Being able to accurately estimate the body weight and condition of your horses can help in the way you manage and feed them. The amount of feed horses need depends on their weight, their activity, their growth or stage of pregnancy or lactation, and the body condition they are in.Body condition score is closely related to the amount of fat they carry.
In Australia we use a scorer of 0 – 5 to describe a horse’s condition, with a 0.5 increment if a horse falls between scores. This system is based on the Carroll and Huntington Method (1988).
Using the following table will help you to condition score your horse.
Methods of Estimation
- Assess visually and by feel, the horse’s pelvis and rump, back and ribs and neck (table 1).
- Give those areas individual scores using a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 (very fat).
- Intermediate assessments can be given half scores.
- Using the pelvic and rump assessment as the base, adjust that score by a half point if it differs by one or more points from the score for the neck or ribs.
- Height measurement should be performed on level ground when the horse is relaxed and standing squarely. Use the highest point of the withers as the measuring site. Allowance should be made for shoes.
Table 1. Body condition scoring system
| Score | Neck | Back and ribs | Pelvis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Very poor |
Marked ewe neck. Narrow and slack at base. |
Skin tight over ribs. Spinous processes sharp and easily seen. |
Angular pelvis – skin tight. Deep cavity under tail and either side of croup. |
| 1 Poor |
Ewe neck. Narrow and slack at base. |
Ribs easily visible. Skin sunken either side of Backbone. Spinous processes well defined |
Rump sunken, but skin supple. Pelvis and croup well defined Deep depression under tail. |
| 2 Moderate |
Narrow but firm | Ribs just visible Backbone well covered Spinous processes felt |
Rump flat either side of backbone. Croup well defined, some fat. Slight cavity under tail. |
| 3 Good |
No crest (except stallions) Firm neck |
Ribs just covered No gutter along the back. Spinous processes covered but can be felt |
Covered by fat and rounded. No gutter. Pelvis easily felt |
| 4 Fat |
Slight crest | Ribs well covered – need firm pressure to feel Gutter along backbone. |
Gutter to root of tail. Pelvis covered by soft fat – felt only with firm pressure |
| 5 Very fat |
Marked crest Very wide and firm. Folds of fat. |
Ribs buried – cannot feel. Deep gutter Back broad and flat. |
Deep gutter to root of tail. Skin distended. Pelvis buried – cannot feel |
| 0 Very poor |
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| 1 Poor |
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| 2 Moderate |
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| 3 Good |
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| 4 Fat |
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| 5 Very fat |
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Please click the image to download the fact sheet
For more information please check out the following resources:
Primefact Number: 928 Edition: First edition Released/reviewed: Sep 2009 covers the following topics:
- Condition scoring
- Estimating body weight
- Using a weigh tape
- Measuring girth and length and using a weight formula
- Horse welfare
