The heart rate of a horse can go over 200 beats per minute with strong exertion such as galloping up a hill, running a race or working beyond her level of fitness. You will not see those high rates unless you have a heart monitor recording during the exercise. The most important count is the speed at which the heart rate recovers from that high point. From the end of the gallop or hill to the time you pull up, get off and find the heart to listen the rate will have dropped to somewhere around 60 to 100. Within another minute or two, it should be well below 80 beats per minute.

The P3 is one of four bones in the toe (if you will) of the horse. Its function is to serve as part of the team which enables shock absorption in the entire hoof during weight bearing and while in motion. It is meant to drop down, like a trampoline to accommodate the weight. For this to happen, the heels spread apart to provide space for the coffin bone and sole of the hoof to descend.