Occasionally the monitor will read a high HR which is actually double the correct HR. This is due to the band electrodes picking up the electrical voltages from both the large QRS wave and the T wave.
The sensitivity of most ECG equipment and HR monitors is set for humans, thus counting the high T wave is a common finding.
Turning the band around 180 degrees and therefore swapping the electrode position, may change the voltages enough to correct this problem.
Check with a stethoscope.
Often as the HR slows even further, it will display the correct HR.
The monitor can sometimes take longer than normal to display a HR.
This is usually due to;
- lack of moisture on the coat causing poor electrode contact
- the band is too low
- the electrodes and not sitting flat on the horse.
The HR monitor is a very useful tool for speeding up the strapping process at an endurance ride.
The HR is obtained by a different physiological process to using the stethoscope and the instantaneous HR is able to be measured thereby allowing a better insight into how the horse is recovering from the endurance activity being asked of it.