Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service ANSI-3920

Body Condition of Horses

David W. Freeman
OSU Extension Equine Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets
are also available on our website at:
http://osufacts.okstate.edu
Body condition refers to the amount of fat on a horse’s
body. Fat is tissue that serves to store energy and is produced
when the horse is digesting more energy than is needed for Body Condition and Reproductive
maintenance and production processes. Over time, horses
consuming rations with more energy than is needed will in- Performance in Broodmares
crease body fat. Horses receiving less energy per day than Extensive research and field trials document that repro-
is needed will use significantly increased amounts of fat for ductive efficiency of mares is affected by body condition.
an energy source, which decreases the amount of body fat. • Non-bred mares managed in a body condition of four
Much of this body fat is subcutaneous, meaning fat ac- or less will delay the time of their first ovulation of the
cumulates in layers immediately below the horse’s skin. This breeding season. This delay can be three to four weeks
fat cover can be visibly assessed in several specific locations as compared with mares in a body condition of five or
on the horse’s body (Figure 1). The desired level of body greater, which is significant when breeding managers
condition will vary between horses. As a rule, horses used intend to settle open mares in the early part of the breed-
in athletic performance will maintain a lower body condition ing season.
than non-performing horses. Additionally, horses will vary in • Once cycling, mares in a condition of four or less can be
the optimal body condition for productive functions because expected to require more cycles per conception. Research
of individual differences. For example, one horse may perform on one group of mares resulted in thin mares requiring
athletic competition more effectively in a thinner condition as an average of three cycles before settling as compared
compared with another individual performing the same task with one and one-half cycles per conception for similarly
in a heavier body condition. managed mares with condition scores of five or higher.
The ability to accurately assess body condition allows
horse owners to make ration adjustments that maintain horses
at desired fat levels. A universally used scoring system assists Crease
communication between horse owners. Moreover, it aids in Down
the application of recommendations to maintain desired levels Back Along the Neck
of body condition for production and management. Hooks
Along the With-
Tailhead
Using Body Condition Scores to Quantify Pins
ers
Body Condition
The most tested and universal scoring system for assess-
ing body condition was developed by researchers at Texas
A&M University in the early 1980s. Since that time, nutrition-
ists, breeding and farm managers, trainers of performance Ribs
horses, veterinarians, those involved with evaluating animal Behind the
welfare, and other equine professionals have incorporated Shoulder
the scoring system into their businesses.
This scoring system places the body condition of horses
on a scale of one to nine, and provides descriptions which are
used to assess fat accumulation along the neck, withers, over
the ribs, behind the shoulder, around the tailhead, and the
crease on the back (Figure 2). While the scoring system can
be used on all horses, it was initially developed to quantify the
influence of body condition on the reproductive performance
of mares.
Figure 1. Location of Fat Deposition Used in Scoring
System

