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    Acadwmy /  Horse /  Feeding / Body condition scoring a horse  

      Body condition scoring a horse


      Everyone should body condition score their horse several times a year. The assessment should be made with a critical eye, as it’s easy to become “blind” to your own horse’s condition. It’s a good idea to ask someone in your stable or a feed advisor for help to get an objective evaluation. 


      In Sweden, we commonly use the Henneke scale to body condition score our horses. The Henneke scale ranges from 1 to 9, where 1 is very emaciated and underweight, and 9 is severely overweight. Below you will find an explanation of the Henneke scale.

            Henneke- scale

            1. Extremely emaciated

            Ribs, vertebrae, spinal bones, and hip bones protrude. The skeletal structure at the withers, shoulder blades, and neck is clearly visible. The horse lacks fat and muscle on its body.

            2. Very thin

            Ribs, spinal bones, tail base, and hip bones protrude. The skeletal structure at the withers, shoulders, and neck is faintly visible.

            3. Thin

            Ribs and spine are visible. Tail base protrudes, and the hip bone is visible. The spine is visible but not individual vertebrae. The withers, shoulders, and neck are prominent. Flanks are sunken. 

            4. Slim

            Slightly angled back, ribs are visible, little fat around the tail base, the hip bone is visible but doesn't protrude. Withers, shoulders, and neck are muscular and not sunken. The horse has a thin fat layer and some muscle on its body.

            5. Moderate

            Round and muscular along the back, ribs are not visible but can be felt with light pressure, fat around the tail base starts to feel "spongy." Shoulders and neck are muscular. The horse has muscles and fat across its body.

            6. Moderately plump

            A slight dip along the back, ribs are not visible and need pressure to be felt. Soft fat around the tail, the horse starts to deposit fat along the withers, behind the shoulders, and along the neck.

            7. Plump

            The spine is "sunken" and forms a groove along the back. Ribs can be felt individually with pressure, fat is present between the ribs. Soft fat around the tail base, fat deposits around the withers and shoulders. A fat neck is established.

            8. Fat

            Sunken spine, difficult to feel the ribs. The horse has very soft fat around the tail base, lots of fat around the withers and shoulders. A fat neck is established, and fat accumulation on the inside of the hind legs may be visible.

            9. Extremely fat

            A clear groove along the back, varying thickness of fat over the ribs. A "bulging" fat layer around the tail base. Fat deposits around the withers, shoulders, and neck are also visible. Fat deposits on the inner thighs of the horse are present.


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              When assessing the horse's body condition, you should look at and feel the horse, checking for any fat deposits or areas where the horse lacks muscle or fat.

              Ribs

              The ribs should be felt with light pressure but not visible. A thin layer of subcutaneous fat should hide the ribs from view. If you can see the horse's ribs, it is underweight. If you have to press to feel the ribs, the horse is overweight.

              Neck

              The neck should not have extra fat deposits and should be evenly muscled

              Shoulders and withers

              The withers and shoulders should be clearly visible. They should not have fat deposits behind the elbow or over the shoulder.

              Back

              The spine should be evenly muscled and slightly ridged. Fat deposits can accumulate along the spine, causing a sunken back. At the croup, fat deposits often form, and you may notice that the horse's rear becomes "heart-shaped."

              Tail base 

              The horse should not have excess fat accumulation around the tail base. These feel like spongy lumps around the tail attachment.

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                  Get to know your horse

                  Many horse owners become concerned when their horses have a large belly, often referred to as a "straw belly" or "hay belly." This doesn't necessarily indicate overweight and can be related to a high fiber intake, parasite presence, or loose abdominal muscles.
                  What you should look for are fat deposits, and if they appear, you should review the horse's diet and exercise level. Thin horses should be given increased feed, and their teeth and parasite status should be checked.

                  Of course, there are differences between breeds; you can't expect a thoroughbred and a draft horse to have the same body structure. However, no horse should be either overweight or underweight, regardless of breed and body type. Both scenarios can lead to negative consequences, such as overstrain, laminitis, depletion of mineral reserves, and so on. 

                  The most important thing is to get to know your horse. How does my horse look physically, how do its muscles feel, and how does my horse appear when it is feeling its best? Daily checks and inspections are a good routine that helps you notice changes in your horse early.

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