Step 1: Find a quiet, low-traffic area where your horse won't get distracted or excited.
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| Quiet horse, quiet barn. |
Step 2: Stand at the horse's shoulder, facing the rear.
Step 3: Watch the horse's flank rise and fall as he breathes to learn to identify his breaths. If he's looking around or excited, it might be hard to identify.
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| I usually try to look at the region where the blue circle is. |
Step 4: When you're confident that you can count his breaths accurately, start your timer for 30 seconds. Double that number for the breaths per minute measurement, and record it.
All right, is everyone ready? The blog hop will open on June 1!
definitely gonna give it a shot!
ReplyDeleteA few other tricks.. you can also watch the outside of their nostrils for a little flutter as they breath in and out. Or if you have a stethoscope, put it over the trachea (bottom of the neck about halfway down) and you can hear breath coming in and out.
ReplyDeleteI personally count pulse and respiration for 15 seconds and multiply by four, but that's mostly because most owners are trying to talk to me before 30 seconds is up. =-)
I put my hand under his nostrils and count the exhales for fifteen seconds, then multiply by four.
ReplyDeleteI thought most horses didn't have much flank movement when they breathe. That is what my vet told me, since my horse is abnormal. I can tell if my horse is having respiratory problems by watching his flank.
I learned nostrils as well as flank, but that nostrils could be unreliable because they could flutter them and be difficult to read. I should have put both in there though. Thanks!
DeleteI learned nostrils as well as flank, but that nostrils could be unreliable because they could flutter them and be difficult to read. I should have put both in there though. Thanks!
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