A professor at Texas A&M University published, in 1983, the Henneke horse body condition score, named after him. He wanted to use a simple system for horse owners to score the body condition of their horses. As a result, it has become popular and used widely.
The range is 1 to 9, with a 5 being ideal. However, most horse owners like some fat on the bones. Most horses I see in the US are at least a 6 and often a 7 or 8. This overweight condition is from the overfeeding of horses and a reduced workload. 1) more owners have their horses for pleasure and feel that feeding them enhances their connection. In short, they believe that food equals love. In addition, the marketing of feed for horses has become the only mentor to teach horse owners how to feed. The plan here is to sell more food. Coupling the marketing with the perception owners have for the “look” of their horses, the BCS only climbs. 2) Horses are no longer needed for pulling people and supplies to and from town. Their use for war ended about 1915—their use for field work replaced by tractors in the 1950s. Little work plus more food creates more body fat.
On the other side are the overworked and underfed horses. Here the scores drop below 5. Whether it is intentional or not, starvation leads to the absorption of body fat for use as fuel. Let’s look at some of the causes.
The intentional withholding of food has caused starvation. An example includes when a boarder pays for the grain and hay and assumes the farm owner is feeding it. Instead, the farm owner feeds it to their horses. I have seen this happen to an unsuspecting new horse owner.
Starvation occurs when a horse owner loses interest in their horses. It is like they have parked the horse in the garage. Out of sight, out of mind. I have seen several cases of this as well. Often the daughter who cried for the horse is the one who is now paying attention to the boys, and the parents don’t realize the horse needs food. Sometimes a family has job and money problems and can no longer afford to pay. They are too embarrassed to ask for help. In one case I was involved in, at the courthouse, the horse owner was defending her actions and believed that there was no one else capable of caring for her horses. This latter group is called hoarders by psychologists.
Another cause of starvation is when the owner feeds a lot of grain, but the horse continues to lose fat and is called a “hard keeper.” The cause of this is explained further in the nutrition course and topics. In a nutshell, the grain and grain byproducts in some horses cause a lot of inflammation in the intestinal tract. This inflammation consumes a lot of energy and prevents the absorption of glucose, fat and amino acids due to the thickening and leaking of the gut wall. The result is starvation amid plenty. The solution is to remove all food other than pasture and hay.
Diseases other than gut inflammation can also cause the loss of body fat. The most common “disease” is very old age, reducing the horse’s ability to continue to create fuel and transport it. Lost cheek teeth are also a cause where the horse can not get the food in front of him into his stomach because chewing is compromised, and a swallowable bolus of food can no longer be made. But, again, good management can help prevent this and overcome it. Other diseases include organ disease (heart, liver, kidney), lung disease (pneumonia, COPD) and cancer.
Weather is a natural cause of fat loss in winter and increased BCS in the summer. All horses need to go through the natural ebb and flow to maintain their health. Losing body fat in winter is normal and helps improve the horse’s health at the cell level. It is so important to understand but commonly neglected. Most horse owners focus on maintaining the BCS during winter by increasing the availability of raw materials (grain, hay) for fuel production. Please see the topic on hormesis to fully understand this concept.
There are many reasons for a horse’s BCS score. The important point is to understand that this should fluctuate throughout the year. Aiming for one and keeping it there throughout the change of seasons isn’t natural and should be avoided. An athletic horse has a BCS of 4 to 5 in winter and 5 in summer. An average horse has a BCS of 4 to 5 in winter and 5 to 6 in summer.
If severe winter weather causes the BCS to go below a 5, don’t wait until they are a 4 to act. Instead, add more food to avoid the horses passing through a 4 and onto a 3. On the flip side, if the horse is a 6 and summer is just starting, you will need to limit their access to the fat-creating summer pasture.
Just remember these points:
Feeding horses is constantly changing throughout the year. It also needs individual adjustment. Some get fat on air, and some don’t.
Fat is a sign of inflammation. So keeping body fat year-round will eventually harm your horse.
Increasing fat means that insulin is high. Your horse cannot lose fat when there is insulin, and insulin is always around when there is glucose (starch).
It is OK for a horse to become thin. Think this – a horse losing body fat is gaining health.
BCS 2 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Horse C – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs.BCS 2 – Horse B – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse B – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse B – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse A – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse A – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse A – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.BCS 2 – Horse A – BCS 2 – Very Thin ~ Emaciated. The skeleton is clearly visible but there is still a little fat tissue under the skin and the horse has some vitality to the skin. There is a space between the inner thighs. This is a very old horse that is in the best of care, just fading away with age.
