What type of assessments can trainers perform to evaluate a horse's physical condition?

Trainers can perform physical examinations and fitness tests to effectively evaluate a horse's physical condition. Physical examinations are crucial as they allow trainers to assess the horse's overall health, muscle condition, weight, and any visible injuries or abnormalities. These evaluations can involve looking for signs of lameness, assessing the horse's coat condition, and checking for proper hoof health.

Fitness tests are equally important as they help determine the horse's endurance, speed, and overall athletic capability. These tests often include exercises designed to measure the horse’s response to physical activity, recovery times, and heart rates, providing quantitative data that can inform a trainer’s decisions regarding training regimens and rehabilitation.

The other options either limit the assessment methods to too narrow a focus or rely on less objective means. For example, only considering track performance assessments would overlook critical aspects of a horse's health that might not be visible in performance alone. Similarly, relying solely on subjective assessments from owners disregards the systematic and methodical approach that is essential in equine care. Evaluating a horse based on age alone fails to take into account the individual horse's unique health status, fitness level, and physical capabilities.