| Body Condition
Loss of body condition is one of the most common problems an owner encounters with a geriatric horse. This is especially true with the 'hard-keeper' breeds, such as Thoroughbreds. Older horses cannot easily gain lost weight and become more susceptible to disease and cold when thin. The main causes of poor body condition are poor teeth, parasitism (worms) and reduced gut function. Your veterinary surgeon will be able to provide further advice on these conditions and ways to control or prevent them.
It is as equally important that the geriatric horse should not be allowed to become fat. Obesity also causes problems for the older horse in that it can make arthritis worse, lead to laminitis and stress other body systems.
Condition scoring
Typically horses can be graded on their body condition on a scale of 0 to 5. 0 being very poor and 5 being very fat. A similar scale is employed for donkeys. A horse should be maintained between 2 and 4.
Condition Score |
Pelvis |
Back and Ribs |
Neck |
|
0 very poor |
Angular, skin tight. Very sunken rump. Deep cavity under tail |
Skin tight over ribs. Very prominent and sharp backbone |
Marked ewe neck. Narrow and slack at base |
|
1 Poor |
Prominent pelvis and croup. Sunken rump but skin supple. Deep cavity under tail. |
Ribs easily visible. Prominent backbone with sunken skin on either side |
Ewe neck, narrow and slack tissue. |
|
2 Moderate |
Rump flat either side of back bone. Croup well defined, some fat. Slight cavity under tail |
Ribs just visible. Backbone covered but spine felt. |
Narrow but firm. |
|
3 Good |
Covered by fat and rounded. No gutter. Pelvis easily felt. |
Ribs just covered and easily felt. No gutter along the back. Backbone well covered but spine felt. |
No crest (except for stallions) firm neck |
|
4 Fat |
Gutter to root of tail. Pelvis covered by fat. Need firm pressure to feel. |
Ribs well covered – need pressure to feel. Slight crest |
Wide and firm. |
|
5 Very fat |
Deep gutter to root of tail. Skin distended. Pelvis buried, cannot be felt. |
Ribs buried, cannot be felt. Deep gutter along back. Back broad and flat |
Marked crest very wide and firm. Fold of fat. |
|
For a horse not under veterinary supervision a condition score below 2 is unacceptable. The horse should not be worked and should be placed on a sufficent and appropriate feeding programme to raise its condition score.
For more information, see our Nutrition Section
Horses should not be allowed to reach a condition score of 5. They should be placed on a restrictive diet.
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