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HORSES

Providing an environment that allows horses to fulfil their basic needs, as well as promoting competent

handling methods are crucial elements in putting this code into practice. Avoiding welfare hazards and

promoting wellbeing are basic elements of responsible animal care and include:

• Readily accessible potable water and a well-balanced diet promoting good health

• Access to comfort and shelter, as well as company of other equids. Housing should always

promote reasonable movement and some natural behavior should be facilitated.

• Proper surveillance of health and quick diagnosis and treatment of sickness by a veterinarian

• A comprehensive plan for emergency situations such as fire, breakdown of essential mechanical

services and the disruption of supplies.

Housing and Animal Management

Everyone handling and caring for equids should be familiar with their natural behaviour and be able to

identify early signs of distress or disease. Management practices should accommodate their desire to

graze and socialize with other animals throughout their long lives. Management must ensure they

receive as much exercise and rest as necessary for their welfare.

When housing horses outdoors there are a variety of factors to consider. One of the most important

factors is their footing. Horses can become lame and/or acquire painful skin or hoof conditions from

muddy terrain. In muddy conditions horses must have access to a dry space big enough to stand and lie

down.

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The design, location and use of shelters should promote the health, well-being and good performance of

horses throughout all life stages. Natural or constructed shelter areas must offer adequate protection

from adverse weather conditions. Location of the shelters should consider effects of predictable natural

occurrences such as flooding and strong winds. Pastures, paddocks and feedlots used during cold

seasons must have adequate windbreaks to reduce the effects of wind chill. Young, geriatric, sick, thin,

clipped horses, and horses that have not been acclimatized to the weather are all particularly susceptible

to inclement weather. Blankets can be used for protection from the weather but the animal need to be

checked at least once a week for sores, heat stress, changes in body condition or skin infections.

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When being stabled, horses should be provided with a clean dry area large enough for lying down. In all

types of housing systems, horses should be free to stand up and lay down comfortably at all times. Stall

size should be calculated in relation to the size of the animal. The formula of 2 to 2.5 times the height of

the horse (at the withers) squared may be used to calculate space requirements. Personnel access to the

horses should be easy and passageways to other areas should be safe. Ceilings and support beams should

be high enough to allow horses to have full range of head and neck motion without touching the ceiling

when standing with four feet on the floor. Floors should be constructed and maintained to provide good

traction, proper drainage, proper cleaning, comfort, and prevent injury.

Stalls should be cleaned frequently to ensure it is clean and dry and free of noxious odours. Ammonia

and fungal spores become a concern when stalls are not cleaned often enough and ventilation in not

adequate. All materials in the stall should be easily cleaned. There should always be bedding available for

the horse to lie down in. Straw, shavings or shredded paper and peat moss are examples of bedding you

can use, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Hard rubber mats and concrete floors are not

acceptable surfaces. If the stable is being bedded in a “deep litter system”, enough bedding should be

added regularly to ensure a dry lying area and proper drainage must be ensured. “Deep litter systems”

are not recommended for enclosed barns due to harmful aerosols. Manure should be appropriately

stored and discarded to ensure minimal impact on the environment. Having a clean comfortable place to

lay down will help ensure a horse is getting enough rest and therefore improve their well-being and

performance.

Storage facilities should be available to prevent obstruction of working areas and alleyways. Provide non-

slip surfaces in stalls and alleyways to reduce the risk on horses and people slipping or falling.

Alleyways, stalls and work areas should be uniformly lit to permit the effective observation of all horses.

Natural light sources should be utilized as much as possible in the design of the facility. Lighting is

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important for horses to go through normal physiological changes determined by the changing of the

seasons such as mating behaviour, hair coat, and seasonal endocrine rhythms.

Ventilation systems should exchange air to prevent excessive heat, moisture, dust and gas levels. These

air contaminants can damage the respiratory system of horses and humans. Ventilation must not create

too big a breeze as to cause discomfort to the horses. A combination of windows and open doors may

provide adequate ventilation. When ammonia is detectable to humans either by smell or irritation to the

eyes it has already exceeded the recommended concentration level.

