Post by Admin on Dec 15, 2015 18:13:17 GMT -7
Body condition is a measurement of the amount of stored fat on the horse's body. It is not a measurement of the protein, vitamin, or mineral status, or overall health of the horse.
Score 1 -- Appearance: Poor
Animal is extremely emaciated: backbone, ribs, tailhead, point of hips, and point of buttocks project prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck is very prominent; no fatty layer can be felt.
Score 2 -- Appearance: Very Thin
Animal is emaciated; slight fatty layer covers base of backbone; base of backbone in lumbar region feels slightly rounded; backbone, ribs, tailhead, point of hips, and point of buttocks are prominent; withers, shoulders, and neck structures are slightly prominent.
Score 3 -- Appearance: Thin
Fat buildup is apparent about halfway along backbone; base of spine cannot be felt; slight fat covers ribs; ribs are easily discernible; tailhead is prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot observed; point of hips appears rounded but easily discernible; point of buttocks is not apparent; withers, shoulders, and neck are not obviously thin.
Score 4 -- Appearance: Moderately Thin
Slight ridge is visible along back; faint outline of ribs visible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, but a fat layer can be felt around it; point of hips is not discernible, withers, shoulders, and neck are not obviously thin.
Score 5 -- Appearance: Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs are not visually apparent but are easily felt; fat around tailhead feels slightly spongy; withers appear rounded over top; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
Score 6 -- Appearance: Moderately Fleshy
Horse may have slight crease down back; fat layer over ribs is spongy; fat around tailhead feels soft; fat begins to be layered along side the withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck.
Score 7 -- Appearance: Fleshy
Horse may have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but there is a noticeable filling of fat between ribs; fat around tailhead is soft; fat layer apparent along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.
Score 8 -- Appearance: Fat
Crease is visible down back; ribs can't easily be felt; fat around tailhead is very soft; area along withers is filled with fat; area behind shoulders is filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat layer apparent on inner thighs.
Score 9 -- Appearance: Extremely Fat
Obvious crease is visible down back; patchy fat appears over ribs; bulging fat is noticeable around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck; fat on inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.
Chart from Hennecke, D. G. Potter, J. Greider, and B. Yates, 1983. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements, and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet J. 15:371-372
A body score of less than 4 indicates inadequate energy intake, and a score of more than 6 indicates an excessive energy intake. Adjust feed levels accordingly. A score between 5 and 6 indicates the proper amount of energy intake. Keep up the good work!
Score 1 -- Appearance: Poor
Animal is extremely emaciated: backbone, ribs, tailhead, point of hips, and point of buttocks project prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck is very prominent; no fatty layer can be felt.
Score 2 -- Appearance: Very Thin
Animal is emaciated; slight fatty layer covers base of backbone; base of backbone in lumbar region feels slightly rounded; backbone, ribs, tailhead, point of hips, and point of buttocks are prominent; withers, shoulders, and neck structures are slightly prominent.
Score 3 -- Appearance: Thin
Fat buildup is apparent about halfway along backbone; base of spine cannot be felt; slight fat covers ribs; ribs are easily discernible; tailhead is prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot observed; point of hips appears rounded but easily discernible; point of buttocks is not apparent; withers, shoulders, and neck are not obviously thin.
Score 4 -- Appearance: Moderately Thin
Slight ridge is visible along back; faint outline of ribs visible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, but a fat layer can be felt around it; point of hips is not discernible, withers, shoulders, and neck are not obviously thin.
Score 5 -- Appearance: Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs are not visually apparent but are easily felt; fat around tailhead feels slightly spongy; withers appear rounded over top; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
Score 6 -- Appearance: Moderately Fleshy
Horse may have slight crease down back; fat layer over ribs is spongy; fat around tailhead feels soft; fat begins to be layered along side the withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck.
Score 7 -- Appearance: Fleshy
Horse may have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but there is a noticeable filling of fat between ribs; fat around tailhead is soft; fat layer apparent along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.
Score 8 -- Appearance: Fat
Crease is visible down back; ribs can't easily be felt; fat around tailhead is very soft; area along withers is filled with fat; area behind shoulders is filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat layer apparent on inner thighs.
Score 9 -- Appearance: Extremely Fat
Obvious crease is visible down back; patchy fat appears over ribs; bulging fat is noticeable around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck; fat on inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.
Chart from Hennecke, D. G. Potter, J. Greider, and B. Yates, 1983. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements, and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet J. 15:371-372
A body score of less than 4 indicates inadequate energy intake, and a score of more than 6 indicates an excessive energy intake. Adjust feed levels accordingly. A score between 5 and 6 indicates the proper amount of energy intake. Keep up the good work!