henneke
body condition scoring
The
Henneke Body Condition
Scoring system was devised to evaluate how "thin" or how
"fat" a horse is. Because horses differ in conformation and
fat
distribution, six different areas of the body are scored individually,
then the
scores are averaged to determine the overall Body Condition
Score. Each
area may be scored in increments of 0.25. One area may, for
instance, be
rated a 3.25, 2.50, or 4.75. It is not necessary to use only
whole
numbers during evaluation. The six areas to be considered are
A) the
neck, B) the withers, C) the loin, D) the tailhead, E) the rib cage and
F) the
shoulder. The list below shows which numerical value to place
on each
area based on the presence or absence of flesh or fat in that
area. Evaluation
should be a "hands-on" experience whenever possible since coat can
obscure bone structure in some cases.
A. Neck
1 - Bone structure easily noticeable
2 - Bone structure faintly discernable
3 - Neck accentuated
4 - Neck not obviously thin
5 - Neck blends smoothly into body
6 - Fat beginning to be deposited
7 - Fat deposited along neck
8 - Noticeable thickening of neck
9 - Bulging fat
B. Withers
1 - Bone structure easily noticeable
2 - Bone structure faintly discernable
3 - Withers accentuated
4 - Withers not obviously thin
5 - Withers rounded over spinous processes
6 - Fat beginning to be deposited
7 - Fat deposited along withers
8 - Area along withers filled with fat
9 - Bulging fat
C. Loin
1 - Spinous processes project prominently
2 - Slight fat covering overbase of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent.
3 - Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes but easily discernible. Transverse processes cannot be felt.
4 - Negative crease along back
5 - Back level
6 - May have slight positive crease down back
7 - May have positive crease down back
8 - Positive crease down back
9 - Obvious positive crease down back
D. Tailhead
1 - Tailhead (pinbones) and hook bones projecting prominently
2 - Tailhead prominent
3 - Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but are still easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable.
4 - Prominence depends on conformation; fat can be felt. Hook bones not discernible
5 - Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy
6 - Fat around tailhead feels soft
7 - Fat around tailhead is soft
8 -Tailhead fat very soft
9 - Building fat around tailhead
E. Ribs
1 - Ribs projecting prominently
2 - Ribs prominent
3 - Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible.
4 - Faint outline discernible
5 - Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt
6 - Fat over ribs feels spongy
7 - Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat
8 - Difficult to feel ribs
9 - Patchy fat appearing over ribs
F. Shoulder
1 - Bone structure easily noticeable
2 - Bone structure faintly discernable
3 - Shoulder accentuated
4 - Shoulder not obviously thin
5 - Shoulder blends smoothly into body
6 - Fat beginning to be deposited
7 - Fat deposited behind shoulder
8 - Area behind shoulder filled in flush with body
9 - Bulging fat
Average score of 1 = Poor. Animal extremely emaciated; no fatty tissue
Average score of 2 = Very Thin
Average score of 3 = Thin
Average score of 4 = Moderately Thin
Average score of 5 = Moderate
Average score of 6 = Moderately Fleshy
Average score of 7 = Fleshy
Average score of 8 = Fat. Fat deposited along inner buttocks
Average score of 9 = Extremely Fat. Fat along inner buttocks may rub together. Flank filled in flush
Henneke Chart
