What is condition scoring?Fat scoring or condition scoring is a trusted way to assess your horse’s overall fat covering to determine whether or not your horse is a healthy weight. It works by scoring three key areas individually – neck, body and hindquarters – on a scale of 0 - 5. A healthy horse will have a fat covering score of 2.5 – 3 out of 5.
You will need to get ‘hands on’ to determine between muscle and fat. Fat will feel spongy whereas muscle is firmer. However, it’s worth remembering that “cresty” necks once dangerously fat can start to feel hard and become difficult to move from side to side.
Each horse will naturally look different when at a ‘healthy weight’ – it’s worth consulting your vet if you’re unsure. Using a weight tape can also help you to gauge if your horse is a healthy weight for its height and type. Some horses, such as fit event horses and racehorses, may look underweight when they are actually at a healthy weight and physically fit with well-developed muscles.
STEP ONE
Start with the neck and shoulders:
0 – Emaciated - Neck very thin, with little muscle and no fat covering the top. No fatty tissue across around the shoulder blades – shoulder very pronounced.
1 – Underweight – Neck thin with little muscle and fat covering the top, very little fatty tissue around the shoulder – shoulder blades pronounced.
2 – Moderate – A slightly thin neck; the shape of the neck muscles can be seen. A thin layer of fatty tissue around the shoulder, with shoulder blades clearly defined.
3 – Healthy – The shape of the neck muscles can be seen but may be less clear. No crest, fatty tissue at the shoulders but clearly defined shoulder blades.
4 – Overweight – Shape of the neck muscles cannot be seen, spongy fat can be felt along the neck and across the crest. The shoulder is less defined with fat in front of the shoulder blade and fat pads behind the shoulder blade.
5 – Obese – Wide, firm neck; neck muscles aren’t visible. A large amount of fat below the mane (crest). Shoulder not defined, fat both in front and behind the shoulder blade.
STEP TWO
Middle of the horse:
0 – Emaciated – Ribs can be easily seen and felt, with the shape of each individual bone easily seen. The spine is also easily seen and felt, with the back sloping and sunken between the spine and the ribs.
1 – Underweight – Ribs can be seen and felt. The spine can be seen and felt without pressure. There is some sinking and sloping from the spine to the ribs.
2 – Moderate – A very thin layer of fat covering the body. The ribs are just visible and can be felt, the spine can also be felt. Some covering over the back, between the spine and ribs.
3 – Healthy – A thin layer of fat covering the body. The ribs cannot be seen, but are easily felt with light pressure. The spine is covered, but can still be felt.
4 – Overweight – Spongier fat covering. Ribs are well covered with fat and can be felt with firm pressure. Fat pads can be seen and felt behind the shoulder. The spine is covered and cannot be as easily felt.
5 – Obese – The ribs are buried in fat and cannot be felt. The back is flat and broad; the spine cannot be seen or felt and the horse will likely have a ‘gutter’ down the spine. Pads of fat are likely visible along the body.
STEP THREE
Hindquarters:
0 – Emaciated – The pelvis and hips are very easy to see and feel and the tail bone clearly protrudes. The hindquarters are very sunken and sloping on either side of the spine. There is a large gap in between the top of the back legs and under the tail.
1 – Underweight – The hip bones are easy to see and feel, with sunken and sloping hindquarters on either side of the spine. The tail bone protrudes slightly. There is a large gap between the top of the back legs and under the tail.
2 – Moderate – The hip bones are easily visible but are covered by a thin layer of fat. There is slight sunken sloping of the hindquarters on either side of the spine and the tail bone protrudes slightly. A slight gap can be seen between the top of the back legs and under the tail.
3 – Healthy – The hindquarters look rounder in shape with a some fat covering. The hip bones are just visible and can be easily felt.
4 – Overweight – The hindquarters are rounded and the hip bones can only be felt with pressure. There is fat around the tail head. A ‘gutter’ can be seen along the spine to the tail head.
5 – Obese – The hips are buried and the hip bones cannot be felt. An excessive fat covering causes the hindquarters to become a well-rounded ‘apple’ shape, with a deep ‘gutter’ seen along the spine to the tail head. Large amounts of fat around the tail head.
