Hi Tina
Based on the statistical results we got, we THINK (still not done
analyzing) that there is an "optimum window of fatness" that is between
a body condition score of 4 and 5.25. For those of you not familiar
with the body condition score, this is a system of subjectively judging
on a scale of 1-9 the amount of fat on a horse based on palpation and
visual appraisal of the neck, ribs, shoulder, hindquarters, etc. When
done by an experienced and knowledgable person, it's quite accurate and
consistent as a comparative tool, and is used quite often in research.
A horse with a score of 1 is extremely emaciated, every bone showing,
literally a walking hatrack. I've only seen two horses in this
category, both abuse cases, and both died of starvation within a week
despite efforts to save them. On the other end of the scale a score of
9 is a serious butterball with names like Puddin' or Ol' Lardbutt.
These are the horses that jiggle when they walk, and we aint talkin'
muscle.
Endurance horses with a score of between 4 and 4.5 should have a
lean, but still smooth look to them. You can easily feel the ribs but
shouldn't be able to see them. At the most, a very faint outline but
you better be really looking. There is a slight ridge along the back
and the shoulders, neck and withers shouldn't be obviously thin. The
point of the hip bones shouldn't be sticking out and if you look between
the horse's hind legs on his "inner thighs" there should be at few
inches where the two legs rub together.
Endurance horses with a condition score of around 5 have ribs that are
still easily felt, but cannot be seen. There should be no ridge along
the back and if you look at the horse from behind, the hindquarters
should be squareish looking---no sunken in sides on the flanks, but no
round "apple butts" either. The neck and withers should blend smoothly
into the body and you should be able to palpate a bit of fat around the
tailhead.
The amount of muscle a horse has is going to affect his shape in some
areas, but you should be able to get a fair idea of how much body fat
your horse is carrying based on this.
If anyone still has their videotape of the Tevis special, the horses
Boyd and Potato were riding I would have scored as 4 (normally I would
score a horse without putting hands on him, but it just so happens I did
score both these horses at Tevis). There was also an earlier shot of
horses running in from pasture and one thin chestnut horse standing and
looking off to the right. On a guess, I'd say this guy was probably a
3. This is not any sort of criticism on Potato, who I consider a good
friend, just a visial example of what different scores look like for
anyone who's interested. BTW, Erin's horse Cougar's Fete and Chris
Knoch's horse, Saxx, both scored as 5's, as did most of the horses in
the Top Ten both years. I only scored a handful of horses at 5.5 or
over, but none of these horses finished, suggesting that there is a
point beyond which too fat is an impediment, or is possibly an
indication of not enough fitness work prior to the race.
Thanks for the post, Tina, and congratulations on your BC.
Susan Evans