Horses can be evaluated for condition by a body condition scoring system shown below. Depending on type of performance the horse is doing, the range should be between 4 and 6. However, many halter horses may approach the 7 category. For the large percentage of horses, their condition score should be 5 or 6.
Description of Individual Condition Score
Body Condition Score 1:
Poor -- Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae, and ischii projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
Body Condition Score 2:
Very Thin -- Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae, and ischii prominent; withers, shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernible.
Body Condition Score 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; tuber coxae appear rounded but easily discernible; tuber ischii not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.
Body Condition Score 4:
Moderately Thin -- Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae not discernible; withers, shoulders, and neck not obviously thin.
Body Condition Score 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.
Body Condition Score 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 the sides of neck.
Body Condition Score 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.
Body Condition Score 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.
Body Condition Score 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.
Source: Adapted from Henneke et al. (1983).
For more a more indepth understanding of the Body Conditioning Scoring System, go to the learning module titled Understanding Body Condition Scoring in Horses.
