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Conditioning your horse and
evaluating your horse’s overall condition
A horse’s body condition influences a number of things. From their attitude and demeanor to the two most prominent influences which are their reproduction and exercise effects.
A horse’s condition can be controlled by diet and exercise. Using Equine Fitness and Conditioning Software virtually assures your control over your horses’ body condition.
Body Conditioning Scoring was developed in order to rate your horses Body Condition. This scoring system is based on your observable appraisal of 6 areas of your horses’ body. The complete scoring rankings range from 1-9 with a list below:
In our opinion, since people usually describe their horses as Poor, Thin, Moderate or Fat, we broke the 9 scores into 4 categories with 5 more descriptive and specific, minor categories. Our Body Conditioning Scoring allows for you to quickly see where your horse falls in the 4 major categories. If you need to be more specific you can track it to each specific category.
POOR RANK 1
Poor
Animal extremely emaciated: spinous process, ribs, tail head, tuber coxae, and ischii projecting prominently, bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
- It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by overfeeding or putting him at risk of colic. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
THIN RANK (2-4)
2.) Very Thin
Animal Emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse process of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tail head, tuber coxae, and ischii projecting prominently, bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck faintly discernible.;
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by overfeeding or putting him at risk of colic. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
3.) Thin
Fat build up about half way on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernible; tail head prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae appear rounded but easily discernible; tuber ischii not distinguishable; withers, shoulders, and neck accentuated.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by overfeeding or putting him at risk of colic. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
4.) Moderately Thin
Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tail head prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae not discernible, withers, shoulders, and neck obviously thin.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by overfeeding or putting him at risk of colic. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
MODERATE RANK (5-7) Ideal Conditioning Score is between (5-7)
5.) Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tail head beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spineous processes; shoulder and neck blend smoothly into body.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by overfeeding or putting him at risk of colic. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
6.) Moderately Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; individual ribs can be felt. but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tail head very soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.
7.) Fleshy
May have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat, fat around tail head soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and around neck.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by drastically reducing his diet. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
FAT RANK (8-9)
8.) Fat
Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; fat around tail head very soft; are along withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by drastically reducing his diet. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
9.) Extremely Fat
Obvious crease down back; patch fat appearing over ribs; bulging fat around tail head; along withers; and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.
It is critical to get this type of horse eating a healthy diet with accurate calories. You need to be careful so you don’t harm your horse by drastically reducing his diet. As always we suggest a Vet or equine nutritionist recommendation before you begin.
Adapted from Henneke et al. (1983) 1
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