Your horse’s weight can help determine his dietary needs, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. The other piece of the puzzle is body condition, which focuses on fat distribution.
One way body condition can be assessed is by using a scale that assigns a score to designated areas. The Henneke [hen-neck-ee] body condition scoring system focuses on a horse’s neck, shoulders, ribs, withers, back and tail head. Scores range from one (severely emaciated) to nine (grossly obese). For example, a horse with ribs that are readily felt but not seen would score a “five” in the rib category. Descriptive posters are available online to help explain the scoring.
Alternative methods of assessing a horse’s condition take a more formulaic approach. Talk to your equine veterinarian about the best way to best assess — and optimize — your horse’s condition.