Help with your Horse's Body Condition
Beginning 2017, a horse must have a body condition of 4 or greater to compete in Florida's Area and State 4-H Horse Shows - link to rule. Articles and references on this page will help you determine your horse's body condition score and provide advice to bring him/her to an acceptable body condition.
Body Condition Scoring Publications
- Henneke BCS scale & tracking form - industry standard scale for determining body condition
- Body Condition Scoring of Horses - by Mark Shuffitt and Saundra TenBroeck, UF/IFAS
- Equine Body Condition Scoring - presentation by Ashley Fluke and Megan Brew, UF/IFAS
eXtension Online Course
Management of thin horses
- Putting Weight on Hard Keepers - from TheHorse.com
- Skinny Horse Help - from TheHorse.com
- Underweight Horses: Surveillance, Management Considerations - from TheHorse.com
Management of overweight horses
- Shaping Up Your Overweight Horse - from TheHorse.com
- Feeding Horses to Reduce Weight or Body Condition - from TheHorse.com
Smart Phone App
This app has been developed by HorseQuest for iOS and Android devices. You can use the app to calculate the body condition of your horses, take a picture of them, and record it with the date. The app is very useful for helping you track the body condition of your horses over time.
- Monitoring Body Condition in Horses: Helpful Smart Phone Apps for Horse Owners
- Overview of body condition and the App - by Carissa Wickens, UF/IFAS - HorseBCS App - iTunes
- HorseBCS App - Google Play
- HorseBCS App - for the Desktop
- Horse BCS App - Tutorial Video