Horse Body Condition Score (BCS) Chart

The Body Condition Score (BCS) system is an important tool for managing a horse’s health. It is a numerical system used to assess the body fat and overall body condition of animals. It helps veterinarians, owners, and caretakers determine whether a horse is underweight, overweight, or at an ideal healthy weight.

It is evaluated by observing specific body areas, such as the neck, withers, back, tailhead, ribs, and shoulders, for fat coverage.

The scoring typically ranges in whole integers on a scale from 1 to 9 (in horses and dogs, for example), with:

• 1 indicating emaciation (extremely thin)

• 5 being ideal (healthy body condition)

• 9 reflecting obesity (excessive fat accumulation)

This Equine Body Condition Score (BCS) chart is based on Dr. Don Henneke’s original work from 1983. It provides a framework for assessing a horse’s overall health based on fat distribution.

Other helpful tools include the Cresty Neck Score, an assessment tool used to visually evaluate the amount of fat deposited along a horse's neck to identify horses at risk for metabolic disorders, and a Muscle Condition Score to identify areas of muscle loss or imbalance.

Henneke, D. R., Bellows, R. A., & Cole, J. B. (1983). Relationship between condition score, physical measurements, and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Veterinary Journal, 15(4), 371-372.

Downloadable/Printable Horse Body Condition Score Chart