| If you are able to go to the races you have a | | | | the end of a season it is often said that "a horse has |
| considerable advantage over the stay at home punter. | | | | gone in its coat." When this happens a horse does not |
| You have the opportunity of studying the race horses | | | | tend to run up to its best form. |
| in the paddock before they go out onto the race | | | | Just like us a horses muscle tone is a good indication |
| course. Of course if you are an expert in horse flesh | | | | of a horses condition. The hind quarters behind the |
| so much the better but even as a novice there are | | | | saddle should be sharply defined. The chest muscles |
| certain factors that you can spot and consider before | | | | should also be sharply defined. For the novice it may |
| placing your bet. | | | | take time to be able to spot the difference between |
| If you are a regular race goer it will be well worth | | | | well-defined muscle and normal muscle but one |
| studying the subject as being a good horse judge can | | | | giveaway as to fitness ids to look at the belly. Often if |
| not only be satisfying it can prove to be very | | | | a horse is not completely would up it may be said to |
| profitable. For your first attempts I would try and | | | | be "carrying too much belly" and just like us it can slow |
| restrict yourself to races with small fields so that you | | | | a horse down. This can be most noticeable when a |
| have more time to consider the various factors. | | | | horse is having its first run of the season and has not |
| The most obvious sign that you will notice as a | | | | been fully sharpened up. |
| paddock watcher is when a horse is sweating. Like | | | | Finally you should look at the general behaviour of the |
| humans it is not unusual for a horse to sweat | | | | horse in the paddock,. Is it on its toes, does it look lively |
| especially in hot weather. However a horse sweating | | | | and ready to do the business? A horse that treads |
| heavily under the rug and between the legs can | | | | round the paddock with its head hung low and |
| indicate stress and nervousness. Certain horses have | | | | generally looking uninterested is unlikely to do well in the |
| a habit of sweating before their races without any | | | | race. Equally so if a horse is too lively and expanding |
| effect on their performance. You will often find this | | | | too much energy before the race this is also not a |
| mentioned in its form notes. | | | | good sign. |
| The condition of a horse coat is always a good | | | | Learning to be a good paddock watcher can be an |
| indication of their well being. A good glossy coat is a | | | | enjoyable and rewarding experience, why not give it a |
| good sign and indicates a healthy and fit horse. A dull | | | | try next time you go racing. |
| coat is generally not a good sign and often towards | | | | |