1. Anna McKelvey Kirsty Husby
Body Condition Score
Anna McKelvey
Kirsty Husby

2. 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.

3. 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??

4. 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 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."

5. Skeleton
Spinous processes
Hooks – Ilium
Pins – Ischium

6. 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

7. Score 1 - Poor

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

9. Score 2 – Very Thin

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

11. Score 3 - Thin

12. 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

13. Score 4 – Moderately Thin

14. 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

15. Score 5 - Moderate

16. 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

17. Score 6 – Moderate to Fleshy

18. 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

19. Score 7 - Fleshy

20. 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

21. Score 8 - Fat

22. 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

23. Score 9 – Extremely Fat

24. 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).

25. 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

26. 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,
Evans, Patricia PhD. “Body Condition Scoring: A Management Tool for Evaluating All Horses.” Utah State University. June,