I feed him clover and trefoil pasture in the summer and timothy trefoil hay in the winter he doesn't get any grain... mainly because he doesn't need it I ride at least 3-4 times a week in the summer and he has always been in good shape. He is the horse in my profile picture. Gravitysfool he was never taught to back but, we have been working on it.. I agree with P8ntCrazy in the fact that I need to go more forward then backwards because he will have more oppportunity to rear in reverse. The reason I believe he doesn't need any grain is because he is a hot horse to begin with and I realise there are less protein grains out there that won't add too that but, I have never felt there was a need for it. If he were to lose weight or there be a change in his disposition then I would say yes.. II really like the horse and 99% of the time I ride by my self because that his my stress relief but the other 1% of the time when I am with others it can be irritating. Thank you for your suggestions... Here's another picture of him...