4.

What is your definition of thin? The body condition score (BCS) is a standard method of assessing the amount of fat on a horse’s body, based on a nine-point scale (see “The Basics of Body Condition Scores,” page 44). Ideally, horses fall between

4 and 6 on the BCS. A horse who scores a 4, described as “moderately thin,” may have a slight ridge along the back with a slightly discernible outline of the ribs. The point of hip is not discernible and the withers, shoulders and neck should not be obviously thin. In contrast, the horse who scores a 6, “moderate to fleshy,” may have fat over the ribs that feels soft and spongy, and he may be developing fat deposits over the tailhead, behind the shoulders and along his withers and the sides of his neck.

If most of the horses you know fall