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Horse Heart Rate During Exercise

What Happens to Your Horse’s Heart Rate During Exercise?

Your horse’s heart rate changes continuously during exercise as the demands placed on their body change.

As workload increases, heart rate will generally increase. When the workload decreases, heart rate should begin to fall.

Monitoring these changes while riding can help you understand how your individual horse responds to different levels of exercise, rather than relying only on how hard the session feels to the rider.

Know what’s normal. Spot when something changes.

What Is a Normal Horse Heart Rate?

A healthy adult horse typically has a resting heart rate of approximately 28–44 beats per minute (BPM).

During exercise, heart rate can rise considerably above resting levels. The number you see will depend on many factors, including your horse’s fitness, speed, gait, terrain, duration of exercise and environmental conditions.

For training purposes, it is often more useful to learn your own horse’s normal response to a particular workload than to compare one reading with another horse.

Horse Heart Rate at Walk, Trot and Canter

As your horse progresses from walk to trot and canter, the workload normally increases and heart rate will generally increase with it.

However, there isn't one BPM figure that every horse should have at each gait.

A fit horse working comfortably on level ground may respond very differently from another horse performing the same gait uphill, on a different surface or in warmer conditions.

HORSEPAL allows you to see these changes as they happen, helping you understand the relationship between gait, workload and your horse’s heart rate.

See Your Horse’s Live Heart Rate While Riding

The HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor can be used with the HORSEPAL Training Belt and Extension during ridden exercise.

The HRM has its own digital display, and the Extension positions it in front of the saddle where the rider can see the horse’s live BPM.

This means you can see how heart rate changes as you transition between different gaits or increase and decrease the workload.

You do not need a smartwatch to see the live heart rate.

View Live Heart Rate on Your Smartphone

The HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor also connects to the HORSEPAL app via Bluetooth.

This allows you to view your horse’s live heart rate on your smartphone while riding.

When used with the HORSEPAL English Saddle Phone Holder, your phone can be securely positioned in front of you, providing another convenient way to view your horse’s training information during exercise.

What Affects Heart Rate During Exercise?

Heart rate isn't determined by gait alone.

Factors that can affect your horse’s heart rate include speed, fitness level, hills and terrain, duration and intensity of exercise, environmental conditions and recovery from previous work.

This is why context matters when looking at heart rate data.

Recording training regularly allows you to compare similar sessions and begin establishing what is normal for your horse under different types of work.

Use Heart Rate to Monitor Training Intensity

Heart rate gives you an objective measurement alongside what you feel from the saddle.

For example, you may be able to observe how your horse’s heart rate changes when you increase speed, move from level ground to a hill, transition from trot to canter or reduce the workload.

Over time, these observations can help you build a better understanding of how your horse responds to training.

Heart rate should be considered as one part of the overall picture, alongside your knowledge of the horse and other relevant information.

Monitor Heart Rate Recovery

Monitoring doesn't have to stop when the harder work finishes.

As exercise intensity decreases, you can continue watching your horse’s heart rate to see how it changes during recovery.

HORSEPAL allows you to monitor live heart rate as you move into a lower-intensity or cool-down period.

Repeating similar training sessions can help you learn what your horse’s normal recovery pattern looks like.

Use the HORSEPAL Fitness Test

The HORSEPAL app includes structured Fitness Tests that guide you through timed periods of walk, trot and canter at specified speeds, followed by a cool-down.

When used with the HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor, heart rate can be recorded alongside information such as speed, duration, GPS route and the different exercise segments.

The app can also record left/right symmetry information using your smartphone’s movement sensors. Using the HORSEPAL English Saddle Phone Holder helps keep the phone in a consistent position for better symmetry results.

Repeating the same Fitness Test gives you a more consistent way to compare your horse’s training information over time.

Record Your Horse’s Training

Connecting the HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor to the HORSEPAL app allows training information to be saved for later review.

Rather than relying on a single number you saw during a ride, you can look back at your training information and compare sessions.

This can help you build a clearer picture of your horse’s heart rate, workload and recovery patterns over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a horse’s heart rate be during exercise?

There isn't one BPM figure that applies to every horse during exercise. Heart rate varies depending on workload, fitness, gait, terrain and other conditions.

Regular monitoring helps you establish how your individual horse normally responds to different types of exercise.

Does a horse’s heart rate increase from walk to trot and canter?

Generally, heart rate increases as exercise intensity increases. However, gait is only one factor. Speed, terrain, duration, fitness and environmental conditions can all affect the heart rate you observe.

Can I monitor heart rate while cantering?

Yes. The HORSEPAL Training Belt is designed for monitoring heart rate during ridden exercise, allowing live BPM to be displayed on the HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor and through the HORSEPAL app.

Do I need a smartwatch?

No. The HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor has its own built-in display. You can also view live heart rate on your smartphone through the HORSEPAL app.

Can I record my horse’s heart rate during training?

Yes. The HORSEPAL Heart Rate Monitor connects to the HORSEPAL app via Bluetooth so training and heart rate information can be recorded and reviewed after your ride.

Understand How Your Horse Responds to Exercise

The most useful heart rate information isn't necessarily one particular BPM number.

It is understanding how your horse responds to different workloads, what is normal for them and how that response changes over time.

HORSEPAL gives you the ability to see live heart rate while riding, record your training and monitor recovery — helping you build a clearer picture of your individual horse.

Know what’s normal. Spot when something changes.