Equine Matters Spring 2019

Condition scoring Condition scoring your horse ‘Studies show that 35-45% of the UK horse population is overweight or obese’. Sara Fleck BVSc CertAVP(EM) MRCVS Bishopton Equine The importance of horses not being underweight is well known, but being overweight also risks serious, long-term health problems. These include heart and lung conditions, problems with joints, lameness and laminitis. Sadly, studies show that 35-45% of the UK horse population is overweight or obese, and this is a serious welfare problem. The first step to maintaining your horse at the correct weight is being able to accurately assess them. Knowing your horse’s actual weight is useful but it won’t tell you if this is appropriate for them. Although there are guidelines based on weight to height ranges there is so much variety within horses that these are of limited value. The best way to find out if your horse is carrying the right amount of body fat is to learn how to ‘fat score’ (also known as body condition scoring). There are two main fat scoring systems - the 1-5 system is the easiest to apply and provides an effective way of assessing condition, with the key being to get hands-on and feel for fat cover rather than just looking at your horse. Keeping your horse at the correct weight is essential for their health. Many equine health conditions and illnesses can be induced or worsened by a horse being at an incorrect body weight. 19 Equine Matters Spring 2019 Feel along the top of your horse’s neck - can you wobble the top or is it firm? Also, feel if it is significantly thicker as you move down from the poll towards the withers. Lay your hand across your horse’s back. Ideally your hand should arch over your horse’s spine. When horses put on weight in this area the fat builds up either side of the spine, giving you a flat hand. Run your hand along your horse’s side. You should be able to feel its ribs fairly easily. Again, give your horse a score out of 5 for its back and middle. Look at your horse from behind (safely of course!). Its bottom should have a rounded curve like the letter ‘C’ on its side. Give a score out of 5 for the bottom. Once you have all 3 scores then add them together and divide by 3 to find your horse’s average overall fat score. Run your hands down your horse’s neck and onto its shoulder. If there is fat built up in front of the shoulder blade your hand will run from the neck to the shoulder without the shoulder blade ‘stopping’ your hand. Look at the body fat guide and score your horse out of 5 for its neck and shoulder. How To Fat Score Your Horse Averaging system designed by Dr Teresa Hollands BSc (Hons), MSc (Nutrition), PhD, R.Nutr 1 2 3 4 5