Horse Scoring

Body Condition evaluations based on the
Henneke Body Scoring System
Used by Animal Control & Law Enforcement

Points checked: neck, withers, shoulder, ribs, loin, tailhead

For an average size horse
Add or Subtract Approx 45 lbs per Score, example:
A 1000 lb Horse that Scores a 5 @
820 lbs=Score 1,  910 lbs=Score 3, 1090 lbs=Score 7

Use 100 lbs +/- per Draft Horse, 20 lbs per Mini

Score 1 - Poor
Horse Extremely Emaciated The spine & vertebrae, ribs, tailhead, hip joints & lower pelvic bones project prominently Bone structure or withers, shoulders, neck are easily noticeable No fatty tissue can be felt
Score 2 - Very Thin
Horse is emaciated Very little muscle covering the vertical projection on the backbone Spine, vertebrae, ribs, tailhead, hipjoints & lower pelvic bones are prominent Withers, shoulders & neck structure are faintly discernable
Score 3 - Thin
Fat buildup about halfway on vertical projection on backbone Vertical projections on backbone & ribs are easily visible Slight fat cover over ribs. Tailhead is prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot to identified visually Hip joints appear round but easily visible, Lower pelvic bones not distinguishable, withers, shoulders & neck are accentuated
Score 4 - Moderately Thin
Slight ridge along spine Faint outline of the ribs is visible Fat can be felt around the tailhead prominence Hip joints are not visible Withers, shoulders & neck are not obviously thin
Score 5 - Moderate (Ideal)
Back is flat & ribs are not visually distinguishable, but can be easily felt Fat around the tailhead feels spongy Withers appear rounded over the vertical projections on backbones Shoulders & neck blend smoothly into the body
Score 6 - Moderately Fleshy
Horse may have a crease down the back Spongy fat can be felt over ribs, fat over tailhead Fat deposits are developing along side the withers, behind the shoulders & along the crest of the neck
Score 7 - Fleshy
Horse may have crease down the back Individual ribs can be felt, but there is noticeable filling between the ribs with fat Fat around tailhead is soft Fat is deposited along the withers, behind the shoulders & along the crest of the neck
Score 8 - Fat
Horse has crease down back It is difficult to feel the ribs Fat around the tailhead is soft Areas along withers & behind the shoulders are filled with fat Noticeable thickening of the neck Fat deposited along the inner thighs
Score 9 - Extremely Fat
Obvious crease down back Patchy fat appears over ribs Bulging fat deposits around the tailhead, along the withers, behind the shoulders & along the neck Fat deposits along inner thighs may rub together Flank is filled with fat