2 MIDDLE

Run your hand over the ribs. You should be able to feel them fairly easily with light pressure. If you have to press firmly or can’t feel them at all then your horse is carrying excess fat. Place your hand over his back and note whether you can see and feel his spine. Ideally your hand should follow the arch over the spine and be able to feel the backbone. Fat can build up on either side of the spine until it is higher than the spine and creates a gutter.

This will often result in your hand lying flat across your horse’s back. If his spine is particularly visible and very easy to feel, this indicates a lack of fat covering in this area.