Probably the most difficult part of scoring is learning how to differentiate fat from muscle. Putting additional weight (via additional calories only) on a horse who lacks a top line won’t automatically make that horse have a top line. Their top line may become more filled in, but unless the under muscling was due to lack of proper nutrients, it’s likely simply filled in with fat. This may make the horse more attractive to us, but it does nothing to help the horse become more healthy or fit.
Below a 4, muscle wastage occurs due to insufficient calorie/nutrient intake. For the purposes of discussion (and following op’s personal opinion), any horse with an overall score of 4 or higher is going to be judged on fat distribution alone.
So, for horses scoring 4 and above, how can you tell the difference?
While muscle and fat are obviously in the same general areas, there are specific points you can focus on that can help make this easier:
Let me offer up my own horse as the first example:
Here he is on the left a couple months after being rescued from starvation. He’s still a bit of a noodle and comes in around a 3.6-4* under his winter coat. On the right, his rump is looking a little more filled in, and his ribs are not easily discernible despite having been clipped, here he would score between a 4.8-5*. What about his top line though? While he may look better overall, his top line is still looking much the same. He still has the same hollow spot behind his withers and his spine is still peaked and relatively prominent.
Here are some other examples of horses at an appropriate weight but lacking top line:
Here is a 34 arabian gelding with Cushing’s disease (PPID). Circled in green are all the points looked at in order to accurately score horses. Visually, this horse scores between a 5 and 5.5. When palpated, the score holds true with moderate fat and muscle distribution everywhere except for directly along his top line (circled in red).
Here is a 12 year old gelding with muscle myopathy and permanent muscle damage due to long term nutritional deficiencies. His neck (not shown well here unfortunately), his shoulder, and his ribs, demonstrate that he does have quite adequate fat coverage (scoring between a 5 and 5.5) despite the more gaunt appearance of his hook and pin and the peaked appearance of his back.
What do you do with these horses then?
1. As much turn out as possible to encourage movement
2. Core exercises/crunches/long and low work
3. Ensure vitamin/mineral intake is balanced and provide plenty of protein
... and that’s about it. Obviously, whatever specific conditions a horse has should be treated as well, but the main point that I’m trying to make is that adding more weight onto these horses does nothing to improve their overall health the vast majority of the time. Unfortunately sometimes we have to compromise how we would like our horses to look in order to optimize their health.
*why am I using decimals like this? Because I know my horse and it helps me to be as accurate as possible.
Disclaimer: Body scoring can unfortunately be a tricky business, I am not a vet although I have worked for several years at a facility that routinely deals with neglected/starved horses. If you have concerns about your horses health and weight, please consult with your vet.
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Just like every other animal, horses are individuals and each put on weight differently. On top of this, there isn’t a consistent distinction made between muscle and fat in either body scoring system. Because of this it’s important to judge each individual point of the horse and then average them out to get an accurate score.
Examples of how that works below the cut
Here is a horse with EMS/IR.
Sometimes dividing the body into sections can be helpful in evaluating scores. With a trickier horse, each point in that section can be evaluated and then the score can be averaged out according to the different sections. This horse in particular has fatty deposits that can make scoring a little more complicated.
Starting at the hindquaters, this horses pin, hook, and tail head are all covered by a fairly thick layer of fat, this section would score between a 6-7.5 depending on palpation and if a crease is present.
Moving up to the abdomen; the backbone, flank, withers, and behind the shoulder are all moderately covered with fat, scoring between a 5-5.5 depending on palpation. This horses ribs however, are visible, although they do appear to be covered by some fat, this particular point would score between a 4.5-5.
Moving onto the shoulder and neck; the shoulder blends into the neck very well with some fat coverage and scoring between a 5-6.5 depending on palpation. The neck is interesting because while the muscling looks perhaps subpar, there is a distinct fat deposit along the crest. This point would score between a 6-7.5 depending on palpation.
Overall, This horse would probably score between a 6-7 (depending on palpation and how the horse looks from different angles). In addition, this horse has lumpy fatty deposits indicative of Insulin Resistance. Fatty deposits like this don’t necessarily mean that a horse needs to lose weight, in fact some horses retain certain deposits until they are a 4 or below. What it does mean is that the horse needs a diet lower in non-structural carbohydrates (nsc), than they are currently receiving. Horses like this often can not be out on grass or at minimum require a muzzle. Hay should also be tested and grain (not including separate mineral supplementation) only given if the horse is not maintaining adequate weight with free choice (slow fed), low ncs forage. NSC percentages should at the least be below 12%, preferably under 10%. Water soluble carbohydrates (wsc), ethanol soluble carbohydrates (esc), and starch are all terms you will see other than NSC, explanations of each are at link here.
Next up is a broodmare with EMS.
Moving from back to front again; this mares hook and pin are well covered with fat, scoring between a 5-6.5 depending on palpation and how she looks from different angles.
Further up; her flank, withers, behind her shoulder, and along her backbone are all adequately covered with fat, scoring between a 5-6.5. This mares ribs are visible, although they do appear to have some fat covering, making this point a 4.5-5.
This horses shoulder blends well into her neck and she appears to have a very slight crest, making both of these points between a 5-6.
Overall, this horse scores between a 5-6 depending on palpation and appearance from other angles. Because she is a broodmare and has had several foals, she has a bit of abdominal sagging which should be generally discounted. This kind of abdominal sagging is sometimes associated with causing the ribs to be more prominent and this should be kept in mind when scoring these horses.
Next up is a horse that I have absolutely no background on.
Again, starting from the back, this horses hook, pin, and tail head are slightly prominent with some fat covering, although not very much. Depending on palpation, this horse would score between a 3-4 for these points.
Further up, this horses flank, ribs, and behind the shoulder have a very small amount of fat, scoring around a 3-4 depending on palpation and appearance from different angles. While the ribs are visible and the spine is peaked, there is still fat between the ribs and only part of the rib is visible.
This horses shoulder appears to blend into the neck with some fat coverage scoring around a 3.5-4. The neck doesn’t appear to have any significant fat, although it is not sunken, scoring between a 3-4.
Overall, the score would be between a 3-4 depending on palpation and appearance from other angles.
This horse looks to have pretty significant muscle atrophy, perhaps due to insufficient mineral and calorie intake, perhaps due to other health issues.They would likely benefit from a good all around vitamin mineral supplement as well as 24/7 access to forage and 24/7 turn out to help build up proper musculature. Additional calories can be added via grain if needed.
Last but not least is another horse I have no background on.
From the back; this horses tailhead and hook are covered with a lo amount of fat scoring around a 3.5-4. The pin however is well covered by fat as well as the hamstrings, scoring around a 4-4.5.
Moving up; the flank, withers, ribs, and behind the shoulder are all lightly to moderately covered with fat, scoring around a 3.5-4.5. Along the backbone however, lacks much coverage at all, scoring around a 2.5-3
The shoulder blends into the neck well and the neck itself does not appear appear to be lacking significantly in structure, although it doesn’t appear to have a significant amount of fat either. Both points come in around a 3-4.5.
Overall this horse looks to be a 3-4 with significant muscle atrophy along the top line. ‘Abnormal’ or faulty conformation like this can make scoring difficult. Old sacroiliac joint injuries can cause peaks which mimic very low scores. Roached backs can also mimic the spine perturbance seen in emaciated horses.
Next post: Fat vs Muscle and how to tell the difference
Disclaimer: Body scoring can unfortunately be a tricky business, I am not a vet although I have worked for several years at a facility that routinely deals with neglected/starved horses. Also please keep in mind that I am basing scores on the pictures available to me alone, scores can change drastically with differently angled pictures and upon palpation. If you have concerns about your horses health and weight, please consult with your vet.
