Body Condition Scoring System
Body condition, or the measure of fat cover, can be evaluated by visual appraisal and palpation. A scoring system in horses uses six areas of the body: along the neck (A), withers (B), crease down back (C), tailhead (D), ribs (E), and behind the shoulder (F) - to assign scores of one (extremely emaciated) to nine (obese). A score between five and seven is considered ideal for healthy horses. Horses scoring in the one and two category should be evaluated further for causes such as medical conditions, dental problems, or the lack of proper nutrition.
DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDITION SCORES (SCORE 1-9)
(1) Poor. Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, hip joints and lower pelvic bones projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders and back easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
(2) Very Thin. Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, hip joints and lower pelvic bones prominent; withers, shoulders and back structure faintly discernible.
(3) Thin. Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernible; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; hip joints appear rounded but easily discernible; lower pelvic bones not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.
(4) Moderately Thin. Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; hip joints not discernible; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
(5) Moderate. Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
(6) Moderately Fleshy. May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders and along sides of neck.
(7) Fleshy. May have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck.
(8) Fat. Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; fat around tailhead very soft; area along withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs.
(9) Extremely Fat. Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.
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