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University

 More cycles per conception results in increased costs
Figure 2. Body Condition Scoring System. for the breeding manager and mare owner.
• Pregnancy rates are also affected. Mares in body condi-
1. Poor. Animal is extremely emaciated. Spinous tions of four or less have overall pregnancy rate reductions
processes (portion of the vertebra of the backbone as large as 20% less than mares in a greater body condi-
which project upward), ribs, tailhead, and bony tion. Moreover, early pregnancy losses are significantly
protrusions of the pelvic girdle (hooks and pins) are greater in mares with body scores of four or less.
prominent. Bone structure of withers, shoulders, To summarize, mares in body conditions of four or less
and neck are easily noticeable. No fatty tissues will be poor breeders and more susceptible to pregnancy
can be felt. losses than mares maintained at higher body condition scores.
2. Very Thin. Animal is emaciated. Slight fat covering Frequently, the onset of cold weather, changes in housing,
over base of the spinous processes. Transverse transportation, foaling, and lactation reduce body condition.
processes (portion of vertebrae which project out- As such, recommendations are for mares to enter the foal-
ward) of lumbar (loin area) vertebrae feel rounded. ing and breeding season in body condition scores of six or
Spinous processes, ribs, shoulders, and neck seven.
structures are faintly discernible. One concern expressed by owners is that mares with a
3. Thin. Fat is built up about halfway on spinous body condition greater than five or six will have more trouble
processes. Transverse processes cannot be felt. foaling. These concerns are unwarranted, as significant re-
Slight fat cover over ribs. Spinous processes and search has shown body conditions of seven or greater have
ribs are easily discernible. Tailhead is prominent, no affect on gestation length, length of the foaling process,
but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. size of foal or placenta, or measures of foal viability.
Hook bones (protrusion of pelvic girdle appearing in
upper, forward part of the hip) appear rounded, but Points to Consider
are easily discernible. Pin bones (bony projections
of pelvic girdle located toward rear, mid-section of There are several points to consider when using body condi-
the hip) are not distinguishable. Withers, shoulders, tion scores.
and neck are accentuated. • Although visual appraisal is the primary tool of the scor-
4. Moderately Thin. Negative crease along back ing system, accuracy will increase when the areas of
(spinous processes of vertebrae protrude slightly fat accumulation can be palpated. Long hair can mask
above surrounding tissue). Faint outline of ribs is the appearance fat. Also, different body conformations
discernible. Fat can be felt around tailhead (promi- greatly affect the visual ability to determine body condi-
nence depends on conformation). Hook bones are tion. Taller, larger framed horses with prominent withers
not discernible. Withers, shoulders, and neck are may appear to be leaner than shorter, smaller framed
not obviously thin. horses with similar body conditions.
5. Moderate. Back is level. Ribs cannot be visually • Mares in late gestation may have less fat cover over the
distinguished, but can be easily felt. Fat around ribs because of the influence of the weight of the fetus
tailhead begins to feel spongy. Withers appear and associated tissues. Thus, more emphasis should be
rounded over spinous processes. Shoulders and placed on other locations of fat accumulation.
neck blend smoothly into body. • Horses on large percentage forage diets will typically
6. Moderate to Fleshy. May have slight crease down have larger bellies with lower, distended abdomens than
back. Fat over ribs feels spongy. Fat around tail- horses being managed on grain or in exercise programs.
head feels soft. Fat begins to be deposited along These “hay bellies” can give the appearance of fat, caus-
the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders, and ing overestimation of body condition.
along sides of neck. It is important to recognize specific areas on the horse’s
7. Fleshy. May have crease down back. Individual body to assess body condition, and to gain experience in
ribs can be felt, but with noticeable filling of fat identifying body condition on different horses. Periodic re-
between ribs. Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat is evaluations of individual horses will help to decrease the
deposited along withers, behind shoulders, and influence of conformational differences in body condition
along neck. assessment.
8. Fat. Crease down back. Difficult to feel ribs. Fat Body condition cannot be altered significantly in short
around tailhead is very soft. Area along withers periods of time. Gains in body weight must be made with
is filled with fat. Area behind shoulder is filled in gradual increases in the ration. The horse’s body requires time
flush with rest of the body. Noticeable thickening to assimilate increases of energy into fat. Also, the incidence of
of neck. Fat is deposited along inner buttocks. colic and founder will increase when making dramatic adjust-
9. Extremely fat. Obvious crease down back. Patchy ments in the amount of the daily ration. Increasing a mature
fat appears over ribs. Bulging fat around tailhead, horse’s body condition from a score of three to a score of
along withers, behind shoulders, and along neck. six may take four months when consuming about 1 3/4% of
Fat along inner buttocks may rub together. Flank body weight in grain per day and unlimited hay. This change
is filled in flush with rest of the body. in body condition represents an average of 2 1/4 pounds of
gain per day, which should be considered near maximal for

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1200 pound broodmares. Environmental stress will increase when production needs for energy are high is difficult and
the length of time and energy intake necessary for increases costly. Therefore, allow several months for significant increases
in body condition. in body condition. Similarly, allow for gradual decreases in
The above example points out the need to plan well in body condition when physically preparing horses for athletic
advance when increasing body condition in horses. Under competition, instead of promoting extreme, sudden weight
practical management, increasing body condition at times loss by dramatic restriction of energy.

Figure 3. Aged broodmare in Body Condition 4: Moder- Figure 4. Broodmare in early gestation in Body Condition
ately Thin. Note tailhead prominence, negative crease 5: Moderate. Note shoulders and neck blend smoothly
along back, and faint outline of ribs. into body. No visual appearance of ribs.

Figure 5. Broodmare in early gestation in Body Condition Figure 6. Broodmare in early gestation in Body Condi-
6: Moderate to Fleshy. Note fat deposits along sides of tion 7: Fleshy. Note noticeable filling between the ribs,
withers, behind shoulders, and along the sides of the roundness of tailhead, and appearance of fat behind the
neck. shoulder.

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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert E. Whitson, Director of Cooperative Ex-
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