THE BASICS OF BODY CONDITION SCORES

Developed 30 years ago by Don Henneke, PhD, as part of his doctoral research, the body condition score (BCS) system offers an objective method of estimating a horse’s bodyfat levels. The BCS scale ranges from 1 (poor) to 9 (extremely fat). Horses are scored based on visual and hands-on appraisal of six body areas where fat tends to accumulate.

Horses develop body fat in a predictable pattern, starting behind the shoulder, moving back over the ribs, up over the rump and finally along the back forward to the neck and head. A horse’s BCS is based on an appraisal of fat accumulation in these areas. Score: 1 (Poor) • Extreme emaciation. • Spinous0 processes, ribs, tailhead, and

hooks0 and pins0 are prominent. • Bone structure of withers, shoulder and

neck is easily noticeable. • No fatty tissue can be felt.

Score: 2 (Very thin) • Emaciated. • Thin layer of fat over base of spinous

processes. • Transverse0 processes of lumbar vertebrae

feel rounded. • Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, and

hooks and pins are prominent. • Withers, shoulders and neck structures

are faintly discernible.

Score: 3 (Thin) • Fat about halfway up spinous processes;

transverse processes cannot be felt. • Thin fat layer over ribs. • Spinous processes and ribs are easily

discernible. • Tailhead prominent, but individual

vertebrae cannot be visually identified. • Hook bones appear rounded but not easily

discernible. • Pin bones not distinguishable. • Withers, shoulders and neck are accentuated.

Score: 4 (Moderately thin) • Ridge along back. • Faint outline of ribs discernible. • Tailhead prominence depends on

conformation; fat can be felt around it. • Hook bones not discernible. • Withers, shoulders and neck are not

obviously thin. Score: 5 (Moderate) • Back is level. • Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but

can be easily felt. • Fat around tailhead beginning to feel

spongy. • Withers appear rounded over spinous

processes. • Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into

the body.

Score: 6 (Moderate to fleshy) • May have slight crease down back. • Fat over ribs feels soft and spongy. • Fat around tailhead feels soft. • Fat beginning to be deposited along sides of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck.

Score: 7 (Fleshy) • May have crease down back. • Individual ribs can be felt, with noticeable

filling between ribs with fat. • Fat around tailhead is soft. • Fat deposited along withers, behind

shoulders, along neck.

Score: 8 (Fat) • Crease down back. • Difficult to feel ribs. • Fat around tailhead very soft. • Area along withers filled with fat. • Area behind shoulder filled in. • Noticeable thickening of neck. • Fat deposited along inner buttocks.

Score: 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 buttocks may rub together. • Flank filled in flush.