1 NECK AND SHOULDERS

Feel along your horse’s crest and notice if there is thickened, hard fat and if you can wobble it from side to side. If you’re unsure, an additional cresty neck fat scoring system is available online (go to bhs.org.uk/ advice-and-information/ horse-care/fat-scoring/ cresty-neck-score).

Run your hand down the neck onto the shoulder. Fat can accumulate in front of the shoulder blades, which will cause your hand to move smoothly over the neck onto the shoulder. Instead it should be stopped by the shoulder blade. Ideally, this shoulder blade should be clearly defined. You may also feel fat pads behind the shoulder blades.