, 2007 View other articles written by Ellen Schmidt(222)
If you found this article interesting, you may want to check out:
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
