IN THE PARADE RING
FITNESS
First focus is the hindquarters. There should be a defining line on both sides. The more defined that line, the more work a horse has done on the training gallops and the more toned the muscle. If it is a lighter line, the horse has done less work and is not as race-fit.
SWEATING
If it is a cold day and a horse is sweating between its legs, that is caused by nerves. That can be bad. If it is a hot day, horses sweat naturally to release heat so don’t be too put off by that.
BEST TURNED OUT
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We all see things differently. Being judged best turned out should not necessarily be seen as a positive in terms of racing fitness. It is often judged by sponsors, who are swayed by pretty things like a plaited mane.
DEMEANOUR
Look at the demeanour when they walk into the paddock. How are they handling the occasion? A lot is going on at a big meeting and it can unsettle or distract. Ideally, you want a relaxed horse, paying attention to its surroundings but not getting worked up. It can be a negative if it is jig-jogging around the paddock. A horse can lose their race before it starts by exerting too much nervous energy.
BELLY
You want to see a hint of ribs. If the ribs are too exposed, the horse has done too much work and could be overcooked. Not being able to see any, or too few, ribs and the horse may be overweight and short of its peak performance physique.
EARS
You don’t want a horse walking around the paddock with its ears flat back. That’s not a great sign, it shows they are not happy.
COAT
A uniform coat from head to hoof shows a horse’s wellbeing. By Royal Ascot, with plenty of warm weather, horses should all look well. You don’t want a blotchy coat, especially on the neck, or two different shades. That could mean they are still hanging on to their winter coat.
SHAKING
You can sometimes see a horse with a nervous muscular twitch in its hindquarters. That is another sign of nerves.
WALK
An agitated walk can be a negative but when the ground is fast, you want a stride which flows smoothly across the ground. A pronounced knee action and stride which hits the ground hard is better suited to softer going.