To avoid injury, all electrical panels as well as potentially toxic substances should not be accessible to

horses. Safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire alarm/smoke detector systems must be inspected

regularly. Always have a plan in place in case of emergency such as fire or flooding. Horses may return

to a burning building if not secured properly after they have been rescued. Due to their curious nature,

horses may ingest inappropriate materials. For this reason they must not be allowed access to potentially

toxic materials such as agricultural chemicals, lead batteries, petroleum products, paints and stray

voltage.

Farm machinery, refuse, and equipment should never be within reach of horses. Sturdy fences must be

used to confine horses into safe areas. The disposition of the contained horse, stocking density and

pasture size must be considered when selecting fencing material. Barbed wire and narrow gauge high

tensile steel wire should be avoided in closely confined paddock situations because of their cutting, non-

stretching and non-breaking properties. If horses are spooked and get tangled in the barbed wire it can

result in severe injuries. These materials pose less of a danger in extensive, grazing situations and can be

used. To avoid accidental entanglement, horses should be introduced to all unfamiliar fencing systems in

daylight. Fences should form both a physical and visible barrier to minimize the potential for injuries.

It is important that fences are properly maintained and perimeter gates are always closed to prevent

access to dangerous areas such as roadways. Gates should be a minimum of 4 feet wide. When using

electric fencing, horses should be supervised by personnel when first introduced to it. To ensure proper

set up, all electric fencing units must be CSA approved and installed and maintained according to the

manufacturer’s specifications. Short circuits and conduction to unwanted places must be avoided by

properly grounding all power generating units.

Environmental conditions such as flooding, contamination of standing water and air pollution can

pollute paddocks and should be monitored. Applications of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and farm

manure should be timed to prevent any risk to grazing animals and the environment. Fly and insect

populations should be regularly monitored controlled if necessary. Horses living on pasture should

always have protection from extreme weather conditions with a natural or constructed shelter and have a

well-drained resting area.

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Husbandry

Horses should be fed in accordance with the current recommendations set out by the National Research

Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses. Proper health can be maintained by a mixture of hay,

pasture and, if needed, concentrates. It’s important that the majority of their diet is forage to maintain

proper gut function. Horses should be fed on a regular schedule and any change in diet should be

gradual. Free range horses will eat for an average of 12 hours a day so whenever possible horses kept in

captivity should be fed in a way that will mimic their natural behaviors. Pasteur feeding or slow feed hay

nets is a good way to prolong the feeding process. Horses will never go longer then 3-4 hours without

eating if given the option, therefore they need to be fed a minimum of twice a day. Prolonged periods

without feed has been linked to gastric ulcers and stereotypical behaviours.

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Horses fed high grain (concentrate) diets are at a higher risk for problems such as grain overload,

laminitis and obesity and should be monitored closely. When feeding concentrates you should always

feed forage first as this slows their digestive system. All feed components contaminated with mold or

other spoilage should not be fed. Dusts and molds are harmful to horses and can cause/compound

respiratory problems.

When horses are fed in groups, there must be enough manger space or

feeding points so all horses have access to feed at the same time, to minimize

competition and aggressive behavior. Often the hay and/or pasture offered is

limited in one or more nutrient so horses should always have access to a

source of salt and appropriate minerals. Minerals can be provided in their

fed grain or fed free-choice in blocks. All feeds formulated for other species,

medicated feeds, as well as those containing urea are not suitable for horses

and should be properly and clearly labelled. Feed troughs and buckets should be cleaned regularly.

When the temperature drops below 5

degrees Celsius it is important to increase

feed to meet the increased energy

demands of the animal. Stallions, work

horses, growing horses, reproductive

mares and jennets, geriatric horses all have

specific feed requirements. These horses

must receive a diet that is adequate for

maintaining health, growth, and vigor.

Horses should have body condition

scoring done on a regular basis (see chart

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Potable water must always be freely available to horses. Water consumption is influenced by: air

temperature and humidity, water temperature, body weight, level of activity, diet and health and

physiological status (pregnancy, lactation, growth). Water troughs, buckets should be located so that

they are protected from contamination and freezing. Daily checks of automatic waterers must be

performed to ensure the animal is never without water. Research has shown that snow alone will not be

adequate to maintain water requirements.

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When housed and fed solely on pasture it is possible to properly meet most of the nutritional

requirements if the pasture is very good quality. However, to compensate for any shortfalls of the

pasture, salt and minerals should be freely accessible. Pasture feeding can allow for many of their natural

behaviours which in turn improves their welfare. Horses have very sensitive GI systems and any diet

change, such as turning out horses in the spring after the snow melts, should be done gradually. This is

the case for any diet change. Animals on pasture should be observed daily and more often during high-

risk periods such as foaling, introduction of new animals and environmental extremes.

All horses must have daily exercise or turnout (see glossary) unless prevented by medical reasons or

extreme weather conditions. Without exercise, proper management and/or visual contact with other

horses, horses may develop stereotypies (see glossary). This can come in the form of head shaking,

cribbing and stall walking.

Handling

Low stress handling of horses is imperative to preform thorough and safe examinations. The handler

must be quiet, patient and move in slow predictable movements in order to avoid distress and pain in the

horses. Also, they must be familiar with restraining devices and use them in consideration of the natural

movement, temperament and physical capabilities of the horse. All restraining devices and tools must

be checked regularly and in good operating condition. To ensure safety and maintain calmness a

properly equipped area designated for treatment and handling of horses should be secured. Horses are

strong animals and the potential danger should never be underestimated. Safety of the personnel and

other animals in the area should always be maintained.

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Horses are known to spook (become startled) and try to escape creating a possibly very stressful and

dangerous situation for both horse and handler. For this reason restraining devices such as lead ropes

and other things used for tethering must have a method of quick release. Even chute systems used by

horses should have break out walls that can be used in the case of a horse losing its footing and falling to

the ground. Tethering a horse as well as hobbling it (tying its front feet together) and leaving it

unsupervised in a pasture is not recommended. Both of these restraint methods can cause injury to the

horse and are strongly discouraged.

Health Management

Proper surveillance of horses is very important to ensure proper health. Visual inspection of horses out

on pasture or range should be done regularly and more frequently during hi-risk periods (foaling, new

members to the group, season change). In higher density situations greater attention to health status and

behavior is needed. In consultation with a veterinarian, people working with horses should develop a

sound health care program, appropriate to the facilities and management system being followed,

including but not limited to biosecurity, pest and insect control, staff training, disease protection

protocols and vaccinations/deworming.

Donkeys and mules are less likely to show behavioural signs of illness due to their stoic nature. Any

decrease in feed intake for these animals is a significant concern.

Parasites can impair the proper biological functioning of horses and must be tested for and or treated

under the recommendation of a veterinarian.

Horse teeth condition must be checked at least every year and promptly corrected if needed. Overgrown

or damaged teeth can be very painful and impact the amount of food a horse is ingesting. Factors

affecting tooth health include; age, nutrition and management system.

Horses should be groomed on a regular basis. Not only is grooming good to remove potentially irritating

or infectious dirt and mud but to form a bond between the horse and handler.

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Hooves should be trimmed as often as is necessary to maintain

the health of the foot. The frequency of hoof trimming depends

on such factors as age, season, nutrition, management and

injury. When a horse is shod, shoes should be properly fitted

and maintained. Shoes are necessary when wear exceeds growth

or for correction of conformation of gait. Daily hoof cleanings

are recommended to avoid thrush and to remove foreign objects

that may injure the sole. Lameness is a significant welfare

concern and identifying the source of the lameness is essential to

proper treatment.

Administration of any medication to a horse must be

directed by the veterinarian. Even natural or herbal

remedies may be ineffective or unsafe without

veterinary approval. Horses receiving medication

must be easily identified and have individual health

records. Dosages and withdrawal times as indicated

by the label or by the veterinarian must be strictly

adhered to. Administration of medication must be

done by personnel who are competent. A health

record, including any treatment or medication, should

be kept for each horse.

Provincial and federal veterinary acts and regulations must dictate acceptable surgical techniques as well

as who is allowed to perform them. For example, tail docking for cosmetic reasons is unacceptable in

horses.

Transportation is a stressful time for horses and they are more susceptible to disease during or after this

time. The federal requirements for animal transport are covered under the Health of Animals

Regulations, part XII. To minimize risk to the horse and other horses, after arrival the new horse(s)

should be isolated from resident horses in an area where it can be viewed frequently. Time in this

observable pen should be extended for horses that were transported for longer distances.

In the case of a severely distressed horse, it should be dealt with quickly to prevent unnecessary

suffering. Severely sick horses (blind, disabled, injured) should never be transported to a livestock

auction but can be transported to a medical facility. If you are unsure if the horse is fit to withstand the

entire length of the trip the horse should not be transported. Under veterinary approval, a severely sick

horse may be transported to a slaughter house or medical facility. Horses that are unable to stand up

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(downers) may never be dragged and veterinary help must be sought. When dealing with the disposal of

a dead horse municipal, provincial and federal regulations must be followed. Training a horse to load

into a trailer takes time and patients. Positive rewards, practice and a wide well-lit trailer will all help

train a horse to load and unload. Using an experienced horse to load into the trailer before an

inexperienced horse can help the unfamiliar horse feel more comfortable with the loading procedures.

If at any time personnel suspect a reportable disease the animal should be isolated and a veterinarian

must be contacted immediately. Alert any owners whose animals may have come in contact with a

communicable disease.

Reportable diseases include:

• African horse sickness

• Anthrax

• Bovine Tuberculosis

• Brucellosis

• Contagious Equine Metritis

• Equine Infectious Anemia

• Equine Piroplasmosis

• Foot and Mouth disease

• Rabies

• Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis

• Vesicular Stomatitis

Identification

Each horse must have permanent identification. Identification is necessary because it helps with legal

proof of ownership and maintaining proper health records. The breed registry will determine the proper

method of identification for registered horses. The following are non-invasive ways of identification:

• Physical description (color, markings, breeds and position of hair whorls and scars)

• Chestnut fingerprinting (possible but not often used)

• Halter tagging

• Back tagging

• Neck chains

• Iris scan

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Invasive ways of identification includes:

• Lip tattooing

• Microchips (not allowed in horses used for human consumption)

• Plastic ear tags (only temporary due to ability to pull them out)

• Hoof branding (temporary only)

Hot and freeze branding are very popular permanent identification techniques but are discouraged due

to their invasiveness. Hot branding causes a scar where the hair re-grows in a different pattern than on

the surrounding skin. In freeze branding, the hair re-grows in a lighter color. Freeze branding has been

found to cause less pain and discomfort to the horse. Rebranding should never be done. The least

invasive useful identification is best.

Reproduction Management

Many factors must be considered before selecting breeding stock. These include size, age, health,

previous performance, and genetic potential. When choosing breeding partners for natural mating the

weight of the stallion must not be too big for the size of the mare.

For natural mating, pasture breeding is acceptable. If using artificial insemination or performing hand

breeding, proper, safe restraining devices must be available and used. This will facilitate proper

veterinarian inspection, insemination, and heat detection. Only trained/experienced personnel should

perform semen collection and artificial insemination. When collecting semen the use of a phantom mare

is best, but she must be protected from injury as the stallion can be aggressive. Safety must be ensured

for all involved when hand mating utilizing secured footing, adequate ceiling height or a secured

environment outside.

Stallions and mares have very different nutrient requirements and should be offered different, balanced

diet as outline by the NRC requirements based on body size and activity. Mares must be provided with a

nutritionally balanced diet prior to breeding, throughout gestation and during lactation. Also, it is

important both mares and stallions are never completely isolated and have the opportunity to see other

horses in addition to being exercised adequately. Low stress and quiet handling is very important for

mares destined for breeding or insemination. A healthy level of exercise during pregnancy should be

encouraged but not too extreme. The amount of exercise during pregnancy should reflect the activity

level prior to pregnancy and in no way should threaten the health of the mare and/or fetus. A body

condition of score of 5 out of 9 should be aimed for at the time of breeding and foaling. A health program

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should be designed to monitor the health of the mare throughout the gestation period in consultation

with a veterinarian. It should include pre-foaling instructions for attendants. The average gestation

period for a mare is 341 days and 365 days for a jennet.

Mares should be brought into the foaling area a few days before the expected event to allow her to get

acclimatized to it. The foaling area should be secure, promote proper surveillance and must confine both

mare and foal. If the foaling area is outside, the area should be hazard free and both mare and foal

should have access to a sheltered area in times of adverse weather conditions. Foals are particularly

susceptible to chilling which will drain their already modest energy reserves.

Personnel providing surveillance for mares close to foaling should be provided written instructions of

expected duties as well as indications for calling a veterinarian. In order to minimize stress, only one

attendant should be observing the mare at once. Attendants should be knowledgeable in the three phases

of parturition (see glossary). While most deliveries occur naturally and unassisted, a problem delivery

requires immediate identification and prompt assistance. A normal foaling lasts 20 minutes, if after 10

minutes the foal is not visible veterinary help is required immediately. The umbilical cord should be

allowed to sever on its own and disinfectant applied only under the advice of a veterinarian.

Colostrum is the first rich milk produced by the mare immediately after parturition. To promote a

healthy foal, colostrum must be ingested within the first 6 hours of life. If there are problems with the

foal getting milk from the mare, there should be a backup frozen colostrum available for bottle feeding.

After 24 hours colostrum is of no value to the foal. It is important in the first month to monitor the mare

and foal daily to ensure that they are adequately nourished and healthy.

Orphaned foals need specialized care. The best option is to foster the foal onto a nurse mare as soon as

possible. If a nurse mare is not available, ensure that the foal receives adequate colostrum. For days 2 and

3, the foal should be fed a daily value equal to 10-15% its body weight, at a rate of 250-500mls every 1-2

hours around the clock. Starting on day 4, increase the volume to 20% of body weight and adjust the

feeding interval to every 3-4 hours. Free choice nipple or bucket feeding is recommended to achieve this

level of intake. By two weeks of age, the foal should be provided with a commercial foal ration and a high

quality hay. Free choice water should be available at all times. Foals should be kept in a warm, dry, well-

bedded area.

FOAL CARE

A high quality forage and commercial foal ration may be made available on a free-choice basis by 7-10

days of age to promote normal growth and development. After 60 days the mare’s milk is not sufficient to

meet to nutrient requirements of the foal. Foals should be raised outdoors, where possible. If mares and

foals are kept indoors, the opportunity for regular exercise should be provided for normal development.

Foals may be weaned from 4-6 months of age depending on the health status of both the mare and the

foal. Weaning is stressful for mare and foal; strategies should be employed to minimize this stress.

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Euthanasia

Euthanasia can be performed on the farm or at an appropriate off-farm facility. Develop a plan and

timeline with a veterinarian for euthanasia. Acceptable methods of euthanasia include; lethal injection by

a veterinarian, free bullet or captive bolt. When using captive bolt a secondary method is required.

Acceptable secondary methods include; a second shot by free bullet, cardiac puncture, bleeding or

pithing. Secondary methods are only used if the animals has been confirmed unconscious. Euthanasia

should only be performed by trained, experienced personnel.

Adapted from the National Farm Animal Care Council Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and

Handling of Horses. 2013. Available at: http://www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/equine/code#contents.

This summary has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of

Canada.

