In addition to knowing how to judge the conformation of a horse and its markings, it is also important to be able tell if the animal has been cared for properly.
The body condition score was developed by D.R. Henneke et.al. in 1983 and is still used by many equine professionals. The ideal score for a healthy horse is between a 5 and 6. A healthy broodmare should be at a 6 or 7.
Score Description
1 Poor: Extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii projecting prominently (hip bones), bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fat tissue can be felt.
2 Very Thin: 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 discernable.
3 Thin: Fat build-up about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernable; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tubar coxae appear rounded but easily discernable; tuber ischii not discernible; 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; tuber coxae not discernable; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
5 Moderate: Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually discernable 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 sides 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 shoulders 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.
The body condition score is used by trainers, veterinarians and breeders. There are all types of horse professionals across the world and this body condition score chart is used by all of them. This is a very effective tool that you can use when describing a horse over the phone and the equine professional will automatically get a mental picture of what the horse looks like.
The body condition score was developed by D.R. Henneke et.al. in 1983 and is still used by many equine professionals. The ideal score for a healthy horse is between a 5 and 6. A healthy broodmare should be at a 6 or 7.
Score Description
1 Poor: Extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii projecting prominently (hip bones), bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fat tissue can be felt.
2 Very Thin: 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 discernable.
3 Thin: Fat build-up about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernable; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tubar coxae appear rounded but easily discernable; tuber ischii not discernible; 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; tuber coxae not discernable; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
5 Moderate: Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually discernable 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 sides 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 shoulders 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.
The body condition score is used by trainers, veterinarians and breeders. There are all types of horse professionals across the world and this body condition score chart is used by all of them. This is a very effective tool that you can use when describing a horse over the phone and the equine professional will automatically get a mental picture of what the horse looks like.
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