What should be checked regularly as part of a horse's health monitoring?

Regularly checking a horse's heart rate is an essential part of health monitoring because it provides vital information about the horse's cardiovascular health and overall fitness level. The normal resting heart rate for most horses ranges from 28 to 44 beats per minute, depending on their level of training, age, and condition. Monitoring heart rate can help detect issues such as stress, dehydration, illness, or the onset of more serious medical conditions.

Incorporating heart rate checks into routine health monitoring allows caretakers to notice trends over time and respond quickly to any significant changes, ensuring the horse receives timely care if necessary. Additionally, assessing heart rate during exercise can help in evaluating a horse's performance, stamina, and recovery.

Other options, such as coat color and favorite food, do not provide relevant health insights and are not indicators of a horse's well-being. While a horse's attitude can give some clues about their mental health, it is less quantifiable than heart rate and can be influenced by a variety of factors that may not necessarily relate to physical health.