This massive organ—which pumps oxygenated blood through his body—is the powerhouse of his athletic prowess. How fast it’s beating is an indication of his current health and conditioning, and his pulse can also tell you if he’s nervous or calm. When things go wrong with the equine heart, they can go very wrong, leading to chronic disease or sudden death.

To help you learn more about the equine heart, The Horse has partnered with KindredBio for Equine Cardiac Health Awareness Week during Feb. 23-29, 2020. Look for heart-related horse health content all week long on TheHorse.com, our Facebook page and Twitter feed, and in our e-newsletters.