3 HINDQUARTERS

Run your hand over the hip bones — you should be able to see and feel them easily under a thin layer of fat. If you have to press firmly or can’t feel them at all then your horse is carrying excess fat. If the bones are prominently sticking out, and are very easy to feel, your horse is likely to be underweight. Safely look at your horse from behind. Ideally his hindquarters should be slightly rounded. An ‘apple’ shape and a gutter along the backbone indicates too much fat. Feel for fatty areas around the tail head.