Hindquarters are the back legs and rear end of a four-legged animal, especially horses, cattle, dogs, and other mammals. When a veterinarian examines a horse's hindquarters, she's checking the powerful muscles, bones, and joints that help the animal run, jump, and kick. A deer's hindquarters contain the strong leg muscles it needs to leap over fences and sprint away from danger.

The front part of an animal, including the front legs and chest, is called the forequarters, while the back part makes up the hindquarters. You might hear someone say that a dog is sitting on its hindquarters when it's in a begging position with its rear legs folded underneath.

Farmers and ranchers pay close attention to an animal's hindquarters because those muscles reveal whether the animal is healthy and well-fed. Strong hindquarters mean the animal can move powerfully and efficiently. In horse riding, a rider might give commands that tell the horse to engage its hindquarters, using that rear-leg power to move forward with strength and balance.