Evaluating a horse’s body

A body condition score chart is a tool used to evaluate a horse's body condition regardless of breed, body type, sex or age. This tool is widely used by law enforcement agencies as an objective method of scoring a horse's body condition in horse cruelty cases. The system developed in 1983 by Dr. Don Henneke assigns a numerical value to fat deposition as it occurs in various places on the horse's body. The chart rates the horse on a scale of 1 to 9. A score of 1 is considered poor or emaciated with no body fat. A 9 is extremely fat or obese. While each horse has its own ideal condition for the breed and occupation, equine veterinarians consider a body score of between 4 and 7 as acceptable. A 5 is considered ideal.

Please review the body condition scoring charts below for further explanation.

Body conditions 1 - 4

Body conditions 5 - 9

Provided courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research, Inc.

Horse hay resources

The following is a resource for horse owners looking for hay. It lists hay auctions in Minnesota as well as tips on what to consider when buying hay. 

Horse hay suppliers in Minnesota

Provided courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension

Humane options for unwanted horses

The goal of the following fact-sheet is to provide education for horse owners on options for unwanted horses. It covers humane options for living horses and legal options for carcass disposal.

Humane options for unwanted horses

Provided courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension