Is My Horse Overweight?

How to check hands-on, why your eyes alone can mislead and what excess weight means for your horse's health.

Quick Answer

You cannot tell by eye how much fat a horse is carrying, so body condition (fat) scoring by hand is more reliable than looking.
Charities score the neck, middle and hindquarters by feel, and more than one scale exists (0 to 5 and 1 to 9), so your vet or a qualified nutritionist can advise on a healthy score for your horse.
Excess fat can affect any horse or pony and is linked with laminitis, arthritis and equine metabolic syndrome.
A weigh tape used alongside fat scoring helps you track whether weight is going up, down or staying steady.
Weight loss should be a planned, gradual project with your vet or a nutritionist, never a crash diet, and laminitis is an emergency.

Is my horse overweight? Many owners find this hard to answer. World Horse Welfare says it has become normal to see horses carrying more weight than they should, which skews our idea of what a healthy body looks like.

Being overweight is one of the most common health issues seen by vets in the UK. It is just as unhealthy as being too thin, and it can be much more difficult to manage. A hands-on check takes only a few minutes and can help you spot a problem early.

Stocky chestnut Shetland-type pony with a thick mane standing on a grassy verge beside a tree – is my horse overweight? Feeling for fat is more reliable than looking

Why It Is Hard to Tell by Eye

It is impossible to tell by eye how much fat a horse is carrying, and this can be surprisingly deceptive. You need to feel for fat in specific areas. British Equestrian says scoring is far more reliable than using your eyes alone.

Many people are also used to seeing overweight cobs, so they think it is normal for that type. In an Italian study of 259 horses, owners' scores agreed with a vet's only slightly. Owners scored horses both higher and lower than the vet did.

Some things can mislead you, too:

Horses in hard work, such as racehorses, can look underweight but be fit and healthy.
Stallions naturally develop a crest because of their hormones.
Donkeys need a different fat scoring system.
Horses with EMS or Cushing's disease can be trickier to score accurately.

Is My Horse Overweight? How to Body Condition Score

Fat scoring, also called body condition scoring, is a way to find out whether a horse is a healthy weight. There are two main systems. UK charities mostly use a 0 to 5 scale, while the Henneke system uses a 1 to 9 scale. Both rely on feeling the horse, and the 0 to 5 system can be easier to apply. This guide uses 0 to 5, so do not mix scales.

Fat feels spongy, whereas muscle feels firmer, so you need to get hands-on. Score three areas: the neck, the middle and the hindquarters.

Step 1: Neck and shoulders

Feel along the crest for thick, hard fat. You should be able to feel the nuchal ligament, near the top of the mane, which feels like a ball of elastic bands. Fat can also fill in the area in front of the shoulder blade.

The exception is dangerous crest fat, which can feel hard and be difficult to move from side to side.

Step 2: The middle

Run your hand over the ribs. Ideally you can feel them easily with light pressure but not see them. If you have to press firmly, or cannot feel them at all, your horse is carrying excess fat.

Fat can also build up on either side of the spine and form a gutter, which often leaves your hand lying flat across the back.

Chestnut-and-white pony grazing in a long-grass meadow beside a fence post and dark conifer trees – most leisure horses get plenty of calories from grass alone, so many owners ask is my horse overweight

Step 3: The hindquarters

You should easily feel the hip bones, the top of the pelvis and the tail head under a thin layer of fat. The hindquarters should be slightly rounded, like the letter C. An "M" shape and a gutter along the backbone mean too much fat.

What the scores mean

The British Horse Society (BHS) describes the 0 to 5 scale like this: 0 is emaciated, 1 is thin, 2 is lean (most fit racehorses and eventers), 3 is healthy, 4 is fat and 5 is obese.

At a score of 4, spongy fat can be felt along the crest, behind the shoulder and across the hindquarters. Ribs can be felt only with firm pressure. At a score of 5 the neck is wide with a large, firm crest, and the ribs can be neither seen nor felt.

UK sources describe roughly the middle of the scale as healthy, but they give slightly different ranges. Your vet may also advise something different for your own horse. Ask your vet or a qualified nutritionist what score to aim for.

Using a Weigh Tape or Weighbridge

A weigh tape, used alongside fat scoring, helps you monitor weight. Tapes may not be completely accurate, but they show whether weight is being maintained, lost or gained. A weighbridge is the only truly accurate way to weigh a horse. Vet practices, feed companies and charities may offer weighing.

Weight alone does not tell you whether it is right for your horse. For that you also need body scoring.

Stand your horse square on firm, level ground.
Place the tape around the middle on a slight angle, from behind the withers to behind the elbows.
Keep it smooth and snug, but not tight, and read it as your horse breathes out.
Use the same brand of tape each time, so readings stay consistent.

Sources vary on how often to check. British Equestrian suggests about every two weeks, and Redwings says at least monthly, ideally fortnightly. Keep a log of your findings. Horses can put on weight very quickly.

Why Horses Gain Weight

Draught types, cobs and native breeds are more likely to be overweight than Thoroughbreds. They evolved to survive harsh winters and poor grazing.

Modern management adds to the problem. Many horses have quality grazing all year, milder winters, rugs and stabling, so they need less energy to keep warm. World Horse Welfare lists excess calories, lack of exercise and EMS as common causes. It also says most leisure horses get more calories than they need from grass alone.

Milder, wetter winters mean many horses keep or gain weight over winter. They then arrive at spring grass already overweight, which puts them at higher risk of laminitis.

Why Excess Weight Matters

Excess weight carries real risks. Redwings says the most common are laminitis, arthritis (degenerative joint disease), lipomas and equine metabolic syndrome. World Horse Welfare also lists extra strain on the heart and lungs, and added pressure on the limbs and joints.

Fat is not inactive. Excess fat increases inflammation and interferes with the hormone system. It can also affect the immune system, breathing, temperature regulation and working fitness.

Our guides to Laminitis in Horses, Arthritis in Horses and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) in Horses explain these conditions in more detail.

Emergency: Contact a Vet Immediately If…

You think your horse may have laminitis. Overweight horses are at risk, and it is an emergency.

Call your vet or the nearest out-of-hours emergency vet straight away.

When to Contact Your Vet

You are unsure of your horse's score. A friend or your vet can score the horse too and compare.
Your horse may have EMS or Cushing's disease. Scoring is trickier, and horses with Cushing's disease may have muscle loss and a pot-bellied look with ribs visible.
You need a weight-loss plan. Always contact your vet or a nutritionist for advice specific to your own horse.

If your horse is thin rather than heavy, see Why Is My Horse Losing Weight?

What to Do If Your Horse Is Overweight

If the answer to "is my horse overweight?" is yes, weight loss needs to be a carefully planned, long-term project. Treat each horse as an individual rather than copying others on the yard.

Ask an expert whether you are feeding appropriately, and make titbits the exception rather than the rule.
Do not crash diet. Horses need a steady supply of food, so reduce calories without cutting the amount of forage. You may need to soak hay to reduce its sugar.
Control grass intake in a way that still lets your horse eat, such as strip grazing or a track system. Vitamins and minerals are still needed.
Remember that a high-energy feed is also high in calories. More calories will not give more energy for work, only more fat.
Walk more. A brisk walk or steady trot burns more fat than faster work.
Consider whether your horse really needs a rug, or a lighter one.

How Pet Med Direct Can Help

A weight plan is best agreed with your vet or a qualified nutritionist, so please speak to them first. Knowing your horse's weight also helps your vet and nutritionist with feeding decisions.

If you would like to browse equine products afterwards, see our equine range.

Some pet medicines require a valid veterinary prescription. Pet Med Direct can only supply prescription medicines after the prescription has been checked. Always follow your vet's advice and the directions on the medicine label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my horse overweight if I can't see its ribs?

Not necessarily, as ribs should not normally be seen. They should be easy to feel with light pressure. If you must press firmly, or cannot feel them, your horse is probably carrying excess fat.

What is a healthy body condition score?

Sources describe roughly the middle of the 0 to 5 scale as healthy, but the exact range differs. Your vet or a qualified nutritionist can advise on the right score for your horse.

How often should I score my horse?

Sources vary. British Equestrian suggests about every two weeks, and Redwings says at least monthly, ideally fortnightly. Keep a log so you can spot trends.

Is a weigh tape enough?

No. A weigh tape is a useful tool, but it must be used alongside fat scoring. Weight alone cannot tell you if that weight is right for your horse.

Is excess weight only a problem for ponies?

No. Excess fat is a health risk for any horse or pony, regardless of breed or type. Native breeds and cobs are more likely to be overweight, though.

Can I just cut back my horse's hay?

Not without advice. Horses need a steady supply of food, so aim to reduce calories without cutting the amount of forage. Your vet or a nutritionist can build a safe plan.

Can owners learn to score accurately?

Charities encourage scoring and comparing results with another person. Getting a second opinion from a friend or your vet is a good habit.

Related Equine Health Guides

Sources and Further Reading

This article was researched from the sources listed above. It is general information for horse owners and is not a substitute for advice from your own vet.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice.
If you are concerned about your horse’s health, please consult a qualified veterinarian.