Body Condition Score. A good tool for the pleasure horse owner to use is body condition scoring. This is a visual, hands-on evaluation of body condition, actually body fat content. An emaciated horse is a 1 while an obese horse is a 9. For heat regulation in hot weather, it is not advisable for pleasure horses to be too fat.
Fat horses have more problems getting rid of body heat produced by performance.
A body condition score of 5-7.5 is preferred. The more intense and regular the performance, the lower the BCS should be in this range. Pleasure horses not ridden or ridden infrequently can be 6.5-7.5. Moderately active pleasure horses can be 5.5-6.5, while more intense performance horses need to be between 5 and 5.5. A problem occurs with halter horses.