# Normal Temperature, Heart Rate & Respiratory Rate of Horses (Adults & Foals)

> Normal vital signs of horses and foals: rectal temperature (mare 37.3–38.2 °C, stallion 37.2–38.1 °C), resting heart rate 28–40 beats/min, respiratory rate 10–14 breaths/min — three references compared.

- Source page: https://wevet.in/normal-values/horse-2/
- Type: Normal values
- Publisher: WeVet
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Audience: veterinarians and veterinary students

Reference ranges for the vital signs of the horse from the MSD Veterinary Manual tables, adapted from *Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals* [1][2][3], compared with Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] and the UC Davis California Veterinary Emergency Team [5], including foals.

## Reference ranges

| Parameter | Horse | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rectal temperature — mare | 37.3–38.2 °C (99.1–100.8 °F) | [1] |
| Rectal temperature — stallion | 37.2–38.1 °C (99.0–100.6 °F) | [1] |
| Resting heart rate | 28–40 beats/min | [2] |
| Resting respiratory rate | 10–14 breaths/min | [3] |

## How the references compare

Published reference ranges differ between sources. Each range below is printed as its source gives it; °C values marked * are converted from the source's °F.

| Parameter | MSD Veterinary Manual [1][2][3] | Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] | UC Davis CVET [5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature, adult | Mare 37.3–38.2 °C; stallion 37.2–38.1 °C | 99.5–101.3 °F (37.5–38.5 °C*) | 99–101.5 °F (37.2–38.6 °C*) |
| Heart rate, adult (beats/min) | 28–40 | 28–40 | 28–44 |
| Respiratory rate, adult (breaths/min) | 10–14 | 8–16 | 8–15 |

## Foals

| Parameter | Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] | UC Davis CVET [5] |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 100 for newborn foals; 45–60 for weanlings and yearlings | 50–70 |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | — | 20–40 |
| Temperature | 99.5–102.2 °F (37.5–39.0 °C*) — printed "99.5.0-102.2" in the source | 99–102 °F (37.2–38.9 °C*) |

## Measuring

- Temperature: a veterinary thermometer in the rectum, removed after 2 to 3 minutes or after the interval recommended by the manufacturer [4].
- Pulse: the external maxillary artery, which crosses the lower edge of the jaw just in front of the masseter (cheek) muscle; in the horse the pulse can also be taken on the left side of the chest, just under the elbow [4].
- Respiration: count flank movements or breaths at the nostrils for one minute at rest [4]; respiration rate is influenced by stress, exercise, temperature and other factors [4].
- The UC Davis chart lists gut sounds in all four quadrants as normal [5].

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the normal temperature of a horse?

The MSD Veterinary Manual table gives 37.3–38.2 °C (99.1–100.8 °F) for mares and 37.2–38.1 °C (99.0–100.6 °F) for stallions [1].

### What is a normal resting heart rate for a horse?

28–40 beats per minute in the MSD table [2] and in Virginia Cooperative Extension [4]; the UC Davis chart lists 28–44 [5].

### What is a normal heart rate for a foal?

Virginia Cooperative Extension gives 100 beats per minute for newborn foals and 45–60 for weanlings and yearlings [4]; the UC Davis chart lists 50–70 for foals [5].

## References

[1] Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/normal-rectal-temperature-ranges
[2] Resting Heart Rates (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/resting-heart-rates
[3] Resting Respiratory Rates (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/resting-respiratory-rates
[4] Monitoring Livestock Vital Signs — Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University) (2020). https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/APSC/APSC-169/APSC-169.html
[5] Normal Vital Signs (vitals chart) — California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), University of California, Davis (June 2024). https://cvet.sf.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk13661/files/inline-files/CVET%20Vital%20Signs%2006_2024.pdf

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Numbers in [brackets] cite the references above. For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.
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