How Fast Can a Horse’s Heart Beat?

Heart rate in normal adult horses is around 28 to 42 beats per minute. According to Kentucky Equine Research veterinarian Dr. Bryan Waldridge, heart rate is commonly somewhat slower in very fit horses and faster in horses that are nervous or excited.

When heart action in racing Standardbred horses was studied in Canada, some trotters and pacers reached rates of 280 to 290 beats per minute. These rates were usually achieved during the first quarter of a race. However, elevated heart rate did not necessarily correlate with an increase in cardiac output because some horses’ hearts pumped a larger amount of blood in one contraction.