PROCEDURE FOR PULSE MEASUREMENT USING AN ELECTRONIC HRM DEVICE   V-MAX EHRM

This procedure applies to the use of the HANDHELD EHRM, using a transmitter mounted on a handle along with a monitor receiver watch.

The procedure is as follows;

Horse must be presented with no other EHRM connected. The two transmitters will interfere.

The watch will be worn on the right wrist - no other watches will be worn on that wrist.  A battery operated ANALOG watch (CLOCK) will cause the monitor watch to read 60.

Do NOT attach the watch to the transmitter handle. This insures you will place the transmitter on the horse in the correct place to obtain a proper reading.

Pressing the MODE or START button starts the monitor.

The monitor should be started BEFORE the horse arrives in the lane. The watch will reset in 2 minutes if it does not receive a HR.

The use of electrical conductive gel will increase the reliability of the connection to the horse. Place a small spot on each electrode   area before the horse arrives in the lane.

The horse moves into your pulse lane. Wait for the horse to stop and stand.

The handheld transmitter is held in the left hand and placed behind the left elbow at the girth line.

Once placed in position, slide the transmitter up/down to obtain a good connection.

The pulse taker will note the heart ICON display on the receiver watch is  a steady ‘flash’.

A PULSE reading will be displayed within 4 to 10 seconds. DO NOT USE THIS READING.

In the event a pulse is NOT noted within 4 to 10 seconds, reverse the placement of the transmitter on the side of the horse. Turn 180 degrees. You may have to move the transmitter to another position for some horses. Flat sided horses require placement higher on the side instead of the chest barrel.

When an initial pulse is noted, wait for an elapsed time of 15 seconds.

The CORRECT heart rate will be observed.

IF THE HR IS XX BPM or LOWER, THE HORSE IS PASSED AND MOVES TO THE VET AREA.

In the event the heart rate is in excess of XX BPM, Continued to monitor the reading for a MAXIMUM of 60 seconds.

If a reading of XX BPM or below is noted during this second evaluation period the horse passes.

IF the pulse (HR) is OVER XX BPM at the end of the 60 second evaluation period, that is the HR is NOT XX BPM within a full minute of reading, THE HORSE IS EXCUSED FORM THE PULSE GATE/LANE.

A pulse of XX is the value set by the ride head vet.

 The REASON for the 15-second wait. The technical process of the monitor operations.

This monitor receiver watch counts the pulses sent by the transmitter. The receiver watch has   data count buffers. Each reading sample is taken for 2 seconds (using components from Cardiosport V-MAX).

The pulse is averaged across the entire buffer data. Therefore a TRUE HR is not valid until AFTER all the buffer slots are filled with a HR value. The elapsed time is 12 seconds. The reading noted should not be accepted until at least 12 seconds have elapsed from the FIRST noted HR valve. The HR values are replaced on a FIFO basis and the displayed HR is a rolling 2-second update.

In keeping with the generally accepted practice of taking a HR with a stethoscope for a 15 second count AFTER the taker has the HR rhythm established, this method is consistent with that process. An accurate reading is obtained within 1 BPM.

If one desires to verify this reading with a stethoscope then both takers MUST observe/count the HR for a period of ONE FULL MINUTE. The monitor will react to changes in the HR by 1 BPM, which may or may not be counted correctly by the manual pulse taker. The pulse taker must also insure the HR count is started and ended at correct second. That is count the first beat on the ‘12’ but not the last, else you will have an error of ONE beat.

 This procedure was used at the  AERC NC in KY for 2 years and at the PANAM in VT. We found NO horses where the HEARTCHECK monitor would NOT work. The only problem we had was with unruly horses and the pulse taker was not able to get a firm connection. A few riders complained the HRM will NOT work on their horses, I obtained the reading without a problem. MOST issues with the use of this tool are rider errors and not following directions.