Polar Electro Equine M400 Getting Started Manual

ATTACHING THE ELECTRODE BASE

1. Attach the heart rate sensor to the pocket of the electrode 

base. Close the pocket firmly.

2. The heart rate sensor picks up very small electrical impulses 

emitted by the heart. For the heart rate sensor to read the 

heart rate properly, ensure a good contact between the 

electrode pads and the horse’s skin. Wet the electrode 

pads and the horse’s hair properly from the areas where 

the electrode pads are placed (see the figure). If your horse 

has long or thick hair, you can clip those areas. This greatly 

improves the heart rate signal quality.

3. Attach the pocket to the saddle with one of the plastic 

straps.

4. Place the positive electrode pad (short cable) under the 

saddle (4) on the left side of the horse. Ensure that the 

electrode side of the pad is against the horse’s skin (5). The 

rider’s weight will keep the electrode in place.

5. Attach the negative electrode pad (long cable) under 

the girth using a plastic strap (6) and tighten the girth. If 

needed, you can place a wet sponge between the negative 

electrode pad and girth to ensure good contact with the 

skin.

To optimize the contact between the horse’s skin and the 

electrode pads, you can use contact gel on the electrode pads. 

It ensures a better detection of the horse’s heart rate.

WELCOME

Thanks for choosing Polar! In this guide, we’ll walk you through 

the basics of using and caring for Polar M400 Equine. You can 

download the full-length M400 user manual at 

polar.com/

support/M400

. For more help, there are some great video 

tutorials at 

polar.com/support 

you may want to check out.

What’s included

Polar Equine M400

17955642.01  08/2015    10011

Manufactured by

Polar Electro Oy

Professorintie 5

FI-90440 KEMPELE

Tel +358 8 5202 100

Fax +358 8 5202 300

www.polar.com

Getting Started Guide

SET UP YOUR M400

When you get hold of your new M400, it’s in storage mode. It 

wakes up when you plug it to a computer.  We recommend that 

you charge the battery before you start using your M400. 

To make sure you get the latest software on your M400, please 

do the setup in Flow web service.

1. Go to 

flow.polar.com/start

 and install the FlowSync software.

2. Plug your M400 to your computer for setup and charging the 

battery.  

3. Create a Polar Flow account for your horse. 

4. Set maximum heart rate for your horse in Polar Flow: Account 

name > Settings > Maximum heart rate: change to 220.

5. Add horse sport profile(s): Account name > Sport profiles > 

Add sport profile: Riding and/or Trotting.

6. Sync the settings with your M400 in Polar FlowSync.

Even though you have the equipment for use by both humans 

and horses, note that M400 can be set up for one user at a 

time. If you want to use it yourself, restore it to factory settings 

in FlowSync and create your own account.

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4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

6.

6.

ELECTRODE BASE

The Equine heart rate sensor electrode base set is the new 

generation of heart rate sensors for horses. The system features 

plastic sensors made from conductive material which adapt 

perfectly to the movements of a galloping horse. These sensors 

include an absorbent cushion to ensure permanent contact with 

the horse’s skin and maximum accuracy.

Parts

1. Equine Electrode Base detects the electrical signal of every 

heartbeat. It has a pocket for the heart rate sensor and two 

electrodes. The positive electrode is marked with a plus sign 

and the negative electrode is marked with a minus sign.

PAIRING HEART RATE SENSOR WITH M400

To start using the H7 heart rate sensor, you need to first pair it 

with your M400. Wear the heart rate sensor yourself as instructed 

below, or attach the sensor to your horse with the electrode base 

or belt, as instructed later in this guide.

1. Moisten the electrode area of the strap.

2. Clip the strap around your chest and adjust the strap to fit 

snugly.

3. Attach the heart rate sensor to the strap.

4. Press START. Then wait for the sensor pairing request and 

choose Yes.

You can also pair a new sensor in Settings > General settings> 

Pair and sync > Pair new device.

If you’re in a hurry for the first training session with M400, let’s 

do a quick setup to get you going: 

1. Plug M400 into your computer with a USB cable to charge the 

battery.  If the battery is completely empty, it takes a couple of 

minutes for the charging animation to appear.

2. When charging is complete, set up your M400. You must enter 

also physical settings, even though they don’t concern the 

horse. 

3. Ready to go! is displayed when you’re done.

You can use your M400 only in English, if you do the quick 

setup. To use it in other languages, do the setup at 

flow.polar.com/start.

2. Two plastic straps for attaching 

the electrode base.

GET TO KNOW YOUR M400

Browse through the menu by pressing UP or DOWN. Confirm 

selections with the START button, and return, pause and stop 

with the BACK button.

USEFUL TIPS

» Change the watch face by pressing and holding UP

» Lock buttons in time view by pressing and holding LIGHT

» Enter Quick menu in training view by pressing and holding LIGHT

Fitness Test

Today´s 

activity

Settings

Diary

Timers

Favorites

1. Polar M400: With an integrated GPS, 

the M400 provides you with a variety of 

useful information during training. M400 

accurately tracks speed and distance, and 

also calculates GPS-based altitude, ascent 

and descent data.

2. USB cable: Use the USB cable to charge 

the battery and to sync data between your 

M400 and the Polar Flow web service via 

FlowSync software.

3. H7 Heart rate sensor measures heart rate 

in real time and sends the information 

continuously and wirelessly to M400.

4. Polar Equine Electrode Base (included 

in the Polar Equine M400 set) OR Polar 

Equine Belt (included in the Polar Equine 

M400 Trotting set)

5. With your Polar M400 you receive a new Polar Soft strap. The 

plastic electrode areas on the reverse side of the strap detect 

your heart rate.

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You can download the Getting Started Guide in German, 

French, Italian, Spanish, Finnish and Swedish at 

www.polar.

com/support

.

Compatible with

H

2

O

BELT

The plastic electrode areas (A, B) on the reverse side of the

belt detect heart rate. The pocket (C) protects the heart rate

sensor from shocks and scratches and prevents it from

falling off the belt. The heart rate sensor sends the heart rate

signal to the M400.

1.

2.

3.

ATTACHING THE BELT

1. For the heart rate sensor to read the heart rate properly, 

ensure a good contact between the plastic electrode areas 

and the horse’s skin. Wet the belt thoroughly, for example in 

a bucket of water (1).

2. Also wet the horse’s hair from the areas where the 

electrodes of the belt are placed (2). If your horse has long 

or thick hair, you can clip those areas. This greatly improves 

the heart rate signal quality.

3. Attach the heart rate sensor to the pocket (3). Close the 

pocket firmly.

4. Place the belt as indicated (4), with the heart rate sensor 

pocket on the left side of the horse. This ensures that the 

electrode areas of the belt are in the right position.

The range of the heart rate sensor is over 10 m. Therefore, you 

can monitor your horse’s heart rate also when lungeing.

To optimize the contact between the horse’s skin and the 

electrodes, contact gel can be used on the electrodes. It 

ensures a better detection of the horse’s heart rate. Apply 

the gel on the electrode areas on the reverse side of the belt.

B

A

B

C

4.