And, by doing so, they established a template that has persisted for centuries. Traditionally cast in bronze, these huge forms of horse and rider display messages of dominance, power, and virtue through strength. The ancient Roman tradition of publicly displaying monumental equestrian statues of important historical figures is a particularly striking case of how to convey meaning in no uncertain terms. By contrast, historic monumental sculptures employ symbolism that is direct and intentionally easy for viewers to understand. Contemporary public artworks, for example, use purposely veiled messages aimed to generate thoughtful exchange with the viewer and to prompt reflection. Henneke et al (1983) developed the BCS system.Statues are created to project meaning. Performance horses typically have a BCS of 4 to 5. Breeding mares should range between 6 to 7 and stallions have the best success with scores between 5 to 6. The recommendation is for horses to be maintained between a 4 to 6 BCS. Flank is filled with fat and flush with rest of the body. Bulging fat around tail head, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck. Area behind shoulder is filled with fat and flush with rest of the body. Fat is deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck.Ĭrease down back. Individual ribs can be felt, but with noticeable filling of fat between ribs. Fat begins to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind shoulders and along neck. Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body. Withers appear rounded over spinous processes. Fat around tail head begins to feel spongy. Ribs cannot be visually distinguished, but can be easily felt. Withers, shoulders and neck are not obviously thin.īack is level. Fat can be felt around the tail head however, the tail head may or may not be visible depending on the breed. Negative crease along back (spinous processes of vertebrae protrude slightly above surrounding tissue). Withers, shoulders and neck are accentuated. Hook bones appear rounded, but are easily discernible. Tail head is prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Spinous processes and ribs are easily discernible. Withers, shoulders, and neck structures are faintly discernible.įat is built up about halfway on spinous processes, transverse processes cannot be felt. Spinous processes, ribs, tail head, hooks, and pins are prominent. Slight fat covering over base of the spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar (loin area) vertebrae feel rounded. Bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable. Spinous processes, ribs, tail head, hooks, and pins project prominently. The score may not be comparable between different breeds or body typesĭescription of Individual Body Condition Scores.The score can be influenced by coat length, gut fill, muscle mass, pregnancy, etc.Bias between evaluators may influence results.The method only assesses subcutaneous fat.Cutoff values available to imply risk for diseaseĭisadvantages of the body condition score are.Allows for classification of horses into underweight, overweight, or obese categories.Categorization of body condition as underweight (BCS ≤ 3, 1–9-point scale), moderate (BCS 4–6), overweight (BCS ≥ 7) or obese (BCS ≥ 8) can be used as an aid in the management of body condition for optimal health and performanceĪdvantages of the body condition score are Comparisons of relative adiposity can be made within or between horses. The subjective assessment is based on visual and physical (palpation) of the specified body regions including the hooks (tuber coxae and hip joints) and pins (tuber ischia and lower pelvic bones). Horses are scored on a scale from 1 (poor) to 9 (extremely fat) in six areas where they deposit fat – neck, withers, spinous processes (part of back vertebrae that project upwards) and transverse processes (portion of vertebrae that projects outward), tail head, ribs, and behind the shoulder. The body condition score (BCS) allows one to access if the horse is too thin, too fat, or about right. The body condition of horses based on the degree of fat cover is a good indicator of a horse’s general health.
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