How to Measure a Horse's Respiration Rate

Learn how to measure a horse's respiration rate so you can evaluate pain or respiratory disease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Stethoscopes
• Horse Brushes
• Stopwatches

1. Watch the horse's chest or nostrils for movement.
2. Begin a practice count to get used to the rhythm of inhalations and exhalations, which should be slow and even.
3. Place your hand on your horse's rib cage to feel the inhalations or in front of her nostrils to feel the breath if you have trouble detecting visual signs of breathing.
4. Count the number of expirations you observe for 15 seconds.
5. Multiply that number by 4 to obtain the horse's respiration rate per minute.
6. Know that a normal rate is about 10 to 20 respirations per minute.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a stethoscope, place it on your horse's windpipe and measure her breathing that way.
• Being in a hot or humid climate can increase a horse's respiration rate, as can fever, pain or exercise.
• Contact your veterinarian right away if your horse's respiration rate exceeds her pulse rate. Rapid breathing in a resting state calls for immediate medical attention.