Linda Jones learned about the Henneke body condition scale about the same time she noticed her usually lean horse had put on some weight. She decided to use the scale to determine just how much her horse's body had changed, but she soon discovered that assessing her horse's body condition appropriately requires some patience and lots of practice.

"I was completely prepared with a diagram showing which parts of the horse to assess and a detailed description of each condition on the scale," Jones says. "I applied the scale three times that day and decided on three different scores. Finally, I asked someone more experienced to help me."

Jones' scenario is not unique. Most owners get mixed results the first time they try to assess their horse using the Henneke scale. However, it is a useful tool every conscientious owner should master