BODY CONDITION SCORING

by Charlotte Smith BVMSci MRCVS

Keeping your horse at a healthy weight can be challenging and requires careful management of their health, diet and exercise regime. Being overweight is highly unfavorable to horses’ welfare and they are at greater risk of concerning health conditions such as arthritis, laminitis and equine metabolic disease (EMS).

Although it can be a challenge to maintain your horses’ weight through changing seasons, a really simple way to monitor their weight is by using a body condition chart. There are two different types of body condition scoring (BCS), one uses a 0-5 scale and the other a 1-9 scale. Often weight tapes are used to assess horses’ weight but these are not very accurate when used alone and they do not account for breed variations, whereas body condition scoring is very easy to do and can give you a more holistic view of your horses’ condition. Body condition scoring doesn’t require the use of any equipment, just your hands, and it should be completed every 2 weeks in combination with weight tapes. This will allow you to build up an accurate picture of your horses’ weight and keep control of fluctuations, especially as the seasons/grass growth changes.

The body condition score of your horse influences their life from athletic performance to reproductive health. Therefore, it’s important to consider your horses circumstances when interpreting their body condition score, for example horses that are lactating, pregnant or young have greater energy requirements. This means you will have to give them additional nutritional support in order for their body condition to not fall below 3. If you are struggling to get your horse to lose or gain weight then it is very important for a veterinary surgeon to assess them as there may be an underlying health issue to blame.

How to body condition score horses

Body condition scoring is carried out by feeling your horses’ muscle, fat and bone across its body. Body condition scoring should be assessed in three main areas; neck and shoulders, abdomen and hindquarters. The optimum score for each area in a normal horse is between 2.5-3, all horse owners should aim to keep their horses around this score throughout the year. It’s important to understand the difference between feeling fat and muscle. Fat is softer and creases when there are deposits in certain regions such as the crest of the neck; muscle feels much firmer. It is important that when you implement a body condition scoring regime, each time it is completed it should be at the same time and by the same person to achieve the most accurate results. It’s a good idea to record your horse’s weight and body condition score in a table or graph so you are able to see fluctuations throughout time.

1.Neck and shoulders

The nuchal ligament is a tubular structure that runs from the poll to the withers along the top of your horse’s neck. If the area above the nuchal ligament is hard, thickened and not easily manipulated from side to side then this is alarming, especially if your horse is not a stallion. Horses with large crested necks are at increased risk of metabolic diseases such as laminitis.

Run our hands down the shoulder blade, fat pads can be felt in front and behind the shoulder blade.

2.Abdomen

When palpating across your horses ribs they should be easily palpable with minimal pressure.

Across your horses’ wither and spine there should be a very thin layer of fat and the bones should be felt.

You should be able to lie your hand flat across your horses back, if there is a dip and buildup of fat either side of the spine then this is an indication that your horse is overweight.

3.Hindquarters

Your horses’ hips should be seen but not protruding and they should be palpated easily with light pressure

The hindquarters should be slightly rounded in shape – an appleshaped hindquarters indicates your horse is overweight

The body condition scoring chart

0 – Emaciated a extremely underweight

• Extremely thin neck with no muscle of fat coverage.

• No fat can be felt on any areas of the horse.

• Ribs are protruding and easily palpable.

• Bones, pelvis/hips and spine can be easily seen and palpated.

• Tail bone extremely protruded.

• Hindquarters sunken either side of the spine.

• Large gap between hind legs.

1 – Thin a underweight

• Thin neck with a small amount of muscle and fat coverage.

• Small amount of fat can be felt across the horse.

• Ribs easily seen and palpable.

• Pelvis/hips and spine can be seen and palpated.

• Tail bone protruding slightly.

• Hindquarters sunken either side of the spine.

• Large gap between hind legs.

2 - Lean areasonable

• Neck somewhat thin.

• Neck musculature shape is visible.

• Thin layer of fat covers the body.

• Ribs are just seen and can be palpated.

• Pelvis/hips and spine can be palpated.

• Tail bone protrudes slightly.

• Small gap between back legs.

3 - Optimum ahealthy

• Neck musculature shape present but less clear.

• Neck shows no cresting (exception = stallions).

• Ribs/spine/hips not visible but palpable with light pressure.

• Hindquarters rounder in shape.

4 – Overweight a unhealthy

• Neck musculature shape not visible.

• Crested neck (fat felt along the neck).

• Ribs palpable with firm pressure but covered by fat.

• Fat pads present at the shoulder and tail head.

• Pelvis/hips difficult to palpate.

