Measuring Temperature, Pulse & Respiration (TPR)

Is my horse ill or just in a bad mood? Not so easy to recognise: As a flight animal, the horse is dependent on looking as fit as possible at all times and is a real actor when it comes to its own state of health. Unfortunately, this means that many illnesses are only discovered at a late stage.

What are the TPR values?

If you want to better assess your horse's state of health, you should therefore regularly check the PAT values. Pulse, respiration and temperature are often the first parameters to change in the event of illness and can therefore provide an indication of the horse's state of health. If you notice a change in the PAT values, you can react at an early stage before things get worse.

How do I measure TPR values in horses?

It doesn't take much to determine the TPR values: a watch and a clinical thermometer are all you need. This allows horse owners to check their horse's state of health without the help of a vet. To ensure that the values are comparable, it is extremely important to measure them when the horse is at rest. Immediately after training or when the horse is very excited, the TPR values can be very high even though the horse is not ill. Try to determine the TPR values in a situation that is as calm as possible.
How do I measure my horse's pulse?
The horse's pulse can best be measured on the lower jaw. To do this, run your fingers along the gaiter in the direction of the horse's mouth. An artery can be felt at the level of the rear molars. You can now count the pulse beats for one minute with a finely placed finger. (For your information, in Germany the measurement follows a different order, which is why we start here with P for pulse.)
The pulse of an adult, healthy horse
is between 28 and 40 beats per minute.
How do I measure breathing?
The horse's breathing can be easily recognised with the naked eye if you look at the flank movements from the front. Here too, the breaths are counted for one minute. If the flank movements are difficult to see, a finger can alternatively be placed in front of the nostrils. The breaths can also be counted by feeling the air flowing in and out on the finger.
The breathing of an adult, healthy horse
is 8 to 16 breaths per minute.
How do I measure the temperature?
The body temperature of a horse can be determined using a standard clinical thermometer. Old clinical thermometers made of glass are not suitable due to the high risk of breakage - instead, you should use a shatterproof digital thermometer. You should also attach a straw band or cord to the end of the thermometer so that the thermometer cannot disappear into the intestine. The temperature is measured at the horse's anus.
The body temperature of an adult, healthy horse should be between 37.5°C and 38°C. From a body temperature of 39°C, a vet should always be consulted.