How to Take a Horse’s Digital Pulse

Though you may have seen a vet take your horse or pony’s pulse by feeling under his jaw, that’s not the only place his heart rate can be felt—you can also find his pulse on his legs. A horse’s pulse measures the rate and strength of his heartbeat; the pulse that can be felt on a horse’s leg is called his digital pulse. 

It’s important to be able to find the digital pulse because it can offer you clues to your horse’s overall health. A digital pulse tells you how the blood is flowing to the horse’s hooves. Digital pulses are often faint, but if the pulse is very strong, and it feels like the blood is rushing (“bounding’”) to his legs, there may be something wrong.

Your horse might have a strong pulse for a variety of reasons, including excitement, exertion or stress, but a strong pulse in his leg (or legs) could indicate something is amiss. He may have a hot nail (a horse shoe nail that’s too close to the sensitive tissues within the hoof), an abscess or a bruise, or he may be suffering from laminitis. The pulse in his legs feels stronger when there’s inflammation, making it harder for the blood to flow further down his legs.

The Digital Pulse

Finding your horse’s digital pulse isn’t hard, but it can take some practice to find easily. You should practice taking your horse’s pulse to become familiar with what’s normal for him.  

Before you begin to work around your horse’s legs, tie him safely or have a helper hold him so you’re not chasing him around or putting yourself in harm’s way. Never stand directly in front of a horse as you’re finding his pulse—you don’t want him to accidentally run you over if he spooks or moves. 

Stand next to your horse while he is tied safely or a handler holds him, and run your hand down the back of his leg so he isn’t surprised. Photo by Sarah E. Coleman

The digital pulse can be felt on both the inside and outside of the leg, just above the fetlock, over the fetlock and down the pastern. There are multiple places where you can check a horse’s digital pulse, but we will focus on where the artery runs over the fetlock. To find the digital pulse here, follow these steps: 

◆ Step One: Squat and run your hand down the back of the horse’s leg, starting at the back of his knee or his hock. Stop when you reach his fetlock. 

Slide your index and