Monitoring Horse Body Condition in Hot Weather

It may seem like common sense, but here in Texas it's especially important to say it anyway: An overweight horse will struggle in warmer temperatures.

Why? Well, because the fat on a horse acts as insulation, which is great in the winter but becomes a major issue in the summer. Heat stress is a serious risk for an obese horse, which is why it’s vital to keep tabs on your horses’ body condition score (BCS) during all seasons. (Click the link to learn more about proper body condition scoring for your animals.)

A proper BCS for growing and performance horses, as well as for general-use horses, should be kept at 4-7, with a 5 being “ideal”. Broodmares should generally be kept at a 5.5-7.5.

Weight tape (or a scale) can be used to monitor changes in the horse’s body condition. A weight tape may not be very accurate for estimating exact body weight for a particular horse, but it is consistently accurate at discovering changes in your horse’s weight. Take the measurement every 30 days, applying the tape at the same location around the heart girth and behind the withers, and maintain the same tension on the tape each time you use it. The results of your monthly measurements can be used to adjust your horse’s feeding program to maintain a constant and desirable body weight and body condition score.

If you notice that something seems off in your horse's nutritional regimen and you need some help maintaining a healthy body condition in that regard, we're here to help! Call or stop by, and we'll get you hooked up with the products and advice you need to keep your horses in top shape all summer long.

NOTE: This post is adapted (with permission) from content proudly brought to you by our partners at Nutrena and Cargill Animal Nutrition. The original article appears here.