Body Condition and Scoring

Many physiological functions in horses are influenced by body condition including horse’s maintenance, reproductive and exercising requirements. A system called Body Condition Scoring can be used to rate ideal body condition. This condition scoring system is based on visual appraisal and palpable fat cover on six areas of your horse’s body.

A. Along the neck
B. Along the withers
C. Crease down back
D. Trailhead
E. Ribs
F. Behind the shoulder
The ideal body condition
score is between 5 and 6-1/2

1. Poor: Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, hip joints, lower pelvic bones projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.

2. Very Thin: Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, hip joints and lower pelvic bones prominent; withers, shoulders and neck structure faintly discernible.

3. Thin: Fat build up about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernible; tailhead prominent, but indidual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; hip joints appear rounded but easily discernible; lower pelvic bones not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.

4. Moderately Thin: Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; hip joints not discernible; withers, shoulders, and neck not obviously thin.

5. Moderate: Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.

6. Moderately Fleshy: May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders, and along sides on neck.

7. Fleshy: Crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.

8. Fat: Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; fat around tailhead very soft; area along withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inners thighs.

9. Extremely Fat: Obvious crease down back, patchy fat appearing over ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.

If you have and concerns regarding the body score or health of your equine companion please contact Delaney Veterinary Services at 780-922-3647, and we can work together to create a herd health program that suits you and your horses needs.


We would also like to welcome a few new staff members to our team:
Myrna Bittner and Darlene Hrchirchuk.
Welcome Ladies!!