2003 Florida Equine Institute


Table 1. Description of Body Condition
Scores (cont.)
 BCS Description
 6 Excess Condition Moderate
 pressure needed to feel ribs. Horse
 may have crease down back. Fat
 deposits around the tailhead will
 feel soft. Fats deposits may be
 readily felt behind the shoulder
 and along the crest of the neck.
 Areas between muscles beginning
 to fill with fat.

 7 Fat Ribs are difficult to feel.
 Crease down back; croup filled
 with fat. Fat around tailhead very
 soft; area along withers and behind
 shoulder filled with fat. Noticeable
 thickening of neck, fat deposits
 along inner thighs. Muscle
 definition no longer apparent.
 8 Very Fat Excessive pressure
 needed to feel ribs. Definite
 "gutter crease" down back with
 extensive fat deposits over much
 of the body. Soft patchy fat: over
 ribs, around tailhead, along
 withers, behind shoulders, and
 along the neck. Fat on inner thighs
 may rub together.

Recommendations

i Adjust feeding program to ensure
 adequate energy intake from a forage-
 based diet
a For horses below BCS 5, provide higher
 quality forages or higher levels of energy
 supplements balanced with protein to
 reduce weight loss or improve condition
 score
a Provide free-choice mineral year-round
i Control disease and parasites by
 developing an appropriate herd health
 program (Consult your veterinarian)


Summary

 When performed on a regular basis,
condition score may be used to provide an
overall view of the nutritional status of the
herd as well as individual horses in the herd.
Condition score is a helpful tool in
determining the amount and type of forage,
concentrate, and supplement needed.

 Adjustments of condition score should
be made prior to breeding (Table 2).
Research has shown higher conception rates
with fewer services for mares that enter the
breeding season with a BCS 5 or greater
(Henneke, et al., 1984). Even though excess
body fat was not shown to adversely affect
conception rates, obese mares may:
experience difficulty foaling, produce less
milk, and be more prone to laminitis
problems.

Table 2. Adjusting Concentrate Intake
 Score Condition Adjustment
 3 or less Very thin +40%
 4 Thin +20%
 5 Desired cond. 0
 6 Excess cond. -20%
 7 Fat -40%
 8 Very fat -60%


References:


Henneke, D. R., Potter G. D., & Kreider, J.
 L. (1984). Body condition during
 pregnancy and lactation and
 reproductivity efficiency of mares.
 Theriogenology, 21(6), 897-909.

Henneke, D. R., Potter G. D., Kreider, J. L.,
 & Yeates, B. F. (1983). Relationship
 between condition score, physical
 measurements and body fat percentage
 in mares. Equine Veterinary Journal,
 15(4), 371-372.