Condition Scoring Horses (for fat)
Monitoring a horse’s body fat covering with condition scoring – also called fat scoring - will determine if the horse is receiving the correct amount of energy (calories). If a methodical system is used to assess body fat every two to four weeks, changes can be seen that may easily be missed in daily checks, and this information can then be used to alter the diet, keeping the horse or pony in a healthy condition.
Feel for body fat
Condition scoring is a useful objective method of assessing and describing body fat that can be used by anyone, whether an experienced "horse person" or not. Horses’ body fat tends to be laid down in specific areas, and it is these that are used in the condition scoring process. No equipment is necessary to condition score – just your hands and eyes.
Assessing a horse’s body fat (condition) needs to be done by feeling with the hands and looking at the horse or pony and it is not possible to use this this system accurately by looking at a picture.
The 0-5 System
For most owners I tend to recommend the 0-5 system for scoring which uses three overall body parts, which is simpler to use than the 1-9 Henneke system which uses six areas.
The 0-5 point system was published by Australians Carroll and Huntington in 1988 (in the Equine Veterinary Journal), which they adapted from Leighton Hardman’s scale (Equine Nutrition by A. C. Leighton Hardman, published by Pelham Books in 1980). A score between 0 and 5 (including half scores e.g. 3.5) is awarded to each area, and the pelvis score is adjusted by half a point if it differs by one or more points from the scores for the neck and back/ribs. If both these scores are an equal amount over and under the pelvis score, it remains unaltered. The final pelvis score is the horse’s condition score.
A simpler method is simply to add the score for all three parts and divide the total by 3.
(Click HERE to download a pdf file showing a guide for the 0-5 Condition Score system)
How to condition score
Firstly, create a chart, sheet or digital note to complete with your horse or pony’s score. Using a format that you like and find easy to complete is the key to ensuring you do keep a regular record, and you can also put a note in your diary to remind yourself.
For comparisons of an individual horse over time, the same person should calculate the score. Although better than a subjective description, there is room for individual opinion in this system. We have not yet found an ideal method of measuring body fat in horses and ponies and hopefully this may come in the future.
The covering of fat over the neck, the back and ribs and the pelvis is assessed both visually and manually.
Stand back and take a good look at the horse as a whole then move close and feel the relevant areas. Note how easy it is to feel the bones beneath the skin and fat
Feel the neck and shoulders. Feel along the top of the neck (the crest), above the nuchal ligament which runs along the top of the neck from poll to withers. No muscle is laid down on top of the nuchal ligament, so if bulges can be felt, these are fat. Run your hand down the neck and over the shoulders: if there is no dip between the two, that indicates a build up of fat in front of the shoulder. Feel for a pad of fat behind the shoulder. Feel and look for the withers – are they easily felt and seen or do they blend into the neck?
Move to the back and ribs. Run your hand along the ribs, feeling how easy it is to feel them. Run your hand over the back away from you, then back, feeling for the shape over the spine (is it like a triangle cross section, sloping away from the spine, is it flat, or is there a gulley?).
Stand behind the horse to look at the hindquarters, then move to the side and look then feel over the pelvis. Do the quarters slope away from the spine, or are they flat, or even apple shaped with a gutter down the spine? Can you feel the point of the hip easily? Can you see the entire pelvis and does it look very bony? Feel the entire pelvis area, and take note of any fat laid down at the top of the tail.
Practical tips
Note that the abdomen (belly) is not used and this is because its shape is affected by other factors than body fat, such as gut fill
Try not to confuse muscle with fat! Fat feel spongy and wobbles, whereas muscle feels smooth and firmer than fat
Note how much fatty tissue can be felt, and whether or not the bones can be felt under the muscle and skin
Is there an ideal score?
The ideal condition score for any horse will depend on a number of factors, but most horses should score around 2.5 to 3: moderate to good (0-5 system), for good health. Fit, well-muscled competition horses will tend to score closer to 2: moderate, and show horses are often closer to 4: fat. All horses should ideally be kept below a score of 4, and EMS or ID affected horses between 2 and 3. Horses above score 4: fat i.e. very fat should have their feed and exercise regimes changed immediately and expert advice sought on how to do this, because they are at risk of a number of health problems including EMS and laminitis.
A weigh tape can be used as another useful tool to monitor changes in condition (body fat). Whilst not accurate for actual weight, they are useful to monitor if your horse is losing, gaining or maintaining fat.
Whilst a weighbridge is accurate for weight, and if done at the same time of day can be used to monitor changes, it does not describe body fat, so ideally weight should be used alongside body fat score in order to make a decision about dietary energy intake (for maintenance, fat loss, or fat gain).
Why is monitoring body fat important?
In the UK up to half our population of horses and ponies are overweight, and this puts them at risk of obesity-related illnesses including laminitis, EMS/ID and arthritis. Research has shown that owners can struggle to work out whether or not their horse or pony is overweight, so if you’re not sure, you’re not alone. Following the instructions in this article will help you work out if your horse or pony is carrying an unhealthy amount of weight, or is too thin, and you can also ask your vet, nutritionist or other health professional (providing they know how to fat/condition score).
What next?
Your horse or pony’s fat score tells you if they need their dietary energy (calories) maintained, increased (for weight gain) or decreased (for weight loss). If you need help with how to adjust your horse or pony’s diet for an adjustment in body fat, you can look up how to work with me by visiting my website homepage at www.equinenutritionist.com