Here are some points of attention to help you understand what may have distorted the signal.
Wet the electrodes and change the foams
The electrode foams have a dual effect: they provide a gentle effect on the horse's skin to prevent injuries, but they mainly retain moisture to ensure the conductivity of the cardiac signal, which is an electrical signal.
If the cardiac signal is disrupted, especially at the beginning of the work, perhaps the electrodes were not properly moistened or the foams are too damaged. Make sure to change them regularly! Click here to learn more.
Caution: during winter, the horse has a thicker coat and takes longer to sweat. Wetting the electrodes and the foam may not be enough. We advise using a sponge to wet the whither hollow and the girth passage (where the electrodes stand) to help ensure good conductivity from the start of the recording.
Contact with the horse's skin
If the signal becomes disrupted, especially towards the end of the session or intermittently, it's possible that the contact with the horse's skin has been lost. This could happen if:
- The girth has been tightened/loosened.
- The rider's foot has struck the sensor.
Signal anomaly with Trotter and Vet girths
The cardio straps have a connector that must be securely screwed with the sensor. Here are some points to consider with the girths:
- Check the condition of the connector and its three gold pins. Beware of sand in the screws that can cause damage and hinder the connection!
- Check the condition of the foams and replace them if necessary.
- Check the condition of the girth electrodes; if they appear damaged, contact us here.
- The girths should be tight enough for the electrodes to make contact with the horse even during movement.
Tip: To check that the sensor's cardio is working properly, open the Live tab of the Equimetre app while stationary in the stall. If the cardio is functioning correctly, the displayed heart rate should be stable and low (30-60 bpm in the stall). You can also display live ECG to ensure that the curves are clear and not blurred.