Feel and look at the neck, withers, ribs, back and hindquarters. You should feel the ribs easily but not see them sharply. Score every couple of weeks and adjust feed and work to keep the horse in the healthy middle.
Why scoring beats the scales
Two horses of the same weight can carry it very differently. Body condition scoring assesses fat cover at key points, giving a fairer picture of health than weight alone. It also catches slow changes you might miss day to day.
Where to look and feel
Check the crest of the neck, the wither, behind the shoulder, along the ribs and back, and around the tail head and hindquarters. Use your hands as well as your eyes, since a winter coat hides a lot. Fat feels soft and spongy, muscle feels firm.
What healthy feels like
In a horse at a good weight you can feel the ribs with light pressure but not see them sharply, the back is level rather than dipped or bulging, and the neck and tail head carry a smooth, even cover without hard fatty pads. There should be no gutter along the back from fat.
Act on what you find
If your horse is too lean, review teeth, worming and forage and add calories slowly. If it is carrying too much, tighten grazing, choose low-sugar hay in a slow feeder, and increase gentle exercise. Overweight horses are at real risk of laminitis.
Make it a habit
Score every couple of weeks, ideally with a hands-on check and a photo from the same angle. Small, regular adjustments keep a horse in the healthy middle and avoid the big swings that cause problems.
