BW + BCS:

• BCS looks at fat content.
• Body weight = actual weight in kg.
• Body condition = visual assessment, measures in peer reviewed sources. Adipose deposits on specific areas.
• BCS determines if weight is healthy - not about fitness.
• Reasons to measure BCS = feed requirements, medication dosage, health signs, growing rate and the level of dehydration around exercise.
• Methods to determine BW = visual estimation, weight formula, weight tape and weigh bridge.
• Weigh bridge = most accurate, requires calibration, measures the whole horse, needs all 4 hooves on + flat surface and the handler needs to be out of the way.
• Horses should be weighed at similar times of day each time to give a fair result.
• A difference of 5kg between weigh-ins is not significant as the horse may/may not have passed faeces or urine.
• Weight tapes = more affordable/quick to use, correlation between heart girth + BW, placement needs to be consistent, horse needs to be square and exhale, not exact, some are height specific and not all tapes are the same.
• The weight tape should be placed just behind the withers and brought diagonally forwards to behind the elbow.
• Weight formula:

  Weight (kg) = girth circumference (cm2) x length (cm) / Y.

  Y = 11887 - variable.
• BCS = origins in livestock, subcutaneous fat deposits and there are significant correlations reported between BCS + subcutaneous fat deposits.
• BCS methods = Carroll + Huntington 0-5 scale and the Henneke 1-9 scale.
• Carroll and Huntington scale = neck, back, ribs and pelvis.
• Henneke scale = neck, withers, loin, tailhead, ribs and shoulder.
• 0-5 scale optimum = 3 and 1-9 scale optimum = 4-6 depending on breed.
• When BCS, each body section should be given a separate score, the coat can have an influence and you need to actually feel the horse.
• Neck BCS = nuchal ligament is the guide as there is no muscle above only fat will sit there, start at the poll and there is a cresty neck score.
• Back BCS = c-shape behind the withers and along the vertebrae, feel the ribs diagonally upwards and the belly is not relevant as it's gut fill or a lack of abdominal muscles.
• Hips and tailhead BCS = rounded shape, no apple and should be able to feel the point of hip.
• Height specific tapes are found to be more accurate (Ellis and Hollander, 2002 + Holder, 2017).
• Development of body fat = energy intake exceeds energy requirement. Structural carbohydrates, water-soluble carbohydrates and fat.
• Insulin is responsible for absorption and storage of nutrients in body cells.