Body Condition Scoring

How to perform a body condition assessment on a horse?

Positioning. Ensure the horse is standing in a natural position on a level surface and is relaxed and comfortable. Use a gentle touch when palpating areas such as the ribs, spine, and hips. Avoid applying excessive pressure that could cause discomfort or anxiety.

When palpating areas such as the ribs, spine, and hips. Avoid applying excessive pressure that could cause discomfort or anxiety.

Start with the ribs. Gently run your hands along the ribcage, starting just behind the front legs. Feel for the ribs: You should be able to feel the ribs with a thin layer of fat over them. In a thin horse, the ribs will be prominent and easy to feel. In an overweight horse, they will be difficult to feel under a thick fat layer.

Move to the back and spine. Place your hands along the top of the horse’s spine, running from the withers to the croup (the top of the hips). Check for sharpness. The spine should be palpable but not overly sharp. In a thin horse, the spine will be prominent, whereas in an overweight or horse that has obesity, it will be covered by a layer of fat.

Feel the hips. Move your hands to the area around the hips and the croup. Assess for bony prominence. In a thin horse, the hips will be prominent and bony. In an overweight or horse with obesity, the hips will be less defined and covered with fat.

Examine the abdomen. Feel the sides of the horse's belly and observe the profile from the side. Check for an abdominal tuck. In a horse with a healthy body condition, there should be a slight upward slope from the rib cage to the hind legs, known as the abdominal tuck. In a thin horse, the tuck will be very pronounced, while in an overweight or horse with obesity, the abdomen may be rounded or sagging with minimal to no tuck.

Look for the waist (from above). Stand over the horse and look down at the waist, the area just behind the ribcage. Check the shape. A healthy body condition will have a visible waist with a slight inward curve behind the ribs. In a thin horse, the waist will be very pronounced, while in an overweight or horse that has obesity, the waist will be broad or absent, with a more rounded body shape.

Assess for fat deposits. Feel for fat deposits around the neck, shoulders, and tailhead (the base of the tail). In overweight or horses with obesity, there will be noticeable fat deposits in these areas. In a horse with a healthy body condition, these areas should have minimal fat deposits.

Feeling and observing these key areas help determine the horse’s position on the 1–9 BCS scale. Regular assessments are crucial for monitoring the horse’s health and managing its body condition safely and effectively. Consistent evaluations allow for timely adjustments to the horse’s diet, exercise, and overall care, ensuring optimal well-being and preventing health issues related to body condition.