What’s the Score: Horse

BODY CONDITION SCORING (BCS) GUIDE

CONTENTS

Page 2: BCS scoring guide for Elk.

Page 3: BCS worksheet.

Page 4: Labelled illustration of a Horse.

Page 5: Cross section of the loin area.

Page 6: Overview of all the body condition scores for a Horse.

Each body condition score will have an illustration to
match and describe what you should be looking for in
determining the body condition score of your animals.
 BODY CONDITION SCORING GUIDE FOR HORSE
This table can be used to score horse in the field.

BCS WHOLE BODY WITHERS SHOULDER LOIN RIBS TAILHEAD

poor Poor condition, Bone structure Bone structure Spinous Project Tail head, pin and
1 extremely
emaciated,
easily visible. easily noticeable. processes project
prominently.
prominently. hook bones project
prominently.
no fat tissue felt.

2very
thin
Very thin,
emaciated.
Bone structure
faintly noticeable.
Faintly discernible. Spinous processes Prominent.
prominent. Slight
fat covering over
Prominent.

base of spinous
processes.
Transverse
processes of lumbar
vertebrae feel
rounded.

3thin Thin. Accentuated. Accentuated. Fat build-up Slight fat cover.

halfway on spinous Individual ribs
processes, but easily discernible.
Prominent but
individual vertebrae
can’t be visually
discernible. Can’t identified. Hook
feel transverse bones rounded, but
processes. easily discernible.
Pin bones not
distinguishable

4moderately
thin
Moderately thin. Not obviously thin. Not obviously thin. Negative crease
along back.
Faint outline
discernible.
Prominence
depends on
conformation.
Fat palpable.
Hook bones not
discernible

5moderate Moderate
condition.
Rounded over
spinous processes.
Blends smoothly
into body.
Back is level. Individual ribs
can be felt, but
not visually
Fat around tail
head beginning to
feel spongy.
distinguished.

6moderately
fleshy
Moderately fleshy. Fat beginning to be
deposited.
Fat beginning to be May have slight
deposited. Point-
of-shoulder not
positive crease
down back.
Fat over ribs feels
spongy.
Fat around tail
head feels soft.

discernible.

7fleshy Fleshy. Fat deposited along

withers.
Fat deposited
behind shoulder.
May have positive
crease down back,
behind shoulder.
Individual ribs can
be felt. Noticeable
fat filling between
Fat around tail
head is soft.

ribs.

8fat Fat. Fat deposited

along inner
buttocks.
Area along withers
filled with fat.
Area behind
shoulder filled in,
flush with body.
Positive crease
down back.
Difficult to feel
individual ribs.
Tail head fat very
soft.

9extremely
fat
Extremely fat.
Fat along inner
Bulging fat. Bulging fat. Obvious positive
crease down back.
Patchy fat Building fat around
appearing over ribs. tail head.
buttocks may rub
together. Flank
filled in flush.

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 2

 BODY CONDITION SCORING WORKSHEET FOR HORSE

DATE:

HORSE BCS

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 3

 L ABELLED ILLUSTRATION OF A HORSE
Illustration of a Horse with a BCS score of 5.

WITHERS
LOIN HOOK BONE

TAIL HEAD

PIN BONE

BARREL

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 4

 BODY CONDITION SCORES FOR HORSES
Overview of all the body condition scores for Horses

BCS 1
WHOLE BODY:
• Poor condition
• Extremely emaciated
• No fat tissue felt
NECK:
• Bone structure visible
WITHERS:
• Bone structure easily visible
LOIN:
• Spinous processes project prominently
TAIL HEAD:
• Tail head, pin and hook bones project prominently
RIBS:
• Project prominently
SHOULDER:
• Bone structure easily noticeable

BCS 2
WHOLE BODY:
• Very thin
• Emaciated
NECK:
• Bones faintly discernible
WITHERS:
• Bone structure faintly noticeable
LOIN:
• Spinous processes prominent
• Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes
• Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded
TAIL HEAD:
• Prominent
RIBS
• Prominent
SHOULDER
• Faintly discernible

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 5

 BCS 3
WHOLE BODY
• Thin
NECK
• Accentuated
WITHERS
• Accentuated
LOIN
• Fat build-up halfway on spinous processes, but easily
discernible
• Can’t feel transverse processes
TAIL HEAD
• Prominent but individual vertebrae can’t be visually
identified
• Hook bones rounded, but easily discernible
• Pin bones not distinguishable
RIBS
• Slight fat cover
• Individual ribs discernible
SHOULDER
• Accentuated

BCS 4
WHOLE BODY
• Moderately thin
NECK
• Not obviously thin
WITHERS
• Not obviously thin
LOIN
• Negative crease along back
TAIL HEAD
• Prominence depends on conformation
• Fat palpable
• Hook bones not discernible
RIBS
• Faint outline discernible
SHOULDER
• Not obviously thin

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 6

 BCS 5
WHOLE BODY
• Moderate condition
NECK
• Blends smoothly into body
WITHERS
• Rounded over spinous processes
LOIN
• Back is level
TAIL HEAD
• Fat around tail head beginning to feel spongy
RIBS
• Individual ribs can be felt, but not visually distinguished
SHOULDER
• Blends smoothly into body

BCS 6
WHOLE BODY
• Moderately fleshy
NECK
• Fat beginning to be deposited
WITHERS
• Fat beginning to be deposited
LOIN
• May have slight positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
• Fat around tail head feels soft
RIBS
• Fat over ribs feels spongy
SHOULDER
• Fat beginning to be deposited
• Point-of-shoulder not discernible

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 7

 BCS 7
WHOLE BODY
• Fleshy
NECK
• Fat deposited along neck
WITHERS
• Fat deposited along withers
LOIN
• May have positive crease down back, behind shoulder
TAIL HEAD
• Fat around tail head is soft
RIBS
• Individual ribs can be felt
• Noticeable fat filling between ribs
SHOULDER
• Fat deposited behind shoulder

BCS 8
WHOLE BODY
• Fat
• Fat deposited along inner buttocks
NECK
• Noticeable thickening of neck
WITHERS
• Area along withers filled with fat
LOIN
• Positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
• Tail head fat very soft
RIBS
• Difficult to feel individual ribs
SHOULDER
• Area behind shoulder filled in, flush with body

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 8

 BCS 9
WHOLE BODY
• Extremely fat
• Fat along inner buttocks may rub together
• Flank filled in flush
NECK
• Bulging fat
WITHERS
• Bulging fat
LOIN
• Obvious positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
• Building fat around tail head
RIBS
• Patchy fat appearing over ribs
SHOULDER
• Bulging fat

What’s the Score: Horse: BCS Guide Page: 9