Body Condition Scoring - Horses and Ponies
Canadian Code of Practice for Equines
BCSl
WHOLE BODY
Poor condition
Extremely emaciated
No fat tissue felt
NECK
Bone structure visible
WITHERS
Bone structure easily visible
BACK
Spinous processes project prominently
TAIL HEAD
Tail head, point of the buttocks and point of the hip project prominently
RIBS
Project prominently
SHOULDER
Bone structure easily noticeable
Appendix D
BCS2
WHOLE BODY
Very thin Emaciated
NECK
Bone faintly discernible
WITHERS
Bone structure faintly noticeable
BACK
Spinous processes prominent
Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes
Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded
TAIL HEAD
Prominent
RIBS
Prominent
SHOULDER
Faintly discernible
BCS3
WHOLE BODY
Thin
NECK
Accentuated
WITHERS
Accentuated
BACK
Fat build up halfway on spinous processes,
but easily discernible
Can't feel transverse processes
TAIL HEAD
Prominent but individual vertebrae can't be visually identified
Point of the hip rounded, but easily discernible
Point of the buttocks not distinguishable
RIBS
Slight fat cover Individual ribs discernible
SHOULDER
Accentuated
Appendix D
BCS4
WHOLE BODY
Moderately thin
NECK
Not obviously thin
WITHERS
Not obviously thin
BACK
Negative crease along back
TAIL HEAD
Prominence depends on conformation
Fat palpable
Point of the hip not discernible
RIBS
Faint outline discernible
SHOULDER
Not obviously thin
BCS5
WHOLE BODY
Moderate condition
NECK
Blends smoothly into body
WITHERS
Rounded over spinous processes
BACK
Back is level
TAIL HEAD
Fat around tail head beginning to feel spongy
RIBS
Individual ribs can be felt, but not visually distinguished
SHOULDER
Blends smoothly into body
dix D
BCS6
WHOLE BODY
Moderately fleshy
NECK
Fat beginning to be deposited
WITHERS
Fat beginning to be deposited
BACK
May have slight positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
Fat around tail head feels soft
RIBS
Fat over ribs feels spongy
SHOULDER
Fat beginning to be deposited
Point-of-shoulder not discernible
BCS7
WHOLE BODY
Fleshy
NECK
Fat deposited along neck
WITHERS
Fat deposited along withers
BACK
May have positive crease down back, behind shoulder
TAIL HEAD
Fat around tail head is soft
RIBS
Individual ribs can be felr Noticeable fat fillings between ribs
SHOULDER
Fat deposited behind shoulder
Appendix D
BCS 8
WHOLE BODY
Fat - Fat deposited along inner buttocks
NECK
Noticeable thickening of neck
WITHERS
Area along withers filled with fat
BACK
Positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
Tail head fat very soft
RIBS
Difficult to feel individual ribs
SHOULDER
Area behind shoulder filled in, flush with body
BCS9
WHOLE BODY
Extremely fat
Fat along inner buttocks may rub together Flank filled in flush
NECK
Bulging fat
WITHERS
Bulging fat
BACK
Obvious positive crease down back
TAIL HEAD
Building fat around tail head
RIBS
Patchy fat appearing over ribs
SHOULDER
Bulging fat
Appendix E
Body Condition Scoring - Donkeys and Mules
BCS1
NECK AND SHOULDERS
Neck thin, all bones easily felt
Neck meets shoulder abruptly, shoulder bones
easily felt, angular
WITHERS
Dorsal spine of withers prominent and easily felt
RIBS AND BELLY
Ribs can be seen from a distance and felt with ease
Belly tucked up
BACK AND LOINS
Backbone prominent, can feel dorsal and transverse processes easily
HINDQUARTERS
Hip bones visible and felt easily (hock and pin bones)
Little muscle cover
May be cavity under tail
Appendix E
BCS2
Neck and Shoulders
Some muscle development overlying bones
Slight step where neck meets shoulders
WITHERS
Some cover over dorsal withers
Spinous processes felt but not prominent
RIBS AND BELLY
Ribs not visible but can be felt with ease
BACK AND LOINS
Dorsal and transverse processes felt with light pressure
Poor muscle development either side midline
HINDQUARTERS
Poor muscle cover on hindquarters, hip bones felt with ease
BCS3
NECK AND SHOULDERS
Good muscle development, bones felt under light cover of muscle/fat
Neck flows smoothly into shoulder, which is rounded
WITHERS
Good cover of muscle/fat over dorsal spinous processes,
withers flow smooth into back
RIBS AND BELLY
Ribs just covered by light layer of fat/muscle,
ribs can be felt with light pressure
Belly firm with good muscle tone and flatfish
outline
BACK AND LOINS
Cannot feel individual spinous or transverse processes
Muscle development either side of midline is good
HINDQUARTERS
Good muscle cover in hindquarters, hip bones rounded in appearance,
can be felt with light pressure
Appendix E
BCS4
NECK AND SHOULDERS
Neck thick, crest hard, shoulder covered in even fat layer
WITHERS
Withers broad, bones felt -with firm pressure
RIBS AND BELLY
Ribs dorsally only felt with firm pressure, ventral ribs may be felt
more easily
Overdeveloped belly
BACK AND LOINS
Can only feel dorsal and transverse processes
with firm pressure
Slight crease along midline
HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters rounded, bones felt only with firm pressure
Fat deposits evenly placed
BCS5
NECK AND SHOULDERS
Neck thick, crest bulging with fat and may fall to one slide
Shoulder rounded and bulging with fat
WITHERS
Withers broad, unable to feel bones
RIBS AND BELLY
Large, often uneven fat deposits covering dorsal and possible ventral
aspect of ribs
Ribs not palpable
Belly pendulous in depth and width
BACK AND LOINS
Back broad, unable to feel spinous or transverse processes
Deep crease along midline, bulging fat either side
HINDQUARTERS
Cannot feel hip bones, fat nray overhang either
side of tail head, fat often uneven and bulging.
..............................