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Glossary

Ambient temperature: the air temperature in the surrounding area. Ambulatory (general): able to walk. See also non-ambulatory. Balanced (in the context of feed): a term applied to a diet or ration of feed that has all the known required nutrients in the proper amount. Body condition scoring: a tool for determining the amount of fat on an animal’s body. It involves a physical palpation and visual assessment of specific anatomical sites that are most responsive to a change in body fat. A body condition score is the value assigned to individual equines from the body condition scoring scale. Box stall: a confinement area where horses are kept loose (not tied) when housed indoors in a barn or stable. Broodmare: a female horse used for breeding. Colic: a sign of pain in the horse’s abdomen. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. Concentrate: a feed used with forage to improve the nutritive balance of the total ration (e.g. grain, pelleted feed). Conformation: the degree of correctness of a horse’s bone structure, musculature, and its body proportions in relation to each other. Conformation is usually judged by the horse’s intended use or by breed standards. Creep feeding: the practice of using a creep feeder, which is a feeder designed so that foals can eat concentrates, but older horses will not be able to access the feed. “Easy keeper”: an informal term used to describe individual horses who easily gain weight or tend to maintain weight or body condition score above the ideal. “Equine Cushing’s” (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, PPID): a syndrome whereby the middle lobe of the pituitary gland (located in the brain) becomes enlarged over time resulting in over production of hormones and hormone-like substances. Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS): a multi-faceted condition of obesity (generalized and/or regional), insulin resistance and laminitis. Primary contributing factors to the development of EMS are genetics and the quantity and type of feed Exercise: for the purpose of this Code, exercise refers to any indoor or outdoor physical activity for horses including, but not limited to, riding, lunging, walking in-hand and hand grazing. Foal: the offspring of a horse or other equines from birth to weaning and under one year old. Forage: bulky feeds such as grass or hay; can also refer to the act of foraging (eating hay, grazing pasture, browsing). Gait: a particular way or manner the horse moves on foot. Grain: seed from cereal crops or corn. Geriatric horse: for the purpose of this Code, geriatrics are ageing horses that need specialized care. Horses are generally considered to be geriatric when they are 15-20 years of age or older. Gestation: the period of development of the fetus from conception to birth. Hay: grasses or herbage especially cut and cured for animal feeding.

Haylage: Feed that was cut as fresh forage and that has been chopped and stored at relatively high moisture content. Haylage undergoes a similar fermentation process as silage. See also silage. Hyperlipemia/Hyperlipidemia: a medical condition caused, in part, by equines going off feed and that results in rapid mobilization of body fat. Fatty substances accumulate in the blood and infiltrate the liver. The syndrome can affect any equines although donkeys, ponies and miniature horses are at greater risk. Jack: a male donkey.

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Jennet: a female donkey. Knowledgeable and experienced horseperson: For the purpose of this Code, this refers to people who have knowledge of a given topic or have successfully managed horses relative to a given topic. This includes those who have years of hands-on experience with horses and those who have knowledge gained through formal education, training and/or professional certification (some examples include experienced breeders, certified trainers/coaches and extension staff). Lameness: for the purpose of this Code, lameness is any alteration in the horse’s gait that appears to be caused by pain and discomfort. Lameness can manifest as a change in performance or willingness to move, head nodding or hip hiking. Laminitis: inflammation in the foot (specifically the sensitive laminae connecting the hoof bone and the hoof capsule) that may result in severe pain, abnormal foot growth, and lameness. Also known as Founder. Mare: an adult female horse. Non-ambulatory: an animal that is unable to stand without assistance or move without being dragged or carried, regardless of size or age. Paddock: a small, fenced-in field or enclosure (with varying surface terrain) where horses are kept or exercised. Parasitism: an infection with parasites. Parturition: the act or process of giving birth to the foal (also referred to as foaling). Pasture: a large, fenced-in area where horses are kept loose and can graze. Pelleted feed: feed that has been ground and processed to produce a pellet shaped feedstuff. “Poor doer”: an informal term used to describe individual horses that have difficulty gaining weight or maintaining appropriate weight or body condition score. Reinforcement: positive or negative reinforcement are training terms that refer to anything that will make a response from the horse more likely in the future. “Positive” and “negative” do not mean “good” and “bad” in this context, but describe whether the behavior is reinforced by having something added (positive reinforcement) or removed (negative reinforcement). Ration: the total amount of feed that is provided. Silage: succulent, moist feed (from forage, corn or other crops) that has gone through a process of fermentation that helps it stay free from spoilage. Stable: an enclosed building with a roof and sides for housing horses. Stallion: an adult male horse that has not been castrated and is typically kept for breeding. Stereotypy: formerly referred to as a vice, a stereotypy is an abnormal behavior that serves no apparent function and is performed in a repetitive, invariant way. One example is cribbing/wind sucking. Social opportunities: for the purpose of this Code, this term refers to occasions when horses can interact with other horses via sight, sound and/or direct contact. Soring: the practice of inflicting pain on the limbs of a horse for the purpose of accentuating its gait. Note: this practice is not acceptable Soundness: freedom from lameness or disease that would affect the horse’s usability. Teeth floating: A procedure of filing down the sharp enamel points on the horse’s teeth. Teeth floating is necessary because the teeth of horses continue to erupt from the gums until horses are approximately 17 years of age. Temperament: the horse’s disposition. Thermoneutral zone: a temperature range in which animals do not have to expend any additional energy to maintain normal body temperature. In horses, the thermoneutral zone is between 5-20°C. Tie stall: a space in a barn or stable where horses are tied when housed indoors. Also called a standing stall. Tractability: the horse’s capability to be easily led, taught, or controlled. Turnout: for the purpose of this Code, this terms refers to allowing horses “free time” (i.e. not under controlled exercise) in a dry lot, arena, pen or pasture. Turnout does not necessarily mean the horse is grazing. Weanling: a term to identify equines from weaning until one year of age.

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Yearling: a term to identify equines from one to two years of age.

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Chart 1 Body Condition Scoring - Horses and Ponies

BCS 1 WHOLE BODY • Poor condition • Extremely emaciated • No fat tissue felt NECK • Bone structure visible WITHERS • Bone structure easily visible BACK • Spinous processes project prominently TAIL HEAD • Tail head, point of the buttocks and point of the hip project prominently RIBS • Project prominently SHOULDER • Bone structure easily noticeable

BCS 2 WHOLE BODY • Very thin • Emaciated NECK • Bone faintly discernible WITHERS • Bone structure faintly noticeable BACK • Spinous processes prominent • Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes • Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded TAIL HEAD • Prominent RIBS • Prominent SHOULDER • Faintly discernible

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BCS 3 WHOLE BODY • Thin NECK • Accentuated WITHERS • Accentuated BACK • Fat build up halfway on spinous processes, but easily discernible • Can’t feel transverse processes TAIL HEAD • Prominent but individual vertebrae can’t be visually identified • Point of the hip rounded, but easily discernible • Point of the buttocks not distinguishable RIBS • Slight fat cover • Individual ribs discernible SHOULDER • Accentuated

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BCS 4 WHOLE BODY • Moderately thin NECK • Not obviously thin WITHERS • Not obviously thin BACK • Negative crease along back TAIL HEAD • Prominence depends on conformation • Fat palpable • Point of the hip not discernible RIBS • Faint outline discernible SHOULDER • Not obviously thin

BCS 5 WHOLE BODY • Moderate condition NECK • Blends smoothly into body WITHERS • Rounded over spinous processes BACK • Back is level TAIL HEAD • Fat around tail head beginning to feel spongy RIBS • Individual ribs can be felt, but not visually distinguished SHOULDER • Blends smoothly into body

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BCS 6 WHOLE BODY • Moderately fleshy NECK • Fat beginning to be deposited WITHERS • Fat beginning to be deposited BACK • May have slight positive crease down back TAIL HEAD • Fat around tail head feels soft RIBS • Fat over ribs feels spongy SHOULDER • Fat beginning to be deposited • Point-of-shoulder not discernible

BCS 7 WHOLE BODY • Fleshy NECK • Fat deposited along neck WITHERS • Fat deposited along withers BACK • May have positive crease down back, behind shoulder TAIL HEAD • Fat around tail head is soft RIBS • Individual ribs can be felt • Noticeable fat fillings between ribs SHOULDER • Fat deposited behind shoulder

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BCS 8 WHOLE BODY • Fat • Fat deposited along inner buttocks NECK • Noticeable thickening of neck WITHERS • Area along withers filled with fat BACK • Positive crease down back TAIL HEAD • Tail head fat very soft RIBS • Difficult to feel individual ribs SHOULDER • Area behind shoulder filled in, flush with body

BCS 9 WHOLE BODY • Extremely fat • Fat along inner buttocks may rub together • Flank filled in flush NECK • Bulging fat WITHERS • Bulging fat BACK • Obvious positive crease down back TAIL HEAD • Building fat around tail head RIBS • Patchy fat appearing over ribs SHOULDER • Bulging fat