Why Many Horse Owners Underestimate Their Horse’s Body Condition

Accurately assessing body condition is one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting equine health—but many owners unknowingly underestimate how overweight their horses really are. Research by Carter et al. (2009) found that up to 70% of owners assigned lower body condition scores than veterinarians when using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system, especially for horses scoring 6–9.

When “Normal” Isn’t Actually Healthy

One major challenge is the “new normal.” In many barns, overweight horses are now so common that extra fat looks ordinary—and a truly healthy BCS 5 can appear “too thin.” This shifting baseline makes it easy to overlook fat deposits over the ribs, along the crest, shoulders, and tailhead.

Health Risks of Hidden Extra Weight

Undetected excess body fat increases the risk of:

• Insulin resistance and Equine Metabolic Syndrome
• Laminitis
• Joint and soft tissue strain
• Reduced performance and heat tolerance

When owners underestimate body condition, these risks may go unaddressed until a crisis—like laminitis—forces urgent action.

Improving Scoring Accuracy

Argo et al. (2012) showed that education and hands-on training significantly improve owner accuracy with the Henneke scale. Helpful tools include:

• Veterinary-guided scoring during routine visits
• BCS charts and photo guides posted in the barn
• Regular use of weight tapes and progress photos

By partnering with veterinarians and taking a more objective approach, owners can catch subtle changes early, adjust diet and exercise plans, and better protect their horses from preventable metabolic and orthopedic disease.

References

Carter, R. A., et al. (2009). “Apparent underestimation of body condition in horses by owners.” Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
Argo, C. M., et al. (2012). “Education improves the body condition scoring accuracy of horse owners.” Equine Veterinary Journal.