What's Your Number?

So I read another person's blog today and she discussed the Henneke Body Scoring System for Horses. As a horse person, I have used this system since I first learned of it. The ideal weight for everyone is different. Some people prefer their horses on the leaner side of moderate, others think moderat is ideal. My ideal is just above moderate. I don't like my horses to be obese, or even overly heavy, but I do like a bit extra weight.

The reason I prefer my horses to be a tad healthy is because I prefer to stay ahead of the game. You never know when your horse may become sick and drop weight, or the quality of hay may be bad for a few loads, with a lower nutritional content. If something like this happens, and my horses are just a tad above where they would be ideally, if they drop weight unexpectedly they will still be at an ideal weight.

Now, that said, TOO heavy is also hard on a horse. Horses that are predisposed to arthritis, or leg issues, or have previously had an injury should never been too heavy. Young horses should be maintained at a 4 or a 5 to keep the pressure off of their growing bones/joints. Also, too heavy can create hoof issues, or cause your horse to become laminitic. Ponies and senior horses are especially prone to these issues.

I prefer to keep Tango at a about a 6. That is described as:

6 - Moderate to Fleshy: May have slight crease down back. Fat over ribs feels spongy. Fat around tailhead feels soft. Fat beginning to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck.

Tango after a workout, grazing. He is a *bit* heavier here than I'd like.

Ellie, being a senior horse and with her history of unsoundness should ideally be kept on the light side of moderate. When I got her she would have been classified as a 2.5 or a 3. She was thin, all of her bones visible, but not a total skeleton. Here is what it says for 2-3:

2 - Very Thin: Emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Prominent spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins. Withers, shoulders and neck structures faintly discernible.

3 - Thin: Fat built up about halfway on spinous processes, transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.

Unfortunately my refeeding program for Ellie has worked TOO well, and she is closer to the 6 that I prefer Tango at or even a 7. I will be attempting to get some of that weight off before Summer, or she will end up having to wear a grazing muzzle this Summer to keep her from getting obese. She has developed shape to her neck, and you can probably faintly see the fat pockets just above her tailbone.

So where do you like to see *your* horse's weight? If you are curious, or would like to learn more about the Henneke system, please visit this website that had a pretty good explanation:

http://www.brightfuturesfarm.org/henneke_scoring_system.htm

Have a Nice Day!

Tara