Rural Heritage Vet Clinic

Possible Reasons for a
Low Body Condition Score

by Gail Damerow

Some horses may have a low score, even though they may be perfectly healthy. Factors that can reduce the score of a healthy horse:

  • Pregnancy—
    In the last trimester, the hormones needed for delivery, coupled with the weight of the foal pulling down the loin area, reduces a mare's score.

  • Age—
    As a horse gets older its muscle structure softens, causing its body condition score to go down.

Horse

Gail Damerow is editor of Rural Heritage.



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26 October 2011 last revision