1-855-957-8378
🚚 FREE SHIPPING on All U.S. Orders Over $200
Benefab®
Cart 0
  • Home
  • Shop

    Horse Products 15

    People Products 8

    Dog Products 4

    Bundles 5

  • Press
  • Blog
  • Pre-Loved
  • Dealers
  • Wishlist
Australia (AUD $)
Belgium (EUR €)
Canada (CAD $)
Costa Rica (CRC ₡)
Czechia (CZK Kč)
France (EUR €)
Germany (EUR €)
Italy (EUR €)
Japan (JPY ¥)
New Zealand (NZD $)
United Kingdom (GBP £)
United States (USD $)
English
Benefab®
  • Shop

    Horse Products 15

    People Products 8

    Dog Products 4

    Bundles 5

  • Press
  • Blog
  • Pre-Loved
  • Dealers
Wishlist Cart 0

Search our store

Benefab®
Wishlist Cart 0
Home / Blog
Blog

Horse Body Conditioning Score

Feb 10, 2015
8 Winter Horse Care Mistakes
Winter BCS Chestnut horse portrait in winter timeIt’s here – the dead of winter. Many horse owners like to give their horses a little bit of a break during the winter, especially the senior horses. Senior horses are very sensitive to the cold weather. With the cold weather, we try to spend the least amount of time out in the barn (it’s cold!). We tend to overlook things around the barnyard when we spend less time out there. One thing that we need to keep in mind is the overall condition of our horses. The winter is very hard on senior horses so we need to pay special attention on them. How can we monitor our horses? The best way to monitor your horse throughout the winter is by a Body Conditioning Score (BCS). A body conditioning score is a very simple way to judge your horse’s weight. The scale runs from 1 to 9, one being the lowest and 9 being the highest. Horses with a body score of less than 4 are at high risk of hypothermia and starvation. A horse with a BCS of less than four will not have enough body mass to insulate their body. Determine your horse’s BCS by touching your horse. During the winter, your horse’s hair can hide their true BCS. When judging your horse’s BCS feel over the ribs, neck, shoulders, spine, hips and tail head. If you can feel your horse’s ribs easily, their BCS will be under 4. This horse is at a high risk for hypothermia. To increase your horse’s BCS, you must provide your horse with plenty of food. The amount of energy demands will increase as the temperature drops. This energy is needed to keep your horse warm. A horse will eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in food per day. This means that an average 1,000 lb horse will eat at least 20lbs of hay per day. During the winter, you should also provide your horse with extra hay since there is no forage available. For a body conditioning score visual, visit: http://www.tacomaequine.com/bcs.htm For more information on BCS in the winter, visit: http://www.thehorse.com/articles/22683/horse-health-tips-for-extreme-cold-weather

Written by Emily Konkel

EXPERIENCE #simplebenefits AND KEEP YOUR HORSE WARM & SUPPLE WITH ONE OF OUR MANY PRODUCTS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Learn More HERE!

Previous
What Are Wolf Teeth?
Next
Shape Up For Spring. Preparing your horse for show season

Related Articles

Common Diseases of Cattle
May 08, 2025

Common Diseases of Cattle

Cattle health can change quickly, and sometimes without warning. Raising cattle can be challenging, but...
Read more
White Line Disease in Horses
April 25, 2025

White Line Disease in Horses

What is White Line Disease? The white line is the area of the hoof where...
Read more
What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?
April 10, 2025

What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?

Just like people, dogs can develop diabetes. Understanding the causes of this disease is the...
Read more
Can Horses Have Allergies?
March 28, 2025

Can Horses Have Allergies?

Yes! Horses can suffer from allergies just like humans, and it’s important for owners to...
Read more

Recent Posts

Common Diseases of Cattle
Common Diseases of Cattle
White Line Disease in Horses
White Line Disease in Horses
What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?
What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?
Can Horses Have Allergies?
Can Horses Have Allergies?
What You Need to Know About White Muscle Disease in Cattle
What You Need to Know About White Muscle Disease in Cattle
Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment
Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment
What Is Cushing’s Disease in Horses?
What Is Cushing’s Disease in Horses?
Mastering the Show Ring: Understanding Showing Cattle
Mastering the Show Ring: Understanding Showing Cattle
What You Need to Know About Vitamin D for Your Dogs
What You Need to Know About Vitamin D for Your Dogs
The Benefits of Beet Pulp for Horses
The Benefits of Beet Pulp for Horses

Focused &
Durable Designs

Products made specifically for you and your pets.

Free U.S. Shippingon All Orders over $200

We have you covered.

We Back Our
Products 100%

It's our customer promise.

BRAND PARTNERS

  • Become a Dealer
  • Become an Affiliate
  • Become a Registered Nonprofit
  • Logins for Dealer
  • Logins for Affiliate
  • Affiliate Resources
  • Meet our Ambassadors

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Contact
  • Shipping
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Money Back Guarantee
  • Warranty & Return Policy
  • Medical / Brand Disclaimer
  • FAQs

ABOUT BENEFAB

  • Why Choose Benefab?
  • The Benefab Story
  • Parables Podcast
  • Our Sister Brands
  • Media Inquiries
  • Blog
© 2013 -2025 Benefab®. Property of the Naar Boven Corporation. All rights reserved. Powered by TCW Digital
Payment options:
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Visa

Confirm your age

Are you 18 years old or older?

Come back when you're older

Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. Come back when you're older.