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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(7); doi: 10.3390/ani13071219

Body Condition Score in Danish Horses Related to Type, Use, and Training Level: Patterns, Risk, and Protective Factors.

Abstract: Body condition in horses is a growing concern that has different patterns of development in horses that are above and below the ideal range. This study used professional and para-professional evaluators (veterinarians, farriers, trainers, Danish Equestrian Federation (DEF) officials) who were trained and certified in the use of a modified Henneke scoring system to assign a body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1-9. Scores of 5-6 are regarded as ideal, and 78.6% of the evaluated horses were in these groups. Only 4.8% of horses were below ideal BCS but 16.5% were above ideal BCS, and this was influenced by type, age, and training. A significant protective effect towards above ideal BCS was shown for horses trained at higher intensities. Cold-blooded horses and traditional ponies had increased risk for being above ideal BCS. Although BCS increased with age, a large proportion of geriatric horses were both above and below ideal BCS. Discipline was not related to BCS. Patterns of BCS distribution for horses attended by different professionals were investigated. Veterinarians attended more horses with BCS above and below ideal values, farriers mostly saw horses that were above ideal BCS, and officials at competitions mainly saw horses with ideal BCS.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-31 PubMed ID: 37048475PubMed Central: PMC10093332DOI: 10.3390/ani13071219Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates the Body Condition Score (BCS) in Danish horses, analyzing how factors like type, use, and training level are associated with deviations from the ideal BSC. The primary findings indicated a notable percentage of horses were above the ideal score, with higher training intensities proving protective against this trend. Conversely, cold-blooded horses, ponies, and older horses displayed an increased risk of exceeding ideal BSC ratings.

Methodology

  • The researchers relied primarily on the expertise of professionals and para-professionals in the field—veterinarians, farriers, trainers, and Danish Equestrian Federation (DEF) officials—for their analysis.
  • These evaluators were trained and certified in a modified version of the Henneke scoring system, a widely accepted method to determine a horse’s body condition.
  • Scores on this modified system ranged from 1 to 9, with 5-6 regarded as the ideal for a horse’s body condition.

Findings

  • The study found 78.6% of the evaluated horses were in the ideal groups (with BCS of 5-6).
  • However, 16.5% of horses exceeded the ideal BSC, compared to 4.8% who were below it.
  • Frequently trained horses displayed a protective effect, reducing the likelihood of above-average BCS.
  • Cold-blooded horses and traditional pony breeds had a higher risk of exceeding the ideal body condition.
  • Aging in horses generally corresponded to increased BCS, but a sizable portion of older horses fell both above and below the ideal scores.

Stratification by Profession

  • The insights gleaned from the study were further broken down based on the professions of the evaluators.
  • Veterinarians generally attended more horses with a BCS above or below the ideal range.
  • Farriers, meanwhile, primarily treated horses with above average BCS.
  • DEF officials at competitive events interacted mainly with horses that had ideal BCS ratings.

Such findings shed light not only on the patterns of BCS distribution among horses attended by different professionals, but also on potential risk and protective factors influencing body condition in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Uldahl M, Dahl J, Clayton HM. (2023). Body Condition Score in Danish Horses Related to Type, Use, and Training Level: Patterns, Risk, and Protective Factors. Animals (Basel), 13(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071219

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 7

Researcher Affiliations

Uldahl, Mette
  • Vejle Equine Practice, Fasanvej 12, 7120 Vejle Øst, Denmark.
Dahl, Jan
  • Jan Dahl Consult, Østrupvej 89, 4350 Ugerløse, Denmark.
Clayton, Hilary Mary
  • Sport Horse Science, 3145 Sandhill Road, Mason, MI 48854, USA.

Grant Funding

  • 0000 / Qato Fonden

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Matos JI, Pitti L, Parra-Quijano M, Arencibia A, Ramírez G, Díaz-Bertrana ML. Integrative anatomical and two-dimensional ultrasonographic assessment of the heart in Shetland ponies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721000.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1721000pubmed: 41624284google scholar: lookup
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