Learn to evaluate the fitness of any horse-in the stable and in the saddleThis guide helps horse owners, riders, and trainers at all levels learn how to assess any horse's fitness, strengths, and weaknesses. If you're buying a horse, this will help you pre-assess prospects before getting the complete veterinary examination. If you own a horse, these techniques will help you better understand your horse's aptitudes, customize a training program, identify signs of strain, and provide better care for your horse.With step-by-step instructions and almost 200 photos and drawings showing the proper positioning and approach for each technique, you'll learn:*Hand palpation skills, several basic massage movements, and simple stretching exercises*A Riding Evaluation Program (REP) that helps you identify abnormalities in gaits, tight- muscle groups or sore joints, and more*The Palpation Evaluation Program (PEP), in which you use your fingertips to pinpoint problems*How to perform an assessment of the horse's musculoskeletal system, with twenty-five points on each sideFitness Evaluation of the Horse teaches you to evaluate the soundness and fitness of a horse in a hands-on manner so that you can fine-tune your training program, improve your performance, and enhance your relationship with your horse.

List of Figures. Foreword. Acknowledgments. Anatomical Terms. Introduction. Part I: Preparation. l. Palpation Skills. 2. Massage Awareness for Your Palpation Evaluation. 3. The Relaxation Massage Routine. 4. Stretching. 5. Anatomical Review. 6. Conformation and Stances Evaluation. Part II: The Riding Evaluation Program (REP). 7. The REP Starting Point. 8. Signs of Problems with Your Horse. 9. The Riding Evaluation Program (REP) Exercises. 10. The Walk. 11. The Trot. 12. The Canter. 13. More Advanced Riding and Jumping. 14. The REP Routine. Part III: The Palpation Evaluation Program (PEP). 15. The 25-Point Program. 16. The Head and Neck: Points 1 to 5. 17. The Back: Points 6 to 12. 18. The Forelimb: Points 13 to 19. 19. The Hind Limb: Points 20 to 25. 20. Recap from the PEP. Conclusion. Index.