Anna McKelvey Kirsty Husby Body Condition Score Anna McKelvey Kirsty Husby

Henneke Body Condition Score Measures amount of body fat Determines balance between energy intake & expenditure Developed in 1983 by Dr. Don Henneke Simpler, repeatable, consistent method Comparison between animals Body Condition Scoring measures the amount of body fat present on a particular horse. Fat = stored energy. It thus determines the balance between the amount of energy intake and expenditure – ie. if a horse has a negative energy balance it will lose weight, and if it has a positive energy balance it will gain weight. The Henneke Body Condition Scoring System was developed in 1983 by Dr Don Henneke as part of his doctoral research. At the time there was a complex mathematical formula for determining BCS, and his goal was to find a method that was simpler, repeatable, and consistent. A method that could be used to evaluate a horse on the farm.

Henneke Body Condition Score Fat laid down in predictable patterns Organs Behind the shoulder Ribs Rump Back Withers Head and Neck Henneke observed that as horses gain weight, fat is laid down in a predictable pattern. First they will protect major organs Visibly assessed in certain locations: Then visually we see body fat develop behind the shoulder Moves up over the ribs Then to the rump Along the back Finally to the head and neck Thus, the location of stored fat is a big clue as to how much excess fat the horse has. This is what he based his BCS system on. Why??

Henneke Body Condition Score Scale 1 - 9 Clue to overall health of animal May impact breeding Welfare cases Hennekes system is a scale from 1 to 9 The body condition score can give a clue to the overall health of the animal – note it is not a veterinarians examination BCS may impact breeding – a mare with a BCS of 3 or 4 may have a harder time conceiving than a mare with a BCS of 6 or 7 Study done @ Texas A & M in the early 1980’s by Henneke et al. on the effect of BCS on pregnancy, lactation, and reproductive efficiency in mares - Generally mares with moderate to high body condition scores cycled earlier, had higher pregnancy rates, had lower number of cycles per conception and sustained more pregnancies than thin mares. Welfare cases – Horses that are rescue cases often have a BCS of 1 or 2, since this is a clue to their health status it certainly would indicate that they may not be being appropriately cared for Who should body condition score?/ From "Body Condition Score: A Management Tool for Evaluating All Horses."

Skeleton Spinous processes Hooks – Ilium Pins – Ischium

Score 1 – Poor Extreme emaciation No fatty tissue can be felt Ribs projecting prominently Bone structure easily noticeable Hooks & Pins – bony protrusions of pelvic girdle Hooks – bones that jut out to the side of a horses rump Pins – poke out the back of a horses rump

Score 1 - Poor

Score 2 – Very Thin Emaciated Ribs prominent Vertebrae prominent Faintly notice bone structure

Score 2 – Very Thin

Score 3 - Thin Thin layer of fat over ribs Ribs still easily discernible Tailhead prominent

Score 3 - Thin

Score 4 – Moderately Thin Faint outline of ribs discernable Ridge along back (negative crease) Fat can be felt around tailhead Withers, shoulders, neck not obviously thin Ridge along back – spinous processes of vertebrae protrude slightly above surrounding tissue

Score 4 – Moderately 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 Shoulders & neck blend smoothly into body

Score 5 - Moderate

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 withers, behind shoulders & along sides of neck

Score 6 – Moderate to Fleshy

Score 7 - Fleshy Crease down back Ribs can be felt with noticeable filling of fat between ribs Fat around tailhead is soft Fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck

Score 7 - Fleshy

Score 8 - Fat Crease down back Difficult to feel ribs Fat around tailhead is soft Fat around withers and behind shoulder Noticeable thickening of neck Fat deposited along inner buttocks

Score 8 - Fat

Score 9 – Extremely Fat Obvious crease down back Patchy fat appearing over ribs Bulging fat around tailhead, around withers, behind shoulders, and along neck Fat along inner buttocks Flank filled and flush

Score 9 – Extremely Fat

Evaluation Visual assessment and actual touch Palpate fat areas Avoid mistaking longer hair covering for fat areas Avoid being fooled by conformation differences BCS evaluation is meant to be determined by both visual assessment and palpation. This will help to avoid mistaking a loner hair covering from areas of extra fat, and being fooled by conformation differences ( a taller horse may appear thinner than a smaller pony).

Optimum Body Condition Score “Each horse has his own ideal condition for his breed and occupation” – Don Henneke, PhD Broodmare 5-7 Breeding stallion 5-6 Performance horse 4-6 For an average horse – 5-6 is good

References Barakat, Christine. “What’s your horses body condition score?” Equus August, 2006: 36-42 Wood, Craig. “Condition Scoring For Your Horse.” University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. April, 1995. Siciliano, Paul D. PhD. “Body Condition Scoring.” Colorado State University. January, 2000. http://equineextension.colostate.edu/articles/pds001.html Evans, Patricia PhD. “Body Condition Scoring: A Management Tool for Evaluating All Horses.” Utah State University. June, 2005. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/equine1-6-02.pdf#search=%22condition%20score%20horse%22