BCS 3 – The back bone of this mini is prominent due to weight loss. Horse A – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.BCS 3 – A 34 year old horse frolics with a friend. BCS of 2 to 3 Horse A – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.BCS 3 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.BCS 3 – Top Line Score D = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to the rump (croup). BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.BCS 3 – Horse B – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs. This horse is well cared for but has painful joints and is 28 years old.BCS 3 – Horse B – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs. This horse is well cared for but has painful joints and is very old.BCS 3 – Horse A – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.BCS 3 – Horse A – BCS 3 – Thin – Slight fat covers the body so the skeleton is still discernible but doesn’t pop out. There is a narrow space between the inner thighs.
BSC 4 – This mini has 107 and 207 deformed with medial deviation of about 45 degrees and axial rotation of about 45 degrees. The teeth sound hollow in this 19 year old but are otherwise healthy. The owner called with weight loss associated with sudden inability to chew food. Everything either dropped or were quids. water soaked senior feed was OK. The only abnormality found was feed packed in the diastema between 207/208. The pony immediately went to eating again once the foreign packed food was removed. Horse E BCS 4 = Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – This mini has 107 and 207 deformed with medial deviation of about 45 degrees and axial rotation of about 45 degrees. The teeth sound hollow in this 19 year old but are otherwise healthy. The owner called with weight loss associated with sudden inability to chew food. Everything either dropped or were quids. water soaked senior feed was OK. The only abnormality found was feed packed in the diastema between 207/208. The pony immediately went to eating again once the foreign packed food was removed. Horse E BCS 4 = Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – This mini has 107 and 207 deformed with medial deviation of about 45 degrees and axial rotation of about 45 degrees. The teeth sound hollow in this 19 year old but are otherwise healthy. The owner called with weight loss associated with sudden inability to chew food. Everything either dropped or were quids. water soaked senior feed was OK. The only abnormality found was feed packed in the diastema between 207/208. The pony immediately went to eating again once the foreign packed food was removed. Horse E BCS 4 = Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse E (Horse A for EOTR-H) – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. This horse also has had all but 1 of his incisors extracted caused by EOTRHBSC 4 – Horse E (Horse A for EOTR-H) – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. This horse also has had all but 1 of his incisors extracted caused by EOTRHBSC 4 – Horse B – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse B – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse B – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse B – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse B – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse C – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbaldBSC 4 – Horse C – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbaldBSC 4 – Horse D – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse D -Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse D – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse A – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse A – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse A – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.BSC 4 – Horse A – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.
BCS 5 – Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). While this is not the topline the space between the hind limbs shows that this horse has enough body fat. There is no relationship between TLS and BCS. Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Top Line Score C = loss of musculature along the spine from the withers to before the rump (croup). BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Horse B – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head. This mini w/ chronic laminitis that started 8 yrs ago – no signs of hoof pain todayBCS 5 – Horse B – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head. This mini w/ chronic laminitis that started 8 yrs ago – no signs of hoof pain todayBCS 5 – Horse C – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail headBCS 5 – Horse C – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail headBCS 5 – Horse C – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail headBCS 5 – Horse A – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Horse A – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Horse A – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Horse A – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.BCS 5 – Horse A – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head.
BCS 6 – Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders. Blind in right eye. BCS of 6 after winter with half of the teeth worn to the gum and quidding hay and some grass. Galaxy 31yrBCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy but shiny and dappled. A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders. Blind in right eye. BCS of 6 after winter with half of the teeth worn to the gum and quidding hay and some grass. Galaxy 31yr
BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders. Note the dapples, but they may be from treating for Cushing’s.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders. Note the dapples, but they may be from treating for Cushing’s.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders. Note the neck is starting to crest.BCS 7 – Fleshy ~ A moderate trough along the backbone and more fat covering the ribs, tail head, withers, neck, and shoulders. Note the neck is starting to crest.
BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – 5 yr Gypsy Vanner – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and the ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – 5 yr Gypsy Vanner – Fat ~ Discernible crease down the spine and the ribs are difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.BCS 8 – 5 yr Gypsy Vanner – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs. Note the front limb deformities. This horse was euthanized at seven years of age from joint pain.BCS 8 – 5 yr Gypsy Vanner – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, and inner thighs.
BCS 9 – Extremely Fat ~ Very discernible crease down the spine; patches of fat on the tailhead, shoulders and neck; fat dimples on the flanks and buttocks. This horse could float on water like a fishing bob.BCS 9 – Extremely Fat ~ Very discernible crease down the spine; patches of fat on the tailhead, shoulders and neck; fat dimples on the flanks and buttocks. This horse could float on water like a fishing bob.BCS 9 – Extremely Fat ~ Very discernible crease down the spine; patches of fat on the tailhead, shoulders and neck; fat dimples on the flanks and buttocks. This horse could float on water like a fishing bob.BCS 9 – Extremely Fat ~ Very discernible crease down the spine; patches of fat on the tailhead, shoulders and neck; fat dimples on the flanks and buttocks. This horse could float on water like a fishing bob.
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