Learn to evaluate the fitness of any horse-in the stable and in the saddle This 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 side Fitness 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.