SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100

Video: Horse Body Condition Scoring

How do you know if your horse is too fat, too thin, or just right? The Henneke Body Condition Score (BCS) system assigns a value from 1 (extremely emaciated) to 9 (extremely obese). Most horses are considered healthy at a score of 4 to 7. Watch the video below to find out how to judge a horse’s body condition.





 

1. Poor: Extremely emaciated; bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt

2. Very Thin: Emaciated; withers, shoulders and neck bone structure faintly discernible

3. Thin: Slight fat layer over ribs but ribs easily discernible; withers, shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body

4. Moderately Thin: Faint outline of ribs discernible; withers, shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body

5. Moderate: Back has no crease or ridge; ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt

6. Moderately Fleshy: May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; beginning of fat deposits along the side of the 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 deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck.

8. Fat: Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; areas along withers and behind shoulders filled with fat; fat deposited along inner thighs

9. Extremely Fat: Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs; bulging fat along withers, behind shoulders, along neck; flank filled in with fat.

 

 

Holly Caccamise

Holly Caccamise has been with Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines since 2007, and in 2019, she became Editor in Chief of both titles. Caccamise has a master's degree in Animal Science with a specialization in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She has also worked as a racing magazine ad copywriter and top-level show groom.

View Comments

Recent Posts

Riding a New Horse Later in Life

Four equestrians found themselves ready for a new horse after a lifetime of riding. Here are their stories. After years…

1 day ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Brew

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

2 days ago

Botulism in Horses

Though you may not have thought much about it, botulism is a very real threat to the wellbeing of a…

3 days ago

Breed Portrait: Trote y Galope

While the Paso Fino—a breed well known for its smooth, animated gait—was gaining notoriety in the U.S., another closely related…

4 days ago

Vet Adventures: Night of Terror

I had just flopped onto my couch, remote in hand. Sunny, one of my teenage daughters, breezed through the front…

5 days ago

Is Your Saddle Making You Ride Badly?

For successful saddle fitting, it is as important to address the dynamic stability of the rider as it is the…

1 week ago