(Just withdrew this same post, because I shared the wrong link and couldn’t edit! Here it is with the correct link…)
I don’t know if this has come up, but I just wanted to share my recent experience. I used to say I’d never use a HRM. finally got one because Hylofit is going out of business and I found one half-off. And I am a data nerd so I wanted those numbers… it would add to my Garmin charts!
And then this weekend happened and I realized that it could help me realize when my horse was in pain, real time, on a ride.
I’d love to hear other people’s experiences, and tips on how to get the most of of my HRM (besides catching pain! I swear I am learning every day!)
Sorry if this is a bit proselytizing, but really. They are great. I am now a believer 
Blog post:
There have been a few recent threads about rider HR and using a HR monitor for rider fitness off the horse (the other one is embedded in this thread.)
While they can be very useful tools, they are affected by a lot of things - for example, stress and anxiety. So an elevated HR in your horse might indicate pain, or excitement, stress, anxiety, exertion, lack of hydration fuel or recovery time, etc. Data is still useful, but it may not be as useful in real time as you may think.
I do agree that when conditioning an endurance horse, HR could be a useful tool, just like it is with human athletes. But it can’t be the only tool - perceived effort of the horse based on other signals (breathing, willingness, ears, etc.) would also be really important, as would a careful training and recovery schedule.
Here is the other thread:
https://forum.chronofhorse.com/t/rider-heart-rate-while-riding/757813/16
Yes, exactly!! What I found useful is precisely that the HRM tells you when the horse is in pain. Thanks for the link to the other thread 
LOL I think it’s exactly the opposite of “precisely.” An elevated HR might be pain.
I certainly would not use a HR monitor solely for that purpose. Presumably if your horse is uncomfortable while riding, there would be other symptoms that should clue you in, as well. Although I suppose you can use it just as an emergency “alarm”…but it wouldn’t be precise.
The primary purpose of a HR monitor is to measure HR threshold. And using those numbers and careful conditioning, raise the threshold levels by increasing fitness appropriately for the work.
Just like in humans, you can measure HR data any time you want. When you’re at the movies, or when you’re taking a walk. But those numbers are just numbers. They don’t really tell you anything. Your HR watching a scary movie might be high. Your HR on a walk downhill might be low. If you twist your ankle, your HR might be higher than normal. Or it could be higher than normal because you have a hangover. It’s not very useful by itself.
If my horse has a hangover, that’s definitely information I’m interested in. Perhaps I should get one of these heart rate monitors…
