Bob Emery, D.V.M. Shawn Dolan, D.V.M. Jason Van Lente, D.V.M.

Body Condition Scoring for Horses

Score

  1. Poor: Animal is extremely emaciated. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins project prominently. Bone structure of the animal easily noticeable. No fatty tissues can be felt.
  2. Very thin: Animal is emaciated. Slight fat covering over the base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel founded. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins are prominent. Withers, shoulders and neck structures are faintly discernable.
  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 visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded but easily discernible; pin bones are not distinguishable. Withers, shoulders and neck are accentuated.
  4. Moderately thin: Negative crease along back (spine is the highest point). Faint outline of ribs discernible. Tailhead prominence depends on conformation; fat can be felt around it. Hook bones are not discernible. Withers, shoulders and neck are not obviously thin.
  5. Moderate: Back is level (no crease). Ribs cannot be visibly distinguished but can be easily felt. Fat around the tailhead is beginning to feel spongy. Withers appear rounded over the spinous processes. Shoulder and neck blend smoothly into the body.
  6. Moderate to fleshy: Slight crease down the back. Fat over the ribs feels spongy and the fat around the tailhead feels soft. Fat beginning to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck.
  7. Fleshy: Crease down back. Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between the ribs with fat. Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat is deposited along withers, behind the shoulders and along the neck.
  8. Fat: Prominent crease down back. Difficult to feel the ribs. Fat around the tailhead is very soft. Area along the withers is filled with fat. Area behind shoulder is filled in flush. Noticeable thickening of the neck. Fat deposited along inner buttocks.
  9. Extremely fat: Extremely obvious crease down the back. Patchy fat appearing over the ribs. Bulging fat around the tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck. Fat along inner buttocks my rub together. Flank filled in flush.

From: Henneke, Potter & Kreider: A condition score relationship to body fat content of mares during gestation and lactation. Proc Equine Nutr Physiol Symp 7:105, 1981.