10/13/2026
Horse Owners!
Knowledge of resting TPR - Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration - values for an adult horse are good to know.
So - what should they actually be?
• Temperature (T): 99°F to 101.5°F (37.5°C to 38.5°C) measured rectally.
• Pulse/Heart Rate (P): 28 to 44 beats per minute (bpm) at rest. (Larger breeds are often lower, smaller breeds higher; foals range from 70 to 120 bpm).
• Respiration (R): 8 to 16 breaths per minute at rest.
How to Measure TPR
• Temperature: Use a lubricated digital thermometer. Gently move the tail aside, slide the thermometer into the re**um, and wait for the beep.
• Pulse: Place your fingers on the mandibular artery under the jawbone or use a stethoscope behind the left elbow. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
• Respiration: Watch the rise and fall of the flank or the movement of the nostrils for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.