Body Condition Cart

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Notes:

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Use this chart to evaluate the need to modify your horses? diet. Use the drawing on the next page to help pinpoint the areas of the body discussed above. Then go to All About Horses Feeding and Nutrition Chart for diet and amounts to feed.
#4 is a very fit horse
#5 & 6 is very acceptable
#6 & 7 is acceptable for broodmares

From Henneke et al Equine Vet J (1983) 15(4), 371-372

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Condition:	Neck:	Withers:	Loin:	Tailhead:	Ribs:	Shoulders:
1 Poor	Bone structure easily noticeable. Animal extremely emaciated. No fatty tissue can be felt	Same description as for neck	Spinous processes project prominently	Tailhead (pinbones) & hock bones project prominently	Project prominently	Easily noticeable
2 Very Thin	Faintly discernible	Faintly discernible	Slight fat covering overbase of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinuous processes are prominent.	Tailhead prominent.	Ribs priominent	Faintly discernible
3 Thin	Accentuated	Accentuated	Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes but easily discernible. Transverse processes cannot be felt	Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded but are still easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable	Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible	Shoulder accentuated
4 Moderately Thin	Neck not obviously thin	Not obviously thin	Negative crease along back	Prominence depends on conformation. Fat can be felt. Hook bones not discernible.	Faint outline discernible	Shoulder not obviously thin
5 Moderate	Blends smoothly into body	Withers rounded over spinous processes	Back level	Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy	Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt	Blends smoothly into body
6 Moderately Fleshy	Fat beginning to be deposited	Fat beginning to be deposited	May have slight positive crease down back	Fat around tailhead feels soft	Fat over ribs feels spongy	Fat beginning to be deposited
7 Fleshy	Fat deposited along neck	Fat deposited along withers	May have positive crease down back	Fat around tailhead is soft	Individual ribs can be felt but noticeable filling with fat between ribs	Fat deposited behind shoulder
8 Fat	Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along inner buttocks	Area along withers filled with fat	Positive crease down back	Tailhead fat is very soft	Difficult to feel ribs	Area behind shoulder filled in flush with body
9 Extremely Fat	Bulging fat Fat along inner buttocks may rub together	Bulging fat	Obvious positive crease down back Flank may be filled in flush	Building fat around tailhead	Patchy fat appearing over ribs	Bulging fat