b'NUTRITIONEQUINE BODY CONDITION SCORING1 POOR. The horse is extremely emaciated. The backbone, ribs, hipbones, and tailhead project prominently. Bone structure of the withers, shoulders, and neck are easily noticeable. No fatty tissues can be felt.2 VERY THIN. The horse is emaciated. Slight fat covers the vertebrae. Backbone, ribs, tailhead, and hipbones are prominent. Withers, shoulders, and neck structures are discernible.3 THIN. Fat is built up about halfway on the vertebrae. A slight fat layer can be felt over the ribs, which are easily discernible. The tailhead is evident, but individual vertebrae cannot be seen. The hipbones cannot be seen, but the withers, shoulder, and neck are emphasized.4 MODERATELY THIN. Theres a negative crease along the back. A faint outline of ribs can be seen. Fat can be felt along the tailhead. The hipbones cannot be seen. The withers, neck, and shoulders are not obviously thin.5 MODERATE. The back is level. Ribs can be felt but not easily seen. The fat around the tailhead is beginning to feel spongy. Withers are rounded and shoulders and neck blend smoothly into the body.6 MODERATELY FLESHY. The horse might have a slight crease down the back. Fat on the tailhead feels soft. Fat over the ribs feels spongy. Fat is beginning to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders, and along the neck.7 FLESHY. A crease down the back is visible. Individual ribs can be felt, but theres noticeable filling between ribs with fat. Fat around the tailhead is soft. Noticeable fat is deposited along the withers, behind the shoulders, and along the neck.8 FAT. The crease down the back is prominent. Ribs are difficult to feel due to fat between them. Fat around the tailhead is very soft. The area along withers is filled with fat. The area behind the shoulders is ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROBIN PETERSON, DVMfilled in flush with the barrel of the body. Theres noticeable thickening of the neck. Fat is deposited along the inner buttocks.9 EXTREMELY FAT. Theres an obvious crease down the back. Fat is in patches over the rib area, with bulging fat over the tailhead, withers, neck, and behind the shoulders. Fat along the inner buttocks might rub together. The flank is filled in flush with the barrel of the body.TheHorse.com|The HorseFebruary 202043Nutrition_Feb.indd 43 1/3/20 10:44 AM'