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A Scientific Method For Judging A Horse's Body Condition

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CONDITION	NECK	WITHERS	LOIN	TAILHEAD	RIBS	SHOULDER
1 POOR	Bone structure easily noticeable	Bone structure easily noticeable	Spinous processes project prominently	Tailhead, (pinbones) & hook bones projecting prominently	Ribs projecting prominently	Bone structure easily noticeable
Animal extremely emaciated; no fatty tissue can be felt
2  VERY THIN	Faintly discernible	Faintly discernible	Slight fat covering overbase of spinous processes. Tran- verse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent.	Tailhead prominent	Ribs prominent	Faintly discernible
Animal  Emaciated
3 THIN	Neck accentuated	Withers 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	Withers not obviously thin	Negative creases along back	Prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it. Hook bones not discernible.	Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible.	Shoulder accentuated
5 MODERATE	Neck 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.	Shoulder blends smoothly into body
6 MODERATELY  FLESHY	Fat beginning to be deposited	Fat beginning to be deposited	May have slight positive crease down back