• Rounded hindquarters - peachy.

• Valley running from the withers to tail head.

5 – Obese a extremely unhealthy

• Neck is wide and firm.

• Large crested neck.

• Neck musculature not visible.

• Large layer of fat covering the ribs/hips/spine.

• Large fat pads at the shoulder and tail head.

• Table top appearance across the back.

• Deep valley running from withers to tail head.

Body condition scoring donkeys

In order to body condition score donkeys, we need to adjust the system used for horses as they deposit fat differently. The donkey sanctuary has developed a body condition scoring chart which scores from 1-5 and gives a score for five different areas of the donkey.

1.Underweight

• Neck and shoulders = the neck is very thin and the bones are very easily palpated.

• Withers = very prominent and palpated easily.

• Ribs and abdomen = ribs very visible and easily palpated.

• Abdomen has a tucked-up appearance.

• Spine = dorsal/transverse processes of the spine very easily palpated.

• Hindquarters = hips very easily palpated with no musculature. Large gap between back legs.

2.Lean

• Neck and shoulders = small layer of muscles in the neck and small divergence where the shoulders and neck meet.

• Withers = small layer of fat covering the dorsal spinous. processes (DSPs) and withers.

• Ribs and abdomen = ribs cannot be seen but very easily palpated

• Spine = dorsal/transverse processes of the spine felt with a small amount of pressure. Musculature is poor.

• Hindquarters = thin layer of muscle covering the hindquarters. Hips can be easily palpated.

3.Healthy

• Neck and shoulders = muscles well developed under a thin layer of fat. Smooth junction between neck and shoulders.

• Withers = DSPs and withers covered with a good layer of muscle and fat.

• Ribs and abdomen = thin layer of fat/muscle covers the ribs and can be palpated with a small amount of pressure. Good muscle tone of the abdomen, trim to the body.

• Spine = spinous/transverse processes can be palpated individually with a small amount of pressure. Muscles well developed either side of the spine.

• Hindquarters = rounded hips which can be palpated, with good musculature of hindquarters.

4.Overweight

• Neck and shoulders = neck is crested and hard to manipulate, shoulders are covered with a thick layer of fat.

• Withers = broadened withers which can be palpated with hard pressure.

• Ribs and abdomen = abdomen more pendulous and rounded, ribs can be palpated with hard pressure.

• Spine = dorsal/transverse processes can be palpated with hard pressure.

• Hindquarters = well rounded with even deposits of fat.

5.Obese

• Neck and shoulders = neck falling to either side and very crested. Shoulders are protruding with thick layer of fat.

• Withers = very broad which can be palpated with very firm pressure.

• Ribs and abdomen = ribs covered with large uneven regions of fat. Abdomen very pendulous.

• Spine = spinous/transverse processes very difficult to feel. Large fat pads running alongside the spine with creasing and bulging.

• Hindquarters = hips cannot be palpated. Uneven bulging fat pads overhanging the tail head.

Risks of overweight horses/donkeys

As we have previously mentioned horses and donkeys that are overweight are at an increased risk of developing health problems. Laminitis is one of the biggest concerns for an overweight horse, this is a very painful and debilitating condition which can cause rotation of the pedal bone. It takes a lot of management and veterinary/farriery intervention for an animal to recover from laminitis. It is best to prevent this condition before it occurs by keeping your

About the Author:

Charlotte Smith BVMSci MRCVS

Charlotte studied at the University of Surrey and kept busy representing her university in polo, rowing and the University of Surrey Equestrian club. She graduated in July and joined the team at Avonvale to complete an equine internship. Charlotte is looking forward to developing her skills in all areas of general practice and has a particular interest in stud work.

horses at a healthy weight. Similarly, horses that are overweight and develop insulin resistance are susceptible to a condition called Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). This is a syndrome in which the metabolism is deranged and can cause issues with energy metabolism, fat composition, clotting issues, inflammation and damage to blood vessels. Keeping your horse slim, fit and healthy can help prevent them from developing EMS. Overweight horses/ponies and donkeys put additional stress on their joints which can lead to the development of arthritis. Arthritis is a chronic condition that cannot be reversed and can be increasingly hard to manage. Once the animal has lost some weight this additional pressure is taken away and they will have a much more positive response to treatment.

A keen equestrian, Charlotte enjoys eventing and owns an Irish Sports horse and a little chestnut pony.

Avonvale Equine Practice, Ratley Lodge, Ratley, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 6DT.

Tel: 01295 670501 www.avonvaleequine.co.uk

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