Henneke Scoring System
of Body Condition
Note: There is a link at the bottom of this page to help you visualize the scoring system. Some of the photos may be disturbing to you. You cannot see the photos without clicking the link.
Don R. Henneke, Ph.D., of Tarleton State Texas University, developed the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart in 1983. The original purpose of the system was to determine the fertility of thin mares. It is a scientific method of evaluating a horse's body condition regardless of breed, body type, sex or age. It is now widely used by law enforcement agencies as an objective method of scoring a horse's body condition in horse cruelty cases. The chart is accepted in a court of law.
The chart covers six major parts of the horse; neck; withers, (where the neck ends and the back begins) the shoulder area; ribs, loins, and the tailhead area. The chart rates the horses on a scale of 1 to 9. A score of 1 is considered poor or emaciated with no body fat. A nine is extremely fat or obese. A horse that is rated a 1 on the Henneke Chart is often described as a walking skeleton and is in considerable danger of dying. Courts in the United States have upheld the seizure of such horses by law enforcement citing exigent circumstances, meaning there was a very strong possibility the horse would die unless immediate action was taken. Generally, Equine Veterinarians consider a body score of between 4 and 7 as acceptable. A 5 is considered ideal.
Observers are trained to visually inspect the horse and also to palpate each part of the horse with their hands to feel for body fat. The observer then assigns each area of the body the numerical score that corresponds with the horse's condition. When a horse has a long haircoat it is imperative that the person scoring the horse use their hands to feel the horse. The horse's long haircoat will hide the protrusion of bones, all except in the most extreme cases.
The scores from each area are then totaled and divided by 6. The resulting number is the horse's rating on the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart.
People working in this field will refer to the horse as being a "1 on the Henneke" or a "3 on the Henneke". The Henneke Chart is a standardized scoring system, whereas the terms, "skinny", "thin", "emaciated", or "fat" are all subjective terms that have different meanings to different people.
Defense attorneys cross examining veterinarians and horse experts argue that the chart is not scientific. As one full time equine vet stated, "No it is not scientific, but it is as close as we are going to get."
Conformational differences between horses may make certain criteria within each score difficult to apply to every animal. In these instances, those areas influenced by conformation should be discounted, but not ignored when determining the condition score.
Conformation also changes in pregnant mares as they approach parturition (birth). Since the weight of the concept us tends to pull the skin and musculature tighter over the back and ribs, emphasis is placed upon fat deposition behind the shoulder, around the tailhead and along the neck and withers in these cases.
Emaciated. Prominent spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins. Noticeable bone structure on withers, shoulders and neck. No fatty tissues can be palpated.
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.
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.
Negative crease along back. Faint outline of ribs discernible. Tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it. Hook bones not discernible. Withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
Back is level. Ribs cannot be visually distinguished, but can be easily felt. Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy. Withers appear rounded over spinous processes. Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
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.
May have crease down back. Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat. Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat deposits along withers, behind shoulders and along the neck.
Crease down back. Difficult to palpate ribs. Fat around tailhead very soft. Area along withers filled with fat. Area behind shoulder filled in flush. Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along inner buttocks.
Our use of the Henneke Scoring System
We ask you to become familiar with and understand the concept of the Henneke Body Scoring System because the definition of the term "thin" is relative to what each of us has been taught to accept as thin. Therefore, we use The Henneke system because it is familiar to many, widely accepted, standardized and easy to understand.
When we place a horse with an adopter, we expect that adopter to care for the horse in a manner consistent with maintaining that horses' overall health and well being. Thoroughbreds have a high metabolism, and require more food to stay fit than many other breeds do. With some horses, it is no easy task to keep that horse 'fit', no matter what the breed. But, it is NOT impossible. It just required more attention on the part of the owner or adopter. We have had several instances where adopters are unable to get weight on the horse they've adopted or maintain the weight consistently. When that is the case, we expect you to contact us for help if you've been unable to do so on your own. That is what we are here for. What we will not tolerate is someone who is unable to do so - and does not ask for help, thus allowing the horse to deteriorate to a condition that is less than a 4 on Henneke's chart. We will repossess any horse that is a "low 4" or lower.
What is a "4" versus a "low 4"?
A 4, as defined in the Henneke scoring system is a horse with any or all of the following features: negative crease along back. Faint outline of ribs discernible. Tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it. Hook bones not discernible. Withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
A low 4 would be more than a "faint" outline of ribs being discernable and/or any of the following: pronounced crease along back, no fat around the tailhead, hook bones discernable - even faintly, withers, shoulder and/or neck looking 'thin'.
A 4 is a condition that requires little effort to rectify. Usually adding a third meal of grain a day (1-2 pounds, mid day) or adding an additional pound of grain to each of two daily meals, or beet pulp, vegetable oil, rice bran or any other weight builder to the diet will rectify the problem in a month.
When the horse becomes a low 4, the horse has already lost enough weight that losing more will be easier for the horse than gaining it all back, and especially when approaching the winter months, when many horses lose weight anyway, it is a situation that needs immediate attention.
We are not providing this information to you to worry you or make you feel as if you're under the microscope with regard to caring for the horse you adopt. However, we are providing you this information so that you are well informed regarding just what a healthy and fit horse should look like, so that there is no question as to what "fit" and "thin" mean to us.
Please print this page and keep it with your adoption paperwork if you adopt from us. When you sign our adoption contract you acknowledge a paragraph stating that you have received a copy of this chart and understand the content. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have regarding the scoring system, or